Learning to ride a bike (aged 7 and a half)

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

My son will be eight in January. He can't ride a bike yet.

We have tried a balance bike, and taking the pedals off. We've tried with stabilisers. Usually ends in tears.

I am wary of pushing him (not literally), as I can't ride one either.

My parents took the "we will shout at you until you can" approach, which resulted in much misery so I'm not going down that route.....

I think he's inherited my lack of co-ordination and lack of confidence, so I think a softly softly approach is needed. Or bribery may work!

Any suggestions?

And yes, our DS struggles with coordination too, things like sequencing movements together are a challenge for him. But he can now ride his bike and we are all very relieved .

Well we had some success this afternoon - have taken pedals and stabilisers off his bike and he's been going round the garden pushing with his feet. He didn't cry, which is a major improvement!

That's great! It should only take a couple of hours of this and then hopefully he should get his balance....

I have just bought my rising-7 dd a bike, realising that she's the only kid in her class who can't ride one. She is fearful and gives up quickly, and I didn't learn to ride a bike till I was 20, so I am expecting to be in your position within a week

Sounds like he's making positive progress, though. Best of luck.

I tried and tried with my dd2, who is fairly uncoordinated. Ended up giving up for a while, then bought all the kids new bikes when she was nearly ten - took her to the park, gave her the bike and left her to it and within 15 minutes she was doing laps of the field.