Walking on a bicycle is one of the favorite pastimes both for kids who have barely learned to walk and for older children. But first, the child needs to be taught to ride, and then he can not do without parental help and support. However, not all adults know how to properly teach this skill, at what age should this be done, and how to choose a bicycle that is ideal for your child. Read about all this in our article.
What is a bicycle useful for?
Riding an iron horse not only gives children a lot of positive emotions, but also develops strength, agility and endurance, and also strengthens the muscles of the arms and legs. While riding a bicycle, the internal organs are saturated with oxygen and their blood supply improves.
Children’s doctors are sure that cycling strengthens the immune system and speeds up the metabolism, so we recommend cycling often sick kids and overweight children.
In addition, riding a two- or three-wheeled friend is a good prevention of childhood myopia, because the child will have to constantly peer into the distance. Also, bike rides remarkably raise the mood of children and charge them with a wonderful mood for the whole day.
When to start training?
So, the benefits of driving a bicycle are obvious, so do not delay the start of training. Only you need to do this in stages, moving from a simple technique to a more complex one.
The first trip, however, on a tricycle can be made at the age of one and a half years. For some reason, many parents are skeptical of this type of transport, but it will help the baby master the simplest riding skills - turn the steering wheel and pedal.
The most important thing in the learning process is not to demand from the child the impossible. Discontent from adults can cause a baby's insecurity, fear of a bicycle and unwillingness to exercise.
Safe Driving Rules
The first training is not always easy and confident. Falls, abrasions, bruises and, as a result, tears are common in this process. That is why parents need to take care of child safety, regardless of which bike (two- or three-wheeled) will be trained.
- The baby must wear protective equipment. Get a helmet, special knee pads and elbow pads for him. Make sure the helmet is not too big or small, and the chin strap is adjustable in size. Every time you exercise, wear these protective equipment on your child.
Wear shoes that are comfortable for such an important task, which should firmly clasp your legs and have a non-slip wide sole to ensure “grip” with the pedals. Do not let them ride in sandals or barefoot: if the foot suddenly jumps off, then the child can hit with fingers painfully.- The bicycle must meet basic requirements: a comfortable handlebar and seat, ease of travel, maneuverability and high quality materials. It should not have protruding corners, about which the baby can be scratched, and plastic parts that he can break off and swallow.
Learning to ride a tricycle
- The first step is to choose a bike that is suitable for height. For this, the baby needs to sit on it. If the child falls to the ground with his whole foot and can bend his knees slightly, then you have picked up the bike correctly.
- Show that if you carry a bicycle like a stroller, then it can ride. For more persuasiveness, put a teddy bear on the seat. Let the child drive the toy rider himself by turning the steering wheel in the process and studying the features of the movement. And only then invite the baby to take its rightful place and begin training.
- If the area of the apartment allows, open the first highway in it. Put your child’s hands on the steering wheel and place the small legs on the pedals. Holding his hips, show the movement of the legs while riding. Now let him try it yourself, and you push him from behind. On a tricycle, the child learns a simple skill - movement occurs when the pedals are rotated.
- At the next stage, you can already go for walks. For them, a stadium or school yard with a flat surface and the absence of other vehicles is best suited. Now children's attention is completely focused on the pedals, so the baby will go anywhere without choosing a direction.
- The conscious control of the baby will only become mastered after it brings the ability to pedal to automaticity. Although some parents are first taught to own the wheel, and only then they transfer the attention of the baby to the pedals. There isn’t much difference, just to teach both skills should be phased, since both the child cannot drive and steer at the same time.
- Remember that your classes should not last more than half an hour. And if the baby is naughty, refuses to continue training, do not insist. Postpone training until a better time.
We master a two-wheeled bicycle
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So, it is time to switch to a more advanced mode of transport - a two-wheeled bicycle. Most often this happens in four years.
- Adjust the bicycle seat so that the preschooler, sitting on it, can reach the ground with his feet. When the child learns to stay confident in the saddle, he can again be raised to the required height.
- Some adults use side wheels for safety reasons. However, in the opinion of many experienced parents, they should not be used, since the child does not learn to balance with them. They are acceptable if the children have not previously trained on a tricycle.
- In the next step, turn the bike into a scooter by temporarily removing one pedal from an iron horse. The child accelerates, starting from the ground with one foot, and the other rests on the pedal. At the same time, he still has to hold the wheel with both hands. In such a simple way, the baby improves the ability to maintain balance.
- We return the pedals to their place and try to ride a bicycle with your support. Do not keep the vehicle behind the wheel or seat. Just follow the baby, holding his shoulders.
- Remember to train your child to get off the bike properly. First, teach you to tilt it towards yourself, at the same time resting your foot on the ground. Try the same exercise and on the other hand is great.
- Another mandatory point is the ability to slow down. Roll the bike with the baby and ask him to brake. Immediately release the vehicle and make sure that the child lowers his foot to the ground after braking.
Learning to ride a bike should be a positive and rewarding experience for your baby.Therefore, do not postpone the purchase of an iron horse for later. Perhaps the genuine interest and enthusiasm of the child will infect all households, and soon mom and dad will also become avid cyclists.
READ ALSO: 10 best kids tricycles for kids
As a rule, a child is happy to strive to learn to ride a bicycle, especially if it is a son. The main thing is to create a positive attitude and a cheerful mood. Encourage and praise the child for the slightest success. Learn to ride in the park or at the playground where there are other children on bicycles.
My daughter did not want to kill the safety wheels for a long time and, in fact, I did not rush her. After a while, looking at her friends, she herself asked to be removed. At first it didn’t work, but after two or three days, I began to ride pretty well on two wheels.
Hello! I’ll tell you my experience as we taught the eldest son to learn to ride a bike on his own. Naturally, the first bike he had became a bike with a handle (one of the parents controls the bike), then when his son became interested in pedals and gradually reached the pedals with his legs, we bought him a 3-wheeled lightweight bike. And he began in the literal sense of the word to drive at the most convenient opportunity. Then the child bought a four-wheeled bicycle, having driven it literally for about 3 months, the child asked to remove the side wheels. And do not believe it in one day, learned to ride without side wheels. Now his son is already 9 years old and he has a big sports bike. First of all, parents need to ensure and teach safety on the road. Since we live in the private sector and cars drive everywhere and always. And not every driver respects the speed limit. To be honest, we did away with the purchase of protection for the arms and legs. But dear parents, do not neglect this golden rule. With the advent of my daughter, I consider it simply a must!
My child wanted to learn to ride a two-wheeled bicycle, bought him a bike, began to learn, he was nervous, naughty. I went home, and his friend went out into the street, he is older than his son and already knows how to ride, so he taught him in 15 minutes, and I suffered for three days.