From Training Wheels to a Two Wheeler
To many children, learning how to ride a bike can mean the ultimate sense of freedom. Do you recall that feeling? Perhaps your mom or dad held onto the back of your bike and ran with you until you were ready pedal on your own . But that’s not the only way to teach your child how to ride a bike, and here are some suggestions on how to teach them.
Learning to ride a bike can be a trying situation for kids, so keep these helpful tips in mind to make the experience less stressful :
- Learning to ride a bike should be a fun, a triumphant experience . If it’s not your child will want to quit before they can really get started.
- Are your children physically ready? You may be more excited to get them started riding a bike than they are, so make sure that they are physically and emotionally ready to handle the challenge of a wobbly two-wheeled vehicle.
- Find a level, protected place for them to learn to ride a bike. Clear your driveway of obstacles or find a quiet section of a parking lot.
- Safety First All children should have a helmet, knee and elbow pads on every time they ride a bike.
If your child has mastered a bike with training wheels, they may be ready to go solo. This can happen anytime around ages six or up, but you don’t have to push them. In order for them to learn to ride a bike, you will need to remove the training wheels and adjust the seat height so your child’s feet can touch the ground with their legs straight. This way they can maintain their balance easily.
As the first lesson in learning to ride a bike, try having them scoot on the bike, with their feet on the ground. For the next lesson , get them to coast on the bike down a slight incline with their feet up off the ground.
Next , comes turning. Once they are coasting on their bike, have your kid start to practice turning. Begin with big easy turns – you can even set up markers in a practice course to help them focus on when to make their turns.
After they have mastered turning, then your child can learn to pedal. Hold onto the back of the bike and have them put one foot on each pedal. Allow them to balance while you explain about pedaling and braking.
Once they have pedaling and stopping down, then you’re ready to let them go. Start by holding onto the back of the bike and running with them. When they seem comfortable with this, try letting go and have them go alone. If they fall, pick them up, brush them off and encourage them to get right back up.
Teaching your children to ride a bike can be an enjoyable experience for both of you Using these bike riding tips, you can make the experience a pleasurable one for both of you – and before you know it, you’ll be going on family bike rides .
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