When Do Kids Learn To Ride A Bike And How To Teach Them?

Riding a bike is a milestone for children. Besides being a great form of exercise, it gives them a sense of confidence and independence. It is also a fun activity for them. Children could also be influenced by their friends who ride bikes and could wish to ride one themselves.

Teaching your child to ride a bike might seem difficult as you need to spend time on it, have patience, and ensure your child does not get serious injuries. However, the task can become more manageable, and you both can spend some quality time together if you follow a few tips.

In this post, we discuss the various aspects of teaching a child to ride a bike – when you can start, what you will need, and what you can expect. We also tell you how to teach a kid to ride a bike.

When Can A Child Learn To Ride A Bike?

While some children learn to ride a bike at their own pace, the average age for learning how to ride a bike is between four and eight. Most children start riding a bike with training wheels when they are around two years of age (1).

Children can start riding two-wheeled bikes without training wheels around the ages of four to eight as they have the physical coordination and agility required for riding a bicycle.

Generally, children who learn to ride a bike when they are around six to eight years old are less prone to injuries than those who learn to ride between three to five years of age.

Bikes for children are of different types and sizes depending on children’s ages and skill levels.

1. Tricycles

These are the first bikes a child rides. They consist of three wheels set in a triangular form and may or may not come with pedals. They do not need balancing, making it easier even for young children to sit and ride them.

2. Balance bike

These are lightweight bikes without pedals and brakes. They are ideal for children just learning to ride on two wheels as they allow them to concentrate on balancing and steering rather than pedaling. Children aged two to five years can ride balance bikes.

3. Bike with training wheels

These are regular bikes that come with two smaller wheels attached to both sides of the hind wheel. These wheels serve the purpose of providing support to the rider. They make the children concentrate more on pedaling than steering and balancing. Children aged four to eight can ride these bikes.

4. Bike without training wheels

These bikes are the regular bikes you see on the roads. They come with brakes and pedals. A child who can balance well can transition to a bike without training wheels easily. If your child has experience riding a balance bike, they can ride a bike without training wheels as early as four years of age. The usual age when children opt out of using training wheels is around six to eight years.

Things To Do Before Teaching Your Child To Ride A Bike

So, you have made up your mind to teach your child how to ride a bike, and they are raring to go. But before you start, here are some important things you should keep in mind.

1. Finding the right bike

There are innumerable models of bikes on the market. One of the first things you will notice about children’s bikes is that they are not built of the same quality as adult’s bikes, primarily because most parents are not willing to spend extra bucks on something a child will outgrow in a couple of years.

Look for a bike that is age-appropriate for your child. If possible, let your child sit on it and see if they can comfortably put their feet on the ground. They should be able to touch the ground with the sole of their foot. You could also go for adjustable bikes so that your child can use them for a longer time.

2. Taking the appropriate safety measures

Ensure your child always wears a safety helmet no matter where they are riding the bike or who they are with. By making them wear a helmet, you can protect them from severe injuries.

The helmet should fit snugly on your child’s head – ideally around one inch from their eyebrows. If it is too low or high or too loose, consider buying another one that fits well. You could also consider buying other safety gear, such as gloves, elbow and knee caps, and shin guards.

3. Inflating the bike tires to the right pressure

Make sure you inflate the tires of the bike to the correct pressure. This will ensure your child has a smooth riding experience. The correct amount of pressure required is usually mentioned on the side of the tire.

Remember that over-inflating a tire can be as hazardous as a punctured or under-inflated tire. Tires with inappropriate tire pressure can make the bike unsafe and cause nasty falls.

4. Choosing a good location

Land with adequate grass is the safest place for children to learn to ride a bicycle. Children often fall initially, and grass can provide a soft landing. If you wish to teach the child on the road, choose one with no incline and little to no traffic. If you have access to a private garden or land, you may create an obstacle course to teach maneuvering to the child.

15+ Tips To Teach A Kid To Ride A Bike

In the earlier days, children learned to ride a bike using training wheels. The main problem with this method was that it taught children pedaling first rather than balancing. And when the balancing wheels are removed, children have to learn to balance again.

The following tips will ensure that whichever bike you select, your child will be riding it like a pro in no time, and you won’t have to restart training.

1. Check if your child wants to learn it

Some parents pressure their children to learn how to ride bikes. If your child is not eager to learn it yet, talk to them about their reasons instead of pressuring them. When your children are pushed into the activity, they might not be as open to learning as they would have if they had opted to do it themselves. The training can also become an uphill task. Talk with your child and ask them if they are interested in learning how to ride a bike.

