Quad Riders Association of British Columbia

Of course all seven kids wanted to ride at the same time. The three-year-old and the baby were easy to entertain: they rode the tricycle and the old red wagon; I believe that is called mother power.

Two of the kids had some experience riding but the others were all rookies. We turned the throttle down and attached a tether rope for safety purposes. Then the lessons began.

The first kid bumped into the tires we had placed in the front yard at least 10 times; it was almost as if he thought we were playing bumper cars. The next kid ran into the outhouse. Guess he needs more steering lessons. They all had a turn plowing into the bushes, as the parents watched, slightly horrified at first and then giggling with delight when the child emerged back onto the track with a smile on their face.

After a few times when we were sure they could now steer—at least in a large S around the tires—it was time for the driveway run to see if they could control the throttle at a little faster pace (5mph). It is obvious to me that the male of the species, even at age 5, wants speed and more speed; we were giving great lectures on control and speed.

Once they mastered the driveway, then it was all around the cabin, and onto the next lot, which was also our property. In and out of the trees and bushes, over the septic field and all around the place they rode, we even had to refill the gas tank a few times.

By now the little ones wanted to play on the ATV. The 3-year-old ran towards it and fell before reaching it; he put his hand out and somehow placed his tiny hand on the hot motor, burning two fingers. Now we had to drive him to 100 Mile Emergency for treatment. Upon inspecting the ATV we were appalled at the lack of a safety screen over the motor area; I am going to write the manufacturers about this.

About ten minutes after this accident, one of the older kids trying out the tricycle bumped into a tree root and fell off with a face plant into the dirt. He suffered a cut lip and needed, after clean up, a dish of ice cream to help with the pain. Later on he ran into a rose bush and had a cut thumb from the thorns, which required a band-aid. By now all parents were twitching, what’s next?

Between burned fingers, bumping into the outhouse and driving into the bushes, this day was not going as planned. However we proceeded on—it was amazing the progress the kids made learning how to steer and how to control the throttle. The five-year-olds rode between one and three mph and for the older ones we took the control up higher. After supper the kids still wanted to ride, so off we went again for the second session of instruction; the boys were great lining up for their turn and waiting patiently. The oldest girl was very good; she proceeded the fastest and farthest.

Our little hurt boy returned from the hospital, jumped out of the car and asked mommy to take him on the ATV, so on they went for a ride. He had a temper tantrum when mommy stopped after taking him around; after a dozen times he wanted to keep on riding even if one hand was completely bandaged.

By now the oldest kids wanted more of a challenge, so the adults hopped on the big ATVs and put the kids between them and headed for the meadow about 1000 meters from the house. It is a perfect place to teach kids because it is a very large meadow and there isn’t a tree to bump into. Only the two oldest were allowed to drive to the meadow and back.

Our lawn is now a racetrack, our septic field will never be the same as the grass is beaten down, our bushes have been pushed aside, and we now have a view of the lake. All in all it was a wonderful day as the kids had fun, the parents had nervous breakdowns, recovering instantly when they saw the kids learning some new skills and having fun doing it.