Teach a Child to Ride a Bike

You know the saying, "It's like riding a bike"? Well, you've got to learn to ride before you can have a chance to forget. Teaching your child can be tough, but it can be done. There will be two methods discussed, the first involving the use of training wheels, the second without. People have argued that training wheels are not the best way to teach a child to start riding a bike, as they are difficult to maneuver around corners. The second method focuses on learning how to balance on a bike, by removing the pedals.

Steps

Training Wheels Method

1. Encourage your child to ride his or her bike. Tell your child how much fun it is to ride a bike. Set a good example by riding your own bike and having a good time. Make sure you always wear your helmet! When your child gets on the bike show them how fun it is. Tell them not to put their feet on the ground and show them how to pedal.
2. Equip your child with proper safety gear.Buy a helmet and a set of knee and elbow pads for your child. Make sure each time your child practices with his/her bike they are wearing safety gear. This teaches good safety habits.
3. Attach training wheels to your child's bicycle. Training wheels make learning to ride much easier and safer.
4. Show them how to mount the bike, by throwing one leg over the back wheel and standing over the center bar. Help them into the seat. Make sure the height is set so that they can keep their feet on the ground while sitting on the seat. For the first bike ride with training wheels, keep your hand under the seat behind them, or on the bike to comfort your child. Stay near your child until they feel more comfortable with the bike and come to enjoy the ride. After a few weeks, you may move on to the next steps that are more specific toward teaching your child to ride a two-wheeled bike.
5. Hold the bike upright while they become comfortable with being seated on the bike. The first two-wheeled bike ride will be a bit intimidating to your child, so speak words of encouragement along the process.
6. Have the child put their feet onto the pedals and begin pedaling slowly. Continue to hold the bike upright. You may wish to do this and the next few steps for the first time on grass to ensure a soft landing for the inevitable first fall.
7. Push gently and help them increase speed enough that the bike could remain upright without support. Don't let go yet!
8. Ask the child if they are comfortable and feeling safe. Reassure them that they are doing fine. Tell them you are going to let go of the bike and they'll keep going on their own.
9. Let go of the bike gradually, but walk or run alongside the bike so your child knows you are still there. Continue to offer encouragement and support, but don't try to correct them.
10. Help them up after they fall. Make sure they aren't hurt without scaring them. Help them back onto the bike to try again.
11. Ride with them or walk alongside for the first several times they go out on their bike. There are going to be many, many falls, and your child may want your help.
12. Use the "towel method" to teach your child how to balance on the bike. Wrap a large bath towel around your child's waist and twist the ends to form a large soft "rope" behind him/her. Do NOT twist the towel too tightly. Hold the towel rope firmly by the ends and jog along behind the bike while your child rides and balances on the bike by him/herself. Do not hold the bike or your child, but use the towel to gently keep their balance as they pedal along. This method is much more effective than you holding onto the bike as your child must find the correct balance almost exclusively on their own while the towel provides a "safety net" they can lean against should they start to tip over.
13. Attach a short rope to the seat post. This can initially be used as a handle to keep the bike upright while they are learning to balance. As their balance skills grow, you can let out more slack in the rope, yet still have the ability to catch them and keep them from falling by pulling the rope tightly upward.

No Training Wheel Method

1. Remove the pedals and have the child "scoot" around. This may last for a week, or two if needed. Put the pedals back on and show the child how they work.
2. See step 5 onward of method one for encouraging your child to ride the bike with pedals.
3. Finished.

Tips

• It may take several days or weeks before your child can ride their bike alone. Don't rush them, just offer support at whatever speed they are most comfortable learning at.
• To prevent falls, advise your child to turn in the direction of their fall (i.e. if they are falling on their left side, then turn handle bars to the left. If they are falling to the right, turn handle bars to the right. This will automatically cause them to correct themselves. When children transition from training wheels to a two- wheeler, they maintain the logic to "turn in the direction they want to go". This works against them when on a two wheel bike. Give this method a try, it works.
• Another good method is to remove the pedals from the bike (remember the left pedal is reverse threaded), and have the child ride like that. They will use their feet to propel themselves down the road, and eventually take their feet off the road when they are ready to balance. Then replace the pedals and let them ride normally.
• Alternatively, depending on the age of your child, buy a pre-bike. This is a light weight two wheeler but without the complication of pedals etc. The child learns to balance, scoot and then glide along, potentially from a very young age. When you child is ready you can then introduce a bike with pedals.
• Don't force your child to ride a bike if they don't want to. If they aren't interested, they won't learn no matter how much you force them to try.
• However, if your child doesn't feel comfortable riding the bike then tell them that they don't have to if they don't want to, especially if they are scared.

Warnings

• Make sure that the brakes are working properly and tires are in good conditions.
• Always make your child wear a helmet when riding their bike.
• Try practicing on grass instead of pavement. The grass gives traction and stability.
• Make sure that your child wear the kid gloves during training.

Things You'll Need

• Correctly-sized bike
• Safety helmet
• Kid hands gloves
• Training wheels
• Large soft bath towel

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