The ability of your child to ride a bike largely depends on her coordination, physical development, and mastery of motor skills. A majority of children are ready to learn how to ride a bike once they are five years old. If your child is five years old or more, then it is the high time she knows how to ride a bike without the training wheels. Here are five tips on how to teach a child to ride a bike.
Determine Whether She is Ready
The first step on how to teach kids to ride a bike is to determine whether they are ready. Make sure your child is fully into the idea riding a bike and very excited to start training. Do not push her into the activity or bribe her to start. This will only turn into frustrating attempts with no winner at the end.
Also, consider her physical readiness. She needs a certain level of balance and coordination to ride well. Children who can barely walk steadily or who have poor coordination do not have enough balance to use a bike.
Get the Right Bike
Most parents purchase a bike with the mentality that the child will grow with it only to realize the bike is too big and uncomfortable for the child. The best way to teach your child to ride a bike is to buy her the right set of wheels. The size of the wheels should range between 14 and 16 inches. The feet of the child should touch the ground when she is sitting straight on the bike. She should be able to straddle the bike comfortably, creating a space between her crotch and bar.
In order to buy a bike of the right size, measure the height of the child and compare it with the wheels available at the store. A child who is 30 to 38 inch tall can do with a 14-inch wheel. Those who are 42 to 52 inches tall can do with 18-inch wheels.
Train the Child About Safety
The best way to teach your child to ride a bike without training wheels is to educate her on safety. There are several safety tips she needs to know before she begins her training. Let her understand that she should always ride on the left-hand side of the road or footpath.
Make sure she gives plenty of space to pedestrians and that she walks the bike across the road rather than riding it. Tell her to always use the bell to warn others and that she should hold the handlebars with both hands at all times.
Start Easy
Start off by taking the pedals off and lower the seat so her legs can touch the ground. Let her glide down the driveway on her own. You don’t have to worry about her safety since she can touch the ground whenever she loses balance.
You can use the training wheels for a few days, but try not to let her get too comfortable with them. She will develop bad habits or might get frustrated because they will slow her down. When setting up the child for the training, find a safe and open space. This could be an empty parking spot, flat field or paved school playground.
Let Her Pedal
Once the child gains balance and confidence, it is now time to train her how to pedal. Hold the bike and place the other hand on the back of her neck. Get her to start pedaling. She should put her head straight and look ahead, not at the ground. Do not leave her as she pedals. Instead, run alongside her to support her in case she loses balance. If she tumbles, comfort her and encourage her to try again.
A bike ride is a fun activity to do together as a family. It is a fantastic and healthy way to do something where everyone is involved. Getting your little one to ride a bike for the first time without the training wheels shouldn’t be so hard. The tips discussed above will give you helpful insights on how to teach your child to ride a bike.