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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Bike riding

5 replies

feedmenow · 01/02/2007 20:16

Does anyone have any tips on "teaching" a child to ride a bike? My dd, 7.8, can't ride yet and I want to know the best way to encourage her. I'd thought about the incentive of a new bike once she can do it (only ever had second hand bikes before), but then wondered if a new bike beforehand would offer more encouragement! She's never been confident with any sort of physical activity. When I was young, all the kids down our road were out playing and on their bikes every weekend and evening so we seemed to pick it up quickly, but I don't (and won't) let mine out to play without me for quite a while yet! The garden just isn't big enough for her to get up enough speed to learn either. Any advice very much appreciated!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Loopymumsy · 01/02/2007 20:29

This reply has been deleted

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Heartmum2Jamie · 01/02/2007 20:32

I can only go by my own experience, but my ds1 (5) learned ot ride his bike withouth stabilizers through using his 2 wheeled scooter. The scooter helped tremendously with his balanace and when we tried him withou stabilizers in the summer, he was off with no hesitation whatsoever . Shame, I was fully expecting to get some exercise jogging along behind him, lol!

HuwEdwards · 01/02/2007 20:35

We were advised to teach DD to ride on a bike slightly too small for her. It's harder to learn on grass, but that's how we did it as I thought if she fell on pavement/tarmac, she'd hurt herself and not get back on again.

Good luck!

pointydog · 01/02/2007 21:08

Yeah, go for a too-small bike, easier the closer to the ground you are.

But why bother if she can't go and ride it!

UniSarah · 03/02/2007 22:05

bike with pedals removed and saddle set low will probadly be a good way for an older child like yours. You are going to have to let her out to ride tho, she won;t learn in the garden its too small. is there a school play ground or tennis court type area or park with long quiet paths you could go to nearby.

I'd start with an old bike and offer a new one when shes OK, a learners bike will get pretty scuffed up how ever they learn. She will fall at some point its normal and doesn;t have to spell the end of everything but she needs to know that BEFORE it happens.
If you get her a cycle helmet PLEASE get it from a proper bike shop not a toy shop and get it fitted by someone who shows her how to adjust it and how to wear it correctly, to many kids wear loose lids on teh back of the head, a badly positioned lid is worse than no lid.

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