6 year old not interested in riding a bike

Collette78 · 03/01/2025 14:25

If he’s not interested in it then leave him alone. He’s allowed to have his own interests and clearly prefers the scooter and doing other things.
You don’t need to enforce he must ride a bike.

superplumb · 03/01/2025 14:40

Bluepolkadotteapot · 03/01/2025 14:23

My DS is 6 (possibly AUHD - on waiting list for a diagnosis) he’s never been particularly interested in bikes or learning to ride one. We’ve taken him out a couple of times and he’s not really bothered.
However he loves racing the park on his scooter. He’s also a good climber, runner, walker etc.
But most of his friends are on bikes now. He definitely couldn’t manage without stabilisers but he actually pedals backwards, he can’t seem to get the hang of it at all.

We will keep going with it; but he seems more interested in carrying on his scooter.

I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 10, I’m AUHD , but I’m sure I also have dyspraxia.

Mine was exactly the same. Also asd. He tried again when he was 8 and picked it up in 5 mins. He loves it now. Swimming however is a different matter.

ridingfreely · 03/01/2025 14:45

DD 7.5 is the same, she's just not interested and can't get the hang of peddling. Can 100% balance at horseriding and trotting so I'm sure she would conquer a bike - she just has zero interest

I'm about to give up to be honest and just accept it's not her thing. She also zooms off on a 2 wheeled scooter

CouldItBeAnyMoreObvious · 03/01/2025 14:47

Bluepolkadotteapot · 03/01/2025 14:23

My DS is 6 (possibly AUHD - on waiting list for a diagnosis) he’s never been particularly interested in bikes or learning to ride one. We’ve taken him out a couple of times and he’s not really bothered.
However he loves racing the park on his scooter. He’s also a good climber, runner, walker etc.
But most of his friends are on bikes now. He definitely couldn’t manage without stabilisers but he actually pedals backwards, he can’t seem to get the hang of it at all.

We will keep going with it; but he seems more interested in carrying on his scooter.

I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 10, I’m AUHD , but I’m sure I also have dyspraxia.

What is your aibu?
Nothing wrong with the child having no interest in riding a bike, even if his mates are.
Why is this a problem for you?

PixieTrance89 · 03/01/2025 14:49

Don't force it if he's not interested, just let him use his scooter instead

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 03/01/2025 15:19

Dts don't get until almost 8, they learnt to ride a horse quicker. They are acutely hyper mobile and just didn't have the strength. They can ride a bike now but have no interest

beachsandseaicecream · 03/01/2025 15:23

My 8 year old is the same. Not interested and never has been. We took him to a cycling lesson about 18 months ago and he was riding within the hour, not been on a bike since.

MintTwirl · 03/01/2025 15:26

My eldest(14) never learnt to ride, we tried a few times but he just had no interest in it. I didn’t see the point in forcing it.

Nanny0gg · 03/01/2025 15:59

Bluepolkadotteapot · 03/01/2025 14:23

My DS is 6 (possibly AUHD - on waiting list for a diagnosis) he’s never been particularly interested in bikes or learning to ride one. We’ve taken him out a couple of times and he’s not really bothered.
However he loves racing the park on his scooter. He’s also a good climber, runner, walker etc.
But most of his friends are on bikes now. He definitely couldn’t manage without stabilisers but he actually pedals backwards, he can’t seem to get the hang of it at all.

We will keep going with it; but he seems more interested in carrying on his scooter.

I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 10, I’m AUHD , but I’m sure I also have dyspraxia.

I know a child who isn't interested in either

I'm not sure it's a hindrance

If they don't enjoy them/are nervous of them I think they should be left alone

Needmorelego · 03/01/2025 16:05

Does it matter?
Mine never learned (she's 16). We don't live in a place she could easily/safely ride and we don't have a car to get to cycle route places.
So she never learned.

Pottedpalm · 03/01/2025 16:10

I wouldn’t worry, let him continue using his scooter.
DS never had any interest in football, I don’t think he voluntarily kicked a ball i his entire life.
He is a fully functioning adult with a delightful wife ( who has no interest in football ) a child and an excellent job.

2025mustbebetter · 03/01/2025 16:17

My daughter still had a bike buddy by the time she was 7. She just couldn't let go and do it herself. She is autistic and does have poor gross motor skills. We felt she could do it she just had a mental barrier as she knew she found it harder than her friends. What worked in the end was being at a camp site and she was desperate to play with the others but they were all on bikes and we refused to follow her round holding the bar. She got on with it pretty quickly then!

My sisters 2 boys (also autistic) have never learned they are 15 and 12. It has not really affected them as they weren't interested.

I think if he likes his scooter let him get on with it, if he develops an interest he's more likely to give the bike another go.

JohnofWessex · 03/01/2025 16:48

You may not get one in his size given his age but try a balance bike - no pedals and make sure it has a brake!

Sprogonthetyne · 03/01/2025 16:52

My autistic DS didn't learn until nearly 8, and only then because his OT ran summer classes in conjunction with coaches from the local leisure centre. The classes were amazing and the only reason he can ride, I honestly don't think I could have taught him myself.

Raggeo · 03/01/2025 17:06

With my eldest we had put the stabilisers on the bike then put planks of wood under them to raise the back wheel off the ground, so the bike couldn't move. Then he used it like a static exercise bike for a while to get used to the pedalling motion. The pedalling wasn't something he just picked up.

35Emma · 03/01/2025 17:13

My eldest had a bike for Christmas when he was about 5. Fell off it over the Christmas holidays and barely rode it again after that despite lots of encouragement.
Fast forward 6 years and he now rides his bike all over the place including to and from school. I thought I’d never be able to get him into cycling but now he chooses to ride his bike without prompting - maybe he’s just not ready / interested and will come back to it later.