Teaching to ride a bike

Did you teach your child to ride a bike? If you are wondering what is the best method, we can tell you all about it. Today, with a help from wikihow, we share with you Top 10 useful tips.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Attach training wheels to your child’s bicycle. Training wheels make learning to ride much easier and safer.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Push gently and help them increase speed enough that the bike could remain upright without support. Don’t let go yet!

•  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.

• 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.

• 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.