Crisis of confidence - is a balance bike too "young" for a 4.4 yr old

[BumgrapesofWrath]

Bought DS1 a balance bike for Christmas. At the time I thought it might be a bit "young" for him (he was 4 in September), but ultimately thought it would be a good start to him learning to ride a bike.

I've had a bit of a crisis of confidence. Some of DSs friends are getting "proper" bikes for Christmas, and some of them are quite a bit younger than him. I'm wondering when he go out with his friends whether he'll wonder why his doesn't have peddles!!

I'm tempted to give the balance bike to DS2 (who is 2) instead, and make a last minute dash to Halfords or somewhere to get a bike tomorrow...

Maybe I'm just succumbing to peer pressure - gah - and I hate to do that!

So, what do we think?

We got DD a balance bike when she was 5 as she didn't get on with the heavy bike with stabilisers. She loved it and rode it for 18 months before learning a pedal bike.

I think so. My DS had a balance bike from 1.5-3 when he got a real bike and could do it with pedals. All his friends now (4-5) have pedal bikes.

LePetit balance bikes are something that has always been around on the continent - no such things as stabilisers there. The kids start off on a balance bike at 1 or 2, when you'd be getting them ride-ons anyway and its then an easy transition to a regular bike whenever they are ready.

They aren't new fangled.

I've never known a 4 year old on a balance bike, sorry. I do think 4 is too old for a balance bike. Every kid I know could ride a bike without stabilisers by 4-5.

Use but hoards and hoards of kids in this country previously and now have learnt to ride bikes quickly without them.They aren't necessary.

I would give it for christmas see how gets on. Then buy bike later in the year money permitting. Depends on the child how good co ordination is. My youngest daughter learnt to ride almost same time as the eldest. There is a three year age gap.

Thanks for all the feedback!

I've decided to give him the balance