Parents and children may assist reduce skateboarding injuries by carefully selecting safe areas to ride and wearing protective gear, particularly helmets. Skateboarders of all ages should use protective equipment, such as a helmet, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under 18 years old not play sports with wheels until they have developed sufficient motor skills and muscle strength to avoid injury. In general, street skaters operate in a more dangerous environment than in-park skaters because there are more people on the streets who could be harmed if someone falls off their board. However, street skating can also be safer because there are less objects to hit someone with; therefore, other people tend to give riders more space. In addition, there are often more police officers on the streets during nighttime hours, so accidents that do occur are likely to get more attention from authorities. Skateboarding is a very popular sport among young people. If you decide to let your child participate in skateboarding, make sure that you take the time to learn how to safely transport them to and from different locations. Also, make sure that they are only riding with responsible parties. Finally, ensure that they are wearing appropriate safety gear before letting them go out alone!