Part I of tips for teaching bike riding:  Tip 1 to 6

1.      Open Parent attitude:

Remember that you should keep an open mind.  It is not about your child being the youngest, best or fastest bike rider, but about your child having fun outdoors with you.  It is about your child’s goals and needs, not about you.

2.      Positive Child Attitude:

Your child has to be interested in learning and open to the experience.  If your child becomes cranky, scared, or bored, forget it and try another time.  Only go on bike rides or practice rides if your child agrees.  Do not bribe your child.

3.      The good and bad of peer Pressure:

Have your child start this process with likeminded friends and parents. It is incredible what children can accomplish when they see each other performing.  Try to avoid the child who is very scared, really not interested, or overly accomplished.  Some children get turned off and frustrated if their friends can really do something and they break down and don’t want to try anymore.

4.      Start with a Balance bike:

Balance bikes are bicycles with only two wheels, no brakes and no pedals.  The child uses his or her feet to get the bike moving.  For the first few times, your child may be very slow and not even use the seat.  Once they get the hang of it, they push off on the ground then glide while sitting on the bike and lifting their feet. They stop by dragging their feet on the ground.

5.      Terrain:

We started our daughter on a well paved bike path with rolling hills and soft shoulders.  She fell in a bush once and in a barbed wire fence another time while on her balance bike.  If consoled and taken care of quickly and you explain that it is a part of learning, your child will probably want to try again if you don’t make a big deal of the accident.  After our daughter mastered the paved bike path we tried a dirt bike trail with small bumps.  That way she could really work her balance bike and understand the subtleties of the terrain. Then she was ready for a two wheeler.  She still uses her balance bike on the mountain bike trails, but uses her other bike to go into town.

6.      Don’t fall into the trap: 

Other parents may laugh at you or criticize you for not using training wheels or for expecting too much from your child.  Remember it is not about expectations but about fun (Tip Number 1).  The desire to bike and to accomplish has to come from your child, not you.  Also, some parents may think your child should be doing more on the bike; ignore them.

 Heidi

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