Dear Annie:

I'm sorry you broke three helmets but I think its wonderful that your using them to teach kids why they should wear helmets. I used to teach young children and nothing is as explanatory as a visual example. Did you notify the helmet manufacturer after you broke the helmet?
Several years ago, before I knew him, my husband was riding in some bike event and an inexperienced rider crashed into him bringing the two of them down. If it hadn't been for his helmet he wouldn't have survived the head injuries. The helmet completely cracked in half! So he wrote the helmet manufacturer in gratitude and they were so happy to get an appreciative letter that they sent him a new helmet! I've heard sometimes they will send you a new helmet at a cheaper price if you let them know you crashed and wrecked the helmet.