So, this is something that has troubled me about not just Italy but many place we've visited in Europe since my son was little: my son seems to be the ONLY person or kid that wears a helmet when bike riding, skateboarding, skiing. Most Americans on the site know what I mean when I say here in the US it is frowned upon to let your child do any of the above activities without a helmet, and I don't need to stress the safety risks!
BUT, can anyone give me an idea of what kind of opposition and poking fun of my almost 10 year old (i.e.: cool is very important) will encounter when he is the only one wearing a helmet? I won't change my position on safety, but I also want to be prepared for being the horrible mother that made her son stick out like a sore thumb. Any advise or stories to share from similarly concerned or experienced expat parents?
Last thing: how easy is it to find skateboarding helmets in Italy? They do grow out of them eventually...
Thanks!

For skiing most slopes I've seen require children to wear helmets. For biking, I see many kids with them, but not all. Also required for motorini now- they have some very cool-looking GP-replica helmets.

A bunch of sites popped up when I googled on casco skateboard.

It is a law for kids to have a helmet when skiing, but as far as I know not biking. However, many kids if not most of the young ones wear them, but as they get older they seem to disappear. Almost all serious adult bikers wear them. We make ours (6 and 8)wear them unless just riding around the campground and such. We also use them most of the time ourselves. We also use them skiing as do many adults on the slopes.

Jenna, Casey wore his helmet always when bike riding and on his razor scooter while we were there. Some of the other children wore them and others didn't but there certainly was no stigma attached to wearing it. We left his with his best boy friend when we came back and his parents were appreciative. Next week when we go back we're bringing his roller blades and a helmet and knee and elbow guards.

The thing that the italians thought was strange was the sun protective shirt Casey would wear when swimming. That really threw them and they thought that was very strange. Of course, these are the same people who have a sign at the pool saying to wait 3 hours after eating before going in the pool. Lesson: We all have our own rules we live by and, of course, our rules are the right ones.

I agree with having our own rules and sticking by them. My son (aged 7) wears his helmet and he doesn't get teesed at all, if anything he's really happy to wear it because it makes him feel like a professional. The roads near our house are used quite regularly by the cycling teams and they always wear them.If you find a sports shop in you area, Athlete's World that kind of thing, I'm sure they'll have something cool and trendy for older kids. He might feel like the odd one out but in a cool way.