I have been a competitive skiier when I was younger and now I'm a dad teaching my daughter.

I see all the little ones wearing helmets. I never wore a helmet and I have seen injuries from toes to necks. I can't remember ever seeing a head injury.

My daughter has been skiing since 3 and now she is 6. She is very good for her age but I get these looks and comments from other parents because she has no helmet.

Is there just too many helmet making companies trying to capitalizing on scare tequniques or should I break down and pick one up for her? As for a helmet for myself, don't even go there. I'll wait until my life insurance demands it before you'll outfit me in one of those!

A child's skull is still pretty soft. And the brain still growing. So its more prone to concussion. Kids are also more fearless and more liable to take risks. I was a recreational skier for over 20 years, but I started in my late teens. The worse that happened to me, was a jammed thumb. But I wouldn't put a pre-adolescent on the slopes without a helmet.

The problem is that my daughter also figure skates. They recommend at her level NOT to wear a helmet.

Personally, I would rather take a tumble on the slopes than on the ice.

It just doesn't make sense. Competetive figure skating- no helmet. Non-competitive downhill skiing- helmet.

The reason they don't want her to wear a helmet in figure skating is because it affects her balance. I consider balance at skiing (especially at my level) very important. So I'm thinking the helmet may actually cause accidents!

You do things in figure skating that you just don't do in skiing even snowboarding. Balance is a lot more crucial in skating. You also don't go quite as fast or have trees to hit on a skating rink.

You haven't skated on our lake (ha, ha)!

I guess it's just something to consider. I personally have had more 'life flashing before my eyes' incidents in the 3 years skating with my daughter than I've ever had skiing.

Didn't Sonny Bono die of head injuries in a skiing accident?

Yes, but he was 60+. I should be so lucky to go out skiing when I'm that old!

I can see the point about balance and skating, but helmets should be worn for all "sports" that have possibilities of falls.

I have seen too many people, young and old alike, with head injuries. Permanent and temporary, but it is really a sad life to live.

Actually, I am living proof; having been in a coma for 2 months with 10 years of rehab. And really, it wasn't sad just challenging.

That doesn't mean I wear a helmet in a car (although I tend to wear a seatbelt more often now).

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Originally Posted by bhayne

I have been a competitive skiier when I was younger and now I'm a dad teaching my daughter.

I see all the little ones wearing helmets. I never wore a helmet and I have seen injuries from toes to necks. I can't remember ever seeing a head injury.

My daughter has been skiing since 3 and now she is 6. She is very good for her age but I get these looks and comments from other parents because she has no helmet.

Is there just too many helmet making companies trying to capitalizing on scare tequniques or should I break down and pick one up for her? As for a helmet for myself, don't even go there. I'll wait until my life insurance demands it before you'll outfit me in one of those!!

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I have been selling sporting goods for almost 20 years- there are a lot of things that come along to just pad the manufacturers pockets, but in my opinion, ski helmets are not one of those things. I would definitely recommend a helmet. Especially at her age, the muscle and coordination development is not yet complete, and it doesn't take much to lose control and head for a tree. Also, unlike figure skating, there is a hill, and speed can be built with little effort on the participants part. As far as a helmet for you, it would be an excellent example for her- yes Sonny was older, but he was an accomplished skier. I have seen some pretty nasty injuries to friends of mine that were excellent skiers.

Well I teach figure skating, and they require the kids under 5 to wear a helmet in group classes. It's optional in other cases. For beginners I think it's good, but your daughter sounds like she knows what she's doing when skiing. I don't think a helmet at this point is necessary.