How to Move from a Balance Bike to a Regular Two Wheeler Bike

A Balance Bike (like a Skuut) is great for teaching kids to perfect their balance before they try a regular two wheeler bike with pedals and breaks. Follows these steps to make the transition from balance bike to two wheeler as smooth as possible. Your child won't need to use training wheels at all!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• helmet
• balance bike (like a Skuut)
• two wheeler WITHOUT training wheels

1. Make sure your child is comfortable on the balance bike. She should be able to glide for at least 10 yards and turn while gliding. Once she can do these both well, she is ready to transition to a two wheeler with pedals.

2. Find a two wheeler bike that is short enough that your child can reach both feet to the ground. This way when your child starts riding the two wheeler, it will feel the same as the balance bike.

3. Do not put training wheels on the two wheeler bike. The point of the balance bike is to teach balance instead of training wheels. Training wheels create a false sense of balance.

4. Walk alongside your child on the two wheeler holding the bike so your child can get used to the motion of pedaling. Be sure to show your child that pushing back on the pedals works like a brake.

5. Have your child practice gliding on the two wheeler the same way she did on the balance bike.

6. Once your child is comfortable pushing off and gliding a bit, encourage her to put her feet up on the pedals. Once she can do that, she should start pedaling. The action of pedaling is what keeps the bike balanced.

7. The hardest part of the transition from a balance bike to a regular bike is learning to stop because your child will be going faster on a regular two wheeler. Make sure she uses the break to slow down enough before putting her feet down to stop.

8. 
    

   Allow your child to continue riding both bikes until she is really comfortable on the regular bike. Don't make the transition permanent. This will help her keep her confidence up. My son enjoyed going back and forth between the bikes, until he felt more comfortable on the two wheeler. Children enjoy trying something new, but also like going back at times to something that feels safer.

Tips & Warnings

• ALWAYS have your child wear a helmet.
• Take your time. Make sure your child is enjoying the transition and having fun!

[mweise]

on 7/5/2009 Passing this article on to my friends who have young children. Great job :)

[toogie2]

on 7/4/2009 I had never heard of a balance bike. I wish they'd been around when I was a kid.