By Heidi Ahrens
Note: Before we start here is a little bit on tricycles. Tricycles are great in of themselves.They provide toddlers mobility and they learn steering and functioning of pedals. They do not teach balancing or are not a natural progression towards learning to ride a two wheeler. Because of the angle of the child’s leg on a tricycle it is hard for the child to get enough power to go up hills or through rough terrain.
However, if your child is older than three or four, you will not find a balance bike that fits them. You would have to use a regular bike and take off the pedals. There are disadvantages to this:The pedals arm will be in the way.
I recommend starting your child on learning to ride a bike as soon as they have an interest.By the age of three my daughter and her friends were zooming around a two wheelers without training wheels.
First start with a balance bike
A balance bike is a bike that has two wheels, no peddles and no brakes.Your child rides on it, while using their feet for locomotion and for breaking purposes.There are many different models of balance bikes.Select one that fits your child and your budget.Make sure that your child is wearing shoes that you don’t mind getting wrecked.Since they use their feet to stop, the soles and toe tips get worn out fast.
At first your child will straddle the bike and walk with it between their legs.They will be very slow, but after a while they will realize that they can sit on the seat while running with their legs, picking up momentum and then gliding with lifted feet When they want to stop they will put their feet down.A good place for them to get the feeling of this gliding, balancing act is a grassy downhill.
Have your child go on walks around your neighborhood with the bike, they will get familiar with the different skills needed on different terrain. It is good to have your child understand balance on smooth surfaces, gravels, and bumps, uphill and down hills.Make sure your child is ready and knows how to stop when going down a hill.
Once your child is gliding effortlessly on the balance bike, going uphill with a lot of leg power, going downhill and is able to stop, you are ready for a real two wheeler.
This article is part of series articles useful for any child to learn how to ride a bicycle.
First published on OutdoorBaby.net
Heidi Ahrens is the owner of OutdoorBaby.net a free information sharing website for families who enjoy the outdoors.She is mom to two daughters under the age of four and their favorite activities to do as a family is to hit the bike trails.
