Learning Cycle for Kids
Most kids love riding their bikes, but of course riding a bike is certainly not a skill that we are born with. Most youngsters start off with a bike with stabilizers and rely on grown ups to teach them the skills and coordination required to ride a proper bike. Learning cycle can be a really fun experience for both the child and the parents, and as well as teaching them coordination and control is a great way to spend quality time together and do some valuable bonding. Here are some pointers to remember:
- Start a young child off with a bike that has stabilizers, as this will enable him or her to get used to the movement and coordination required without the risk of falling off and getting seriously hurt.
- Do not push your child into learning how to ride a bike without stabilizers until he or she feels ready. It is important that the child has a certain degree of confidence in order to successfully learn how to ride a bike, so don’t push the child and certainly don’t get impatient during the early stages of learning.
- Start teaching your child to ride a bike in the warmer seasons – spring or summer. Cold weather, and worse still snow and ice, can be very off-putting and even dangerous.
- Make sure that your child is appropriately dressed for learning how to ride a bike. This means clothing that is not long or dragging, as it could get caught in the wheels. Make sure that the clothing is suitable for the weather, and does not restrict the child’s movement. Also, never forget a safety helmet to prevent head injury.
- Choose a suitable area, where there are few obstructions, and no dangers. A grassy area that is flat is ideal, as it provides a softer landing area should the child fall.
- When you first start to teach your child, hold on to one of the bike handles, and with the other hand hold on to the back of the child’s jacket/top. Gradually, as the child gets used to pedalling and coordination, let go of the handle but keep a hold on the top. You can gradually start letting go of the back of the child’s top too so that he or she is cycling alone.
- Do not let you child go out on main roads or streets when he or she is new to cycling alone – let the child get used to handling a bike alone in a safer area, such as the park or garden, until he or she is totally confident.