5yo can ride new bike but won't - where are we going wrong??

[lovechoc]

DS1 turned 5 last month and because of all the rain he's only been out once on it - and he briefly managed to ride it but had had enough so we came home...

A month later, we're out this morning and DS1 was riding fine, infact he went quite a bit on his own peddling away and then just collapsed on the pavement (no cars around, it's a quiet area) so I helped him get up and we tried again but he started crying and just gave up. He got on the bike a few more times but kept crashing (DH suspects he was doing it deliberately as a way of telling us he just doesn't want to ride a bike).

I thought most children love riding a bike around this age and that's why we bought it for him as a birthday surprise.

What can we do to encourage him to go out on it? We have spent a lot of money on the bike and want it to get used.

He has been using the balance bike before we got him a 'proper' bike and he was going quite a distance without having both feet on the ground but he had outgrown the balance bike, hence getting him this new bike.

You can't make him like it. All you can do is keep suggesting he goes out on it over the summer but if he says no, that's it, you just have to accept it. If he has friends who ride bikes perhaps you could arrange for them to bring them to the park for them all to ride together?

Did he ask for a bike?

He doesn't have stabilisers on this new bike, DH didn't think it was necessary since he was able to go the balance bike without any difficulties. No, he didn't ask for the bike, it was a surprise present for his birthday.

Thanks for replying, btw. Yes I think one of his nursery friends is getting a bike next weekend for his birthday so I will try and arrange something soon, in the hope that the bike won't just sit gathering dust.

I was really keen for my 4 year old to go from a balance bike to a pedal bike but the more enthusiastic I was the more mulish he got about not doing it. So I put it in the garage for 3 months and didn't mention it all. One day he decided to wanted to try and since then he's cycled nearly every day. Cailin's idea about engineering a cycle ride with friends is also good but maybe try that after a bit of a break.

I don't think you can my DS 6.5 has had 2 bikes and has been on them both about 4 times in total I think it's something they either like or don't

Thanks for everyone's input, it's helped me see it from another perspective..I have obviously been talking about it enthusiastically without realising that DS is becoming more reluctant to want to cycle. I will keep quiet about it and put the bike away in the hope that one day he'll bring it up again. If not, then DS2 may get some use out of it in the future.

We had this with ds1. As we live in a cul-de-sac, the kids often ride bikes outside with neighbours children. I used to just leave both the old and new bike out. After a while, he tried the new bike and didnt look back.

Oh, can I ask for some advice on this thread please?

It's an actual, how the hell do you teach a child to ride a bike?! DS1 is 7 and still can't DS2 is 5 and can't.

DS1 gets a case of the wiggles so can't balance and falls off after a few rounds on the pedals.
DS2 just isn't interested, we briefly got him on it but he claims he can't peddle, even with someone holding him. He does however whiz around on school bikes with stabilisers like a pro.

My main concern is bike week will be coming up at school soon and DS1 is the only kid in the class that can't ride a bike, but we're getting absolutely nowhere with him learning, no progress has been made at all, I'm worried he'll get bullied because he can't ride. Any ideas or advice?

I think they just do it when they are ready , just leave them alone to practice on their own is my advice.

Titsalina (love the name) I think just leave it for a while seems to be the advice from everyone, and in some cases some children just don't take to bikes as they grow up anyway.

Am gutted slightly that DS1 just isn't 'getting it'. I was so excited as a child to ride a bike, I was off on the first chance I got! Just assumed DS would be the same. Nevermind, will leave it for a while (few months).

Maybe the new bike is too big for him. When they are first learning to move from a balance bike to a proper bike they need the bike to be as small as possible, so NOT the right size for them but too small.

TitsalinaBumSquash the easiest way is to take the pedals off, lower the seat as low as it will go then let them learn to balance on it (like a balance bike). Once they can go several metres without touching the floor put the pedals back on. Now run along behind them and let them balance between your hands. Run along with your hands at shoulder height so if the lean over one side they can bump off your hand back upright. DO NOT hold onto any part of the bike as this will mean you are balancing the bike not them so they aren't learning how to do it themselves.

There is a you tube video about it but I can't find it right now

Here is the method explained better here but think the you tube video may be gone as my link to it won't work

Titsalina, You could try taking the pedals off, putting the seat really low and letting them scoot round like that for a bit to get the balance. There are some good youtube videos showing this.

Lovechoc, I know exactly what you mean. I love cycling and I was so keen for DS to cycle. I hope it works out.

Titsalina, have you done the thing where you hold the back of the bike and support them whilst they pedal and then let go when they're balanced and on a straight run? You dont tell them but let them pedal on for a bit and then they realise and fall off...but it works....it's how I was taught and how we taught both our DDs.

I think its easier for them to learn on a slight slope

We bought ds2 a bike for his 5th birthday. He could already ride a smaller bike without stabilisers. He didn't ride his new bike until after his 6th birthday! Ds1 and ds2 could cycle without stabilisers at three. Ds3 still can't and he's nearly 6!