I must be a child abuser, since Miss Z learned to ride without the plastic hat and refuses to wear it (if she ever wants to ride to school, the H&S nazis require it*, so she does own one- in fact, so do I, although the last time I wore it was at Calshot in 2006 and the next time will be the Bromptoin Worlds). She falls off a lot too, but just gets back on without complaining.
I'm amazed that kids survived before the 1990s.
*although we ride there most nights for a few laps of the empty car park. Muahahahaha.