2. Teach balancing first

The first step to learning to ride a bike is balancing. Once a child learns balancing, pedaling, steering, and braking will follow. You can teach them to balance in other activities as well. Use balance boards, gymnastics, skateboards, or skates to teach them to balance their bodies in all situations. When children learn to ride a bike, they will instinctively balance themselves due to these other techniques.

3. Remove the pedals

If you do not have a balance bike, you can create one by simply removing the pedals of a regular bike. This is an essential step for your child to learn. They can keep their feet on the ground and walk the bike. Encourage them to increase their speed slowly. Eventually, they will be confident enough to pull up their legs and ride along.

With practice, they can increase the time they keep their feet off the ground. Once they feel comfortable riding for 15 seconds or more in one go, you can reattach the pedals or transition to a pedaled bike.

4. Teach them how brakes work

Once your children can comfortably pedal, they will need to know how to stop the bike. Teach your child about how brakes work and where they are. They also need to know how and when to use them so that they do not pull the brakes at every opportunity. Also, ask them to place their feet down when they pull the brakes to minimize falls.

5. Set realistic expectations

Many parents impose their own rules and expectations on their children. If parents had learned to ride a bike easily, they would want their children to learn it quickly as well. Children are individuals and will progress at their own pace. Parents must be patient, encouraging, and take the necessary time and attention to see the skill to fruition with their children. Children will learn to ride a bike at their own pace.

6. Be positive

Children are perceptive, and they can sense if you are anxious. They will also become anxious if you do, and the whole learning session can be adversely affected. Instead, maintain a positive attitude during the training sessions. Do not say, “Why can’t you just look up?” Instead, say positive things such as “You are doing great!” or “Well done!” This will boost their confidence, and they will be more eager to try.

7. Keep the instructions simple

When your child is learning to ride a bike for the first time, they must concentrate on many aspects of riding. If your instructions are complicated, they might get confused. Keep your instructions simple, especially when they are riding the bike. Before they start riding, talk to them calmly and explain what they should do. You can watch some online videos to get a sense of the process. While they are riding, give them simple instructions such as “Pedal!” or “Stop!” instead of “Why did you stop pedaling? “Move your legs faster!” and so on.

8. Practice for a set time

A practice session spanning 30 minutes each day is ideal or what seems to be best for your child. Do not overdo the training session; rather, you should stop on a positive note which encourages more retune attempts.

9. Prepare for success

When you decide to teach your child to ride a bike, you need to make sure all the parties involved are well-rested and well-fed. Tired or hungry children are not the ideal subjects for learning a new skill. You should also keep all the things you might need for the training session ready. Well-fitting shoes, safety gear, a bike with proper tire pressure and seat height, and a water bottle are things you will need to factor in for a good training session. Also, check the weather; you want the ground to be in ideal condition for a bike ride, not wet or slick.

10. Don’t hold on to the bike

Hold the bike when your child first mounts it. Let them start pedaling it, and once they push off, leave the bike. Do not hold the bike or run alongside them. You might want to stand at the end of the trail or road you have chosen so that your child has some encouragement to ride the bike towards you. If you hold the bike, your child will take more time to balance on their own. Instead, say encouraging words to them from the other end as they ride towards you.

11. Teach them how to turn

Once your child has mastered how to balance on a straight road, encourage them to maneuver turns. If the road you have chosen has some gentle turns, you can use them, and if not, you can place some obstacles for them to maneuver around while riding. Keep it easy and place bigger obstacles farther away initially. As time goes by, you can place smaller obstacles nearer to challenge and hone your child’s riding skills.

12. Look at the destination

The most common mistake children, or even adults, make while learning to ride a bike initially is to look ahead of the front wheel. They invariably focus on ditches and bumps on the road and ride into them. You can instruct your child to look straight at the destination. The rider goes where their eyes lead them – this is a universal rule for bike riding, and your child should be aware of this.

13. Be patient

A child might take any time between a couple of days to weeks to learn to ride a bike. If the training becomes too stressful for either of you, it might be good to take a break and return to the skill when they are ready to restart training. Try to remain upbeat and retry again in a few days or even after a few weeks.

14. Incentivize

While some children might take falling and getting hurt in their stride, others might feel overwhelmed by it all. However, falling while learning to ride a bike is inevitable. You can offer small incentives. This will encourage them to return to the practice. Generally, choosing what’s for dinner or what movie the family can watch together is an ideal reward.

15. Do not worry if your child falls

Falling is a part of the process of learning to ride a bike. The training and learning of a new skill teach resilience. It is key to remember that a degree of anxiety is normal and to stay the course and not give up. Comfort your child, and continue with the training. You can always return to the skill the next day or in the future.

16. Remember to have fun

Remember that you are teaching your child to ride a bike for the fun and joy of riding. If you make the training stressful, they may negatively associate the experience. Instead, you can enjoy the process and an opportunity to bond with your child.

References

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