Hobbies And Interests
Running Along Side Your Child's Bike
You can teach your child the balance necessary to ride a bike by running along side your child as she rides. If you have a large, traffic-free area that she can practice on, and you have the endurance, this may be the fastest way to teach your child how to ride a bike. You simply hold your child's shoulders or the back of the bike seat as she attempts to ride. You must be sure that you are strong enough to help her stop the bike if need be, and that there are no hills, traffic or other dangers nearby. A deserted parking lot can work, as long as there is no possibility of cars driving through.
Scooters Help Teach Balance
Scooters teach balance but, since the child's feet are closer to the ground, may not be as scary as a bike. Once your child has the balance learned from a scooter, he may be able to transfer that to a bike with little problem. Scooters also help your child gain confidence in riding fast and using brakes, as well as giving him a sense of control. As long as your child wears a helmet, scooters are relatively safe. As with other options, though, it is best to have a large, flat and traffic-free area.
Undersized Bike
An undersized bike is another option. By taking the pedals off, you can help your child learn the balance necessary and then how to pedal. There are specially designed learning bikes sold without pedals, but it is not necessary to buy a special bike for this purpose. Any undersized bike with the pedals taken off will work well, and you can simply reattach the pedals when she is ready to learn to ride. This method of learning is similar to using a scooter. Make sure that your child can put both feet flat on the ground with knees slightly bent while sitting on the seat of the bike. She can then push herself on the bike and balance as she glides on the bike.