Teach a Child to Ride a Bike Using the "Grassy Slope" Method
Kids want to ride bikes, but they fear hard falls and scrapes on the pavement. A beginning rider moves too slowly to find stability. Moving feet from the ground to the pedals is a daunting challenge.
This "grassy slope" approach alleviates the fear of falling, while developing enough speed to reach stability. Seat adjustment helps ease the transition from feet on the ground to feet on the pedals. The right slope provides enough speed for stability, but not so much that a child can’t regain control by putting the feet down.
Steps
- Lower the bike seat so that your child can put both feet flat on the ground.
- Hold the bike at the top of the grassy slope, while your child straddles the seat and puts both feet on the ground.
- Assure your child that you'll hold the seat until the bike gets moving.
- Tell your child to put both feet back down on the ground if it wobbles too much.
- Go for it! After a few successful runs, tell your child to coast down with his feet on the pedals, but not yet pedaling.
- Raise the seat so that the child's knees are slightly bent at the bottom of the pedaling cycle.
- Tell your child to pedal down the slope.
- Awesome! Your child is riding a bike!
Tips
- Consider removing the pedals. This reduces the chance of injury and helps the child place their legs and feet wherever they feel most comfortable.
- Falls are not uncommon, so consider additional safety gear for a fearful child, such as elbow pads and wrist protectors. Of course, helmets are usually essential. You may also want to invest in a good pair of knee pads. Better to be safe than sorry!
- Scout the slopes yourself first, while on your bike. The right slope is critical. If the slope is too gradual to sustain a stable coast, find a steeper slope. If the slope is too steep to stop the bike with the feet, find a more gradual slope.
- Demonstrate the activity yourself first, while your child watches.
- Your child should wear closed-toe comfortable shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
- Celebrate together. This is a momentous occasion. Take some pictures.
- Build up your child's balance skills first, by encouraging your child to ride a two-wheeled scooter, and a bike with training wheels, in a flat, safe area.
Warnings
- Be prepared to switch to other slopes. Your child may not tolerate speeds that you find comfortable.
- Give your child plenty of time to develop confidence before moving from one step to the next. Some children thrive on new challenges, while others need more practice to master one step before moving on to the next.
Things You'll Need
- Grassy park with a smooth, slightly downhill slope.
- Bike, appropriate size, with training wheels removed.
- Wrench to adjust the seat.
- Bike seat adjusted so that your child can put both feet flat on the ground.
- Properly-fitted bike helmet.
