Bike riding- any ideas on how to help a 3 year old?

[ScummyMummy]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to help my 3 year old learn to pedal his bike/trike? He's finding it v hard and is inclined to give up and jump off in disgust and sadness when his efforts don't get him very far! I've tried slithering along the floor pushing his feet for him (I looked like a right wally!)and obviously I'm praising every effort he makes. The situation is not helped by the fact that his twin is zooming effortlessly around as if he's been cycling all his life. Any advice much appreciated.

I think my son was 18 months when he got the idea of pedalling his trike, but still now at 3 is not brilliant with his bicycle. Rather than pushing his feet I helped him by standing behind him, reaching over his shoulders and pushing his knees down, accompanied by a chant of "push with left foot, push with right foot". Perhaps you could mark out a line on a path with chalk to show him just how far the bike will travel with each successful push of each foot?

First thing I'd do is get your son to a bike shop. It's possible that his own bike is not comfortable/ exactly the right size for him, even if it looks it to you - ie the pedals, though reachable, may be a little stiff to turn and this puts your son off. Let him have a go on some others at the shop. You may find he immediately does a wheelie!

My oldest son had several friends who couldn't ride their own bikes for a while. When they tried other ones, or grew a tiny bit in leg length or strength, all was resolved.

I had to stop my son taking his bike to the park when we met his uncycling friends. They got upset watching him ride when they were still struggling. This put them off having a go. My son would end up taking turns riding both their bike and his, while they ran off to play on something else. Have you considered taking your son, minus his bike riding twin, to the park for some practice?

Alternatively, does your son have any other contraption with pedals? a car, buggy etc? Can he operate these OK? If so, perhaps stick with this for now and go back to the bike in a month or two.

All my son's friends (age 6 - 8 years) can now ride two wheel bikes effortlessly. It just took some longer than others, especially if they had no inclination to learn this skill. I couldn't ride a two-wheeler till I was 10 years old. Never wanted to, so never bothered to learn.

Just a quick ps regarding the end of my message. I know you're not talking about two wheel bike riding, scummymummy - I was just looking further ahead.

My daughter has never been able to pedal her trike, but a neighbour recently bought their son a two wheeler with stabilisers and she got the hang of it first time, I think that the angle of the pedals can mean they don't get enough downward pressure. She's three and a half by the way

Some children take a little longer but if offered the chance to try the bike out theyll get the hang of it eventually a lot of times on their own.

as my 3 were zooming round the garden this afternoon and I was thinking its the end of summer and I then wondered how your dd'd riding was coming along???