tying shoelaces, riding a bike etc

[superbagpuss]

what age did your DC start tying shoelaces, riding a bike with stabilisers and other development points?

we have had a letter home from school asking if D's can tie his shoelaces yet, I thought at 4 it was too early to expect that and now I'm wondering what else he should be able to do by now that I haven't been working on

[drinkingtea]

5-6 is probably average for bike riding without stabilizors in the UK... maybe 2.5 or 3 would be averagw with (as its just the same as a trike/ pedal ride on with stabilizoes). In countries where stabilizors are not a "thing" and the normal route is balance bike to pedal bike, 3.5-4 is the normal age to be riding without stabilizers, with a general feeling that anything after 4 is late... but it is 90% opportunity to ride the balance bike lots from age 2, or earlier, 8% inclination and 2% talent IMo (where no SN are in the mix of course).

[HolidayCriminal]

there is nothing fantastic about riding so early without stabilisers. They go too slow for rides with adults & they go too fast for adults to keep up with them unless you run. Without stabilisers they want to go on the roads like adults & they may lack coordination to manage brakes, too. Never mind lacking sense of knowing when to brake. Unless they drag their feet to brake (not nice if you paid a small fortune for their shoes).

I'm a huge fan of them not riding without stabilisers until at least 6yo, but I wasn't so lucky.

We had a balance bike only for DC4 & it definitely slowed him down learning to ride without stabilisers, so that was a good thing. I still had to chase him all the time on the balance bike which could be nerve wracking. Balance bikes typically have no brakes so shoe drag might be only way to stop. So am not a huge fan of balance bikes although they do look cute.

[SugarPlumpFairy3]

Dd was almost 3 when she rode a bike with stabilisers, just turned 5 without.

She had just turned 7 when she learnt to tie shoe laces.

[Forago]

4 is way too early for shoelaces I'd have said!

My ds1 was riding a bike without stabilisers the August before he turned 4 at Christmas. He is now in Y4 and learnt to tie his shoes reliably in Y3, around 8. i.e when he started playing a lot of football.

ds2 has only just learnt to ride a bike age 61/2 - they are all different which is what is silly about these prescriptive letters.

[bigkidsdidit]

Riding a bike with no stabilisers since 2.10 bit he had a balance bike since 18 months. He is currently 3.6 and absolutely no chance of laces, if he had any lace shoes!

[Pabboo]

I am not sure X even has shoes with laces.

He was riding a bike without stabilisers at 3yrs 11 months - but he had a balance bike before, then stabilisers for 6 months or so. I think the balance bike was essential for him to be able to ride a non-stabiliser bike so early.

[Forago]

I agree as an aside none of mine have ever used stabilisers but had balance bikes

[MeanwhileHighAboveTheField]

Well my youngest was riding a pedal at 22 months (never had stabilisers) so I disagree very strongly that balance bikes don't help them learn to ride.

He isn't even 3 and half yet but cycles everywhere - I wouldn't dream of running behind him like a loony. I have a bike and cycle everywhere with him. And if I have to walk he has good brakes and knows how to use them :)

[Delphiniumsblue]

They all do it in their own time. DS1 could ride a bike at 3yrs and DS2 was just short of his 7 th birthday. DS 3 couldn't tie shoe laces until he was 9 yrs- he changed schools and was too embarrassed to ask for help so he had to master it.

[Southpaws]

Dd is 4 in a few weeks and has just learned to ride a bike without stabilisers but has been riding her balance bike regularly for over a year so it was an easy transition. Would agree with others who have said give the stabilisers a swerve and use a balance bike instead.

[Mollymoo75]

My daughter is 7. She can tie shoe laces with bunny ears! Rides a bike with stabilisers and only just started learning to swim. I used to worry a lot about her development as she was one of the last of her age group to walk (at 16months). I was paranoid. But quickly learnt to stop worrying - everyone is different. But I do think you have to spend a bit of time coaching, helping, teaching and reassuring them.

[Mollymoo75]

My daughter is 7. She can tie shoe laces with bunny ears! Rides a bike with stabilisers and only just started learning to swim. I used to worry a lot about her development as she was one of the last of her age group to walk (at 16months). I was paranoid. But quickly learnt to stop worrying - everyone is different. But I do think you have to spend a bit of time coaching, helping, teaching and reassuring them.

[Mollymoo75]

My DD is 7. Learnt to tie shoe laces (bunny ears) at 6. But still has stabilisers on her bike and only just learning to swim. I used to worry a lot about her development. She was one of the last in her group of playmates to walk (16months). But I've learnt not to worry. You just need to show them you love them, encourage, support and practice with them. All children are different.

[ditsydoll]

Dd could tie her shoes at 4, she can ride a bike but we've not even tried without stabilizers yet (she's 5) because her balance is terrible!