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Develop a lifelong love of all things engine-powered in kids by starting them off slowly and safely, in an environment where adults can support them.

Justin Dawes, 32, of Irvine, California may be typical of many adult "motorheads."  He recalls waking up on his eighth Christmas morning to find a dirt bike under the tree in the living room, next to shiny new ones for his siblings. To this day, Dawes, Media Relations Coordinator at Kawasaki Motors Corp, meets up with his extended family and in-laws frequently to go riding and camping together.

Many instructors recommend that kids begin a lifetime of motorsports on a dirt bike, where they can learn to appreciate how balance, speed, braking and throttle affect a vehicle. Some will stay on dirt bikes and enjoy off-road and/or extreme sports, others will race motorcycles, still others will grow into an ATV and all, probably, will drive an automobile.

In my own family, two motorcycle enthusiast parents living in New York City weren't able to introduce dirt bike riding to their child until they took a family vacation at a rural destination where motorsports thrive. It may take years before our teen can afford to ride dirt bikes, ATVs and motorcycles as frequently as he'd like, but during our travels we've watched him grow into safely handling personal watercraft, snowmobiles and dune buggies. As he practices for his driver's license, we can see an enthusiastic but cautious driver emerge, one that we'll want to borrow our car.  And that's worth a lot. 

First Steps for Young Learners

You don't have to be a motorhead or even own a dirt bike to introduce your kids to the sport. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation provides subsidized classes in basic safety instruction to new motorcycle riders of all ages through the support of the major manufacturers. Local instructors, who are listed on their website, can often provide families with loaner equipment so that kids have a chance to try the sport before committing to an equipment purchase.

Our son began his training with an MSF instructor at Montana's Bull Run Ranch and has had supervised outings on rental equipment ranging from an ATV in Brazil and a snowmobile in Wyoming; to a jetski in Cancun and dune buggy in Oregon. 

Similar to the MSF's work, the ATV Safety Institute offers training to riders of all skill levels, ages 8 to 80, who have purchased a new vehicle. ATVSI classes are paid for by credits issued by the major vehicle manufacturers.  

All-terrain vehicle instructors like Eric Dennison (affiliated with the Mines and Meadows ATV Resort in Wampum, Pennsylvania) also provide local ATV safety instruction to ages 6 to 15 through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He began his motorsports career on an ATC or mini-trike and considers it great family entertainment. “I’ll do anything to get kids outdoors and away from video games,” he adds.