Balance bike for a 5yr old?

[LalaDipsey]

I took the stabilisers of my daughter's bike about 6months ago, just before she turned 5 as it felt time, she was biking lots but not able to pick up speed. I am a single mum and also have 2.5yr old twins so this became a huge problem as I can't take her out in her own to practice as the twins have to come too. They run away so I can't focus my attention on getting her to cycle. The stabilisers have been thrown away as they were worn through. I have friends whose children made really quick transitions to biking from balance bikes and wondered if it made sense to get her a balance bike now as I am about to give the twins balance bikes and they could all learn it together? If this is a good idea, can anyone suggest one suitable for a five yr old? She is small to average for her age. Thanks

Take the pedal off your dd's bike and she can use it as a balance bike, I wouldn't be spending on a special balance bike at the age she is

Ooh. Any idea how?!

Take it to a bike shop, they should be able to do it for you. I tried with DS' but I can't do it.

Thanks, will take to Halfords this week

I'd just go somewhere like a park, or if your garden is big enough, encourage her to try. If she's keen she may well pick it up quickly. I don't see the point of balance bikes personally.

Garden's not big enough and I can't goto the park with her on my own. She's not hugely keen - although she wants to she's scared and needs confidence building up. In an ideal world it would be a 10 minute go a few times a week but that's not possible so hoping that trying to get her working a balance bike will be a solution.

An independent bike shop might be better than Halfords but worth a try first.

Balance bikes are really good for getting them confident, DS won't even try with the pedals on and no stabilisers.

Our local council runs 'stabilisers off' courses. The first thing they get you to do is unscrew the pedals. Just the plastic bits not the long metal bit they attach to. They unscrew in the opposite direction to which you pedal.

Once the balance is really good they suggest putting one pedal on so the child can learn to push off and they after a couple of minutes putting the other pedal back on.

Dd almost got it in the session.

Watching with interest... We cannot get movement without the stabilizers..

We bought a PUKY balance bike for DD when she was 5, lasted till she was 7 and got straight on a pedal bike. It's the largest PUKY I think.

Yes, good idea to take the pedals off so she can use it as a balance bike as long as she can put her feet flat on the ground comfortably. It is very easy to take pedals off - you need a spanner. The right hand side one (same side as the chain) unscrews in an anticlockwise direction. The left hand side one unscrews in a clockwise direction.

Great idea to give the twins balance bikes :)

Hi, in case you see this again, the lh pedal has a screwdriver type attachment which looks easy to unscrew but the rhs has a wheel guard over the attachment and I can't locate the screwdriver type bit. Any ideas?! Thanks x

Could you post a photo?

Thanks ever so much. I have no idea how?! Is that really sad :/ ?!