My DC can't ride bikes

[Waitingfortheothershoe]

My eldest struggles with balance and is not at all motivated. I wish I had tried more when he was younger but it might have been to tricky for him anyway. But also didn't put the time in and embarrassment is a big factor now.

My 6 year old I think would love it once he got the hang of it but I can't persuade him to try. He has a lovely bike but if I take it out with us he just flat out refuses. I even tried bribing him with sweets.

Anyone else have this problem? I feel very guilty whenever I see little kids riding around on their bikes loving it.

I had great success with both of mine with a sturdy scarf across their shoulders behind their neck and then under their arms round the back. Learned it from a friend.

You can kind of suspend them from the scarf while they get their balance, running alongside them, then you gradually let the ends of the scarf out

A good tip is to get them to ride on grass. If they fall off, they won't hurt themselves.

Can they ride a scooter? If not maybe build up their confidence from there, it'll get them used to balancing. Good luck!

See if there's a local cycling hub or scheme near you that does bike training, my friend's son has SN and he had spend literally years unsuccessfully trying to get him to ride. The instructor managed it in a 1-hour class!

I learnt to ride at the park the week after the circus had been and everytime I fell off I found money people had dropped

If you think your DS is dyspraxic have you looked at getting a tricycle instead or a seat with a backrest?Cyclesprogs have some good suggestion for various adaptations that can be made for children with additional needs.

I think the balance bike idea might be the way to go. Both my DC had balance bikes as toddlers and quickly took to pedal bikes at 4/5ish with no need for stabilisers.

I'm trying to teach my five year old just now, but he's not keen. He learned to go his two wheeled scooter at start of lockdown and is great on it, so don't think balance is the problem. All his friends are doing it now, so we'll find a large grassy area over next couple of days and try a little bit of bribery I think!

Balance bike all the way as it gets them used to the feel of the bike.

Both mine had balance bikes and could ride a normal bike confidently at 3 years old. (youngest had just turned 3, oldest was 3.5) I find it very strange that 7/8/9 year olds can't ride a bike for me it is very important part of childhood.

We don't even remember much teaching at all especially my youngest he just got on it and rode it.

Can they use pedals at all? Is it the pedals or the balance that is more the issue? I guess balance at that age so maybe the idea with scooter for confidence is a good one.

Good luck, pretty sure they'll crack it quite easily once initial fear has gone

My ds 11 has as, adhd and many other issues which means that he can't balance on a bicycle so we got him a tricycle. Since he got it he's taken to cycling like a duck to water, that's not to say he hasn't had a couple of spills nor has he quite got the handle of the gears yet.
If you think that your DC is dyspraxia it might be worth looking into 1 for them. They can be quite expensive but are well worth it, they also can be very stylish my ds has a proper chopper

The older child is in a painfully cool preteen phase and wouldn't consider anything that looks different. He loved scooting, loved the speed until a friend made a joke about it being three wheels. Hasn't used it since.

Balance and bribery might be the way to go with younger child.

my ds has a proper chopper very cool!

Get the older one to look on mission cycles at some of the styles he might be pleasantly surprised

Balance and bribery might be the way to go with younger child.

And then wait for older brother to prove he can do what the younger one can...Sibling rivalry is powerful stuff.

You have to get out there and spend many boring hours holding onto the seat and running up and down the road with them. i did and now he rides a bike everywhere.
They won't do it without your constant input, like nappy training.

My 8 year old finally learned this week after refusing to even try for years. What finally motivated him was that I told him the older children meet up on bikes in secondary school and he won’t be able to go with them if he can’t cycle. He only started 5 days ago and is really good now - I thought he would never learn.

Take him to a park and learn on grass.

Also, you could try one of these to make it easier for you to hold the bike and to make your child feel more secure
www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/bikes/bike-accessories/parent-push-bar-for-bicycles/p/175588

Do your council have bikeability?
Dd1 struggled until they had a session per week at a holiday club one year.
First thing they did was take the pedals off btw.

My eight year old stepdaughter and three year old learned at the same time.
Years of using stabilisers had not taught the eight year old to ride.
Take the pedals off and let them learn to balance first- otherwise it is so much to learn at once!

When the start confidently "gliding" (taking feet off the floor) they are ready for the pedals back.

Please don't go down the roue of stabilisers - its much harder, go the lazy, stress free pedal removal way instead!

Do you have a cycle centre nearby? Obviously they will be shut at the moment but it may help to have another adult teach them. We have one at an old athletics track so it has that spongy tarmac and is a nice big flat quiet space. They can get most kids going in one session and have light bikes in all sizes to try out.

And then wait for older brother to prove he can do what the younger one can... Actually the younger one can do things the older one can't - since he was tiny. I think it'll feel particularly crap for him when it comes to cycling but that's just something to manage.

Cabinfever that website looks good thanks.

My oldest didn't really learn until she was about 7. She all of a sudden just "got it" after going to bikeability. My youngest is refusing so I'm just leaving her to it, she'll probably go the same way as her sister, she's only 5!

It takes practise and back ache for us parents to teach children how to cycle.

Persevere on grass and they will get it.

Our kids teach the little ones on balance bikes first then normal bikes when balance is established. When you see three year olds cycling on a normal bike you do a double take.

Balance bikes are great.
They weren’t so common when mine were younger, but I found it helpful to have 2 adults around when helping them to ride a bike, one to get them started ( push them forward) and one to run alongside / catch them when they fell/ help them up etc.
It does take time and patience, and lots of encouragement, but it’s never too late 😊

Two summer ago I gave it a really good try but one adult/two kids was impossible. Opportunity now to try teach each child by himself, but if we don't manage it a teacher/cycle centre might be a good idea.