Although the idea of teaching your child to ride a bike may seem like a lovely experience which you’ll always remember fondly, it’s often pretty stressful. From skinned knees to scuffed up knees, and your little ones crying in frustration, there will be a learning curve.
However, with the right tips, you can get them rolling without training wheels in no time. Here are some of the best ways to help them learn as fast as possible without getting into an accident.
Teach Them Balance
Before your soon-to-be cyclist learns to pedal, they have to learn the art of balancing. While a lot of parents opt for starting their little ones out on a balance bike without pedals before going for a full model, you can also do it with a real bike and no training wheels.
Be sure that their feet can touch the ground so that they can get their bearings. Have them “pedal” themselves forward by placing their feet flat on the ground and propelling themselves forward. This simple movement will them build the foundation for riding with pedals later on.
Find The Grass
A lot of parents opt for teaching their kids to ride on a flat surface like the sidewalk. While this is logical in terms of smooth riding, it’s also a recipe for getting injured. Not to mention there may be cars nearby which could be a threat to their safety.
Instead, try to teach them on the grass. They’ll roll slower than they would on pavement, and if they fall, it won’t be as painful of a fall.
Try to find a small grass hill so that they can pick up a bit of speed. That way they can get some momentum going without having to pedal initially.
As they pick up the speed encourage them to lift their feet off the ground.
Never Hold On To Their Bike
Although your first instinct may be to hold on to their bike in case they take a spill, it can actually make things worse. When they’re first learning to find their own natural balance, the last thing they need is someone else’s force interrupting their form.
As long as the seat is lowered and their feet can touch the ground, you can just walk behind them.
Encourage Them To Look Up
You may not remember yourself doing it. However, most kids look down when they first start riding. It’s natural to look down at the ground if you’re afraid of hitting it, so try to be patient.
However, encourage them consistently to keep their eyes up and ahead to make balancing less difficult and obstacles easier to see.