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Original poster

Can your 4 year old ride a bike without stabilisers?

28 replies

Kyrptonite · 21/11/2013 17:12

Just that really. DS is desperate to ride his bike to his new school on Monday but I don't want him to look like a baby if he can't master without stabilisers over the weekend!

OP posts:
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HoratiaDrelincourt · 21/11/2013 17:20

DS1 learned at five. Some of his peers were slightly earlier.

We cracked it by taking the stabilisers and pedals off at the same time. He spent a weekend whizzing about on it like a balance bike, then when we put the pedals back on he had the muscle memory of the balance of that particular bike and that was that!

HoratiaDrelincourt · 21/11/2013 17:21

FWIW though he cycled to school a few times with stabilisers attached and nobody batted an eyelid.

barnet · 21/11/2013 17:22

Yes he could at 3yrs, but he had been on a balance bike for 6 months or so before that.

HenriettaPie · 21/11/2013 17:29

DS is 3.6 and still can't ride a bike WI

HenriettaPie · 21/11/2013 17:29

Oops - with stabilisers!! BlushBlush

ViviDeBeauvoir · 21/11/2013 17:30

No. Am thinking of getting a balance bike for Ds1's 3rd birthday which DD will be able to use too.

bundaberg · 21/11/2013 17:30

yes, he can but i think that's because he used a balance bike for ages beforehand. he isn't that confident yet though

rwepi · 21/11/2013 17:30

No,ds1 was 8!

LegoAcupuncture · 21/11/2013 17:31

We taught ds3 (aged 4) over the summer to ride without stabilisers. There are plenty of children in his class and those above though that come to school with stabilisers on. Don't worry about it.

MirandaWest · 21/11/2013 17:31

DS could ride without stabilisers when he was 4.5

DD didn't manage with stabilisers until she was nearly 5. She learned to ride without stabilisers when she was 6.

imip · 21/11/2013 17:35

Dd1 was 3.9, dd2 was 4.11

Both used balance bikes. Dd1 got it in 15 mins, dd2 who is possibly asd and has a few other issues took a year. Confidence really held her back. She was doing it, but we had to run holding her top for quite a while.

Unfortunately, dd3 3.8 isn't even using our much loved balance bike yet. Our girls are close together, and it took a while to crack dd2 riding.

In short, they are all so different, but around here, those with balance bikes are riding at 3 or 4. I heartily recommend a balance bike as an easier way to teach kids how to ride a bike.

Dd4 1.10 is very keen and will probably be riding the balance bike before dd3.

lougle · 21/11/2013 17:40

Yes, DD3 is 4.7 and has been riding without stabilisers for around 4-5 months, although only in the garden, so I don't know about riding with control.

DD2 was 6 when she learned.

DD1 has SN and still can't.

youbethemummylion · 21/11/2013 17:40

Yes might it be better for him to go on scooter or just walk until you have sussed out what the others are doing.

ChazDingle · 21/11/2013 19:45

DS is 3.6 and can't even pedal a bike or trike yet.

He's only just mastered a scooter!!

lljkk · 21/11/2013 19:50

Gawd are you joking, 5yo was avg when I was a kid (5 in 1972) & it's about avg now (which means 6 isn't unusual).

Jiltedjohnsjulie · 21/11/2013 20:02

He won't look like a baby, in fact if he does manage it without stabilisers it will probably cause more comment.

Mine were 5 and 6 before they managed it and the 5 yo was earlier than lots of her peers.

Original poster
Kyrptonite · 21/11/2013 20:06

Oh good. We got him a new bike today as a treat for starting his new school and putting up with a week of high dose laxatives so I'm really pleased he won't look silly riding up to school on it if he still has stabilisers.

OP posts:
BackforGood · 21/11/2013 20:07

None of mine could at that age - more like 6,7,8 (tries to remember, but I know it wasn't that young)

Liara · 21/11/2013 20:07

Mine both could (well, ds2 isn't quite 4 yet but he already can) and most people seem very surprised by the fact.

At ds1's school when he was 4 most children couldn't, and he was one of the younger ones.

I really wouldn't worry.

bigTillyMint · 21/11/2013 20:09

DD learned when she turned 4. DS just rode straight off 2 weeks after his 3rd birthdayShock

nextphase · 21/11/2013 20:10

Yes, his 4th birthday present was a bike (so his little brother could have the balance bike).
He's in reception at school now, and generally gets comments like wow, no stabilisers.
Most of them seem to have stabilisers, unless they have been on balance bikes!

Guitargirl · 21/11/2013 20:10

My DS aged 4 has just learnt without stabilisers but then so has his sister at aged 6. I wouldn't bat an eyelid to see a Reception age child with stabilisers.

NotintheMiddle · 21/11/2013 21:02

Two of mine could (the two that had balance bikes) The other two were 4yrs9months and 6 (i think)

I certainly wouldn't think it unusual to see a 4 year old on stabilisers.

ilovepowerhoop · 21/11/2013 21:16

dd has only just learned and she has just turned 10 (she fell off when she was younger and couldnt be persuaded to try again until recently). DS learned when he was 6 (at the same time as dd was trying again)

pigleychez · 22/11/2013 22:10

DD1 got a new bike for her 5th birthday (without stabilisers) She cracked it in about a week! She previously had a balance bike but has always been such a nervy child and the slightest wobble would freak her out! Was amazed how quickly she mastered it actually. Id say shes probably about average, maybe abit earlier that her peers.

DD2 (3.5) has just inherited the balance bike and was instantly whizzing about on it. She is much more confident on it and more phsyical in general.

I think it depends on the child alot.
We have an 8 yr old friend who still cant seem to master pedals and no stabilisers.