Preparation
Step1
Make sure the bike is properly fit to the child. She should just be able to stand over the top bar of the frame without touching.
Step2
Install training wheels on the bike.
Step3
Have the child wear a helmet. When first starting, knee and elbow pads, as well as gloves, are a good idea.
Step4
Be sure she wears clothing that is protective and not so loose that it will get caught up in the bike. Jeans and a sweatshirt are perfect.
Step5
Discuss safety with your child. Explain the importance of biking in safe locations and wearing protective gear. Also, review what to do if she should fall, and explain that falling is part of the learning process.
Step6
Establish a safe and local learning place. A field with hard-packed grass is ideal; an asphalt basketball court surrounded by grass or a quiet cul-de-sac are good options, too. There should be plenty of open space, flat ground and no traffic.
Biking
Step1
Get the child onto the bike and pedaling.
Step2
Walk alongside the child and ask her to think about balancing between the two training wheels - on the wheels of the bike alone. Explain that eventually you will take the training wheels off.
Step3
Let the child ride the bike as often as possible with the training wheels for a few days. This duration will depend on the age and readiness of your child. Be sure she learns how to stop effectively.
Step4
Remove the training wheels from the bike when the child is totally comfortable with riding the bike with them.
Step5
Hold the back of the seat of the bike and the back of the child's sweatshirt. An alternate grip is holding one handle-bar and the back of the sweatshirt.
Step6
Push and run along with the child, instructing her to keep pedaling and look straight forward.
Step7
Take your hand off the seat when you feel the child balancing on her own accord.
Step8
Give some words of encouragement as you take your hand from the child's sweatshirt, allowing her to ride entirely by herself.
Step9
Repeat the previous three steps until the child is able to start pedaling without you.
Comments
jw933 said
on 8/26/2007 I have to agree with "beartoe". This may be the standard way of training but it's just going to frustrate the parent ( believe I've...I've trained 3 kids ) and you'll end up with a kid who's defeated and terrified of his/her bike.
Something to do with the laws of physics, but in a turn, when using training wheels the bike will lean to the outside of the turn almost every time. On an uneven surface the training wheels cause the bike to pitch and roll and can actually accelerate a kid heading for the ground in a fall.
Get a bike with a hand brake. Take the training wheels off...in fact never put them on to start. Lower the seat as far as it will go and take the peddles off. Let the kid scoot around like that for awhile. Encourage them to coast as far as they can & use the hand brake to stop entirely before putting feet down. This works great!
jw933 said
on 8/26/2007 I have to agree with "beartoe". This may be the standard way of training but it's just going to frustrate the parent ( believe I've...I've trained 3 kids ) and you'll end up with a kid who's defeated and terrified of his/her bike.
Something to do with the laws of physics, but in a turn, when using training wheels the bike will lean to the outside of the turn almost every time. On an uneven surface the training wheels cause the bike to pitch and roll and can actually accelerate a kid heading for the ground in a fall.
Get a bike with a hand brake. Take the training wheels off...in fact never put them on to start. Lower the seat as far as it will go and take the peddles off. Let the kid scoot around like that for awhile. Encourage them to coast as far as they can & use the hand brake to stop entirely before putting feet down. This works great!
beartoe said
on 2/1/2007 This article is wrong. I give it zero stars (I would give it negative stars if that were possible.) See:
http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Bike-Safely
Anonymous said
on 6/11/2007 Consider a cemetery as a location for training. It may sound inappropriate, but there's rarely traffic, the paths are wide, and believe it or not, the sound and vision of a child learning from his/her parent is often welcome to those visiting the graves of their loved ones.
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 In Germany many kids start riding bicycles as early as 2 or 3 years of age. The trick is never to use a bike with training wheels, because they hinder the development of the proper balancing. Instead, start with a small, bicycle with no pedals (LikeaBike is one brand) with which a child pushes him-/herself along with their feet while learning how to balance. 2-wheeled scooters can also be used, and they have the advantage that they will probably continue to be used even after the child has mastered a regular bike.