Sports and play are important aspects of growing up. Through sports and games, children have the opportunity to interact with one another, learn physical skills, exercise their bodies and minds, and experience a range of emotional states. The United Nations recognized the importance of physical activity and play for children with Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that play is a fundamental human right.

While a range of play opportunities are open to Canadian children and youth, many popular forms of play, such as hockey, skateboarding, bicycling, and soccer, come with physical risks, particularly to the brain and spinal cord. Since brain and spinal cord injuries have no cure, prevention is the only option. Therefore, ThinkFirst experts strongly recommend protective equipment be worn by children while participating in these sports and recreational activities.

Although the ThinkFirst Foundation of Canada supports the mandatory use of helmets in particular sports and recreational activities for children, we know that equipment costs can be prohibitive, leaving children unprotected or not playing. At ThinkFirst, we believe that no child should be prevented from participating in sports and play for economic reasons. To help encourage safe participation in sports and recreational activities, ThinkFirst created the Give-A-Kid-A-Helmet program in 2005.

The Give-A-Kid-A-Helmet program is a voucher system, wherein a voucher is given to a child or parent that allows them to choose and purchase a helmet at participating retailers. Each voucher includes information on how to choose, fit, maintain and replace a sports helmet, which means more people in Canada will be informed about the proper use and importance of helmets in sports and recreational activities. Through the support of public and private sector funding our ThinkFirst chapters and community partners around Canada,provided 3150 certified helmets to children from lower socio-economic backgrounds in 2006, more than double the amount we were able to distribute in 2005.

For more information about the Give-A-Kid-A-Helmet Program, contact Sandy Wells at 416-915-6565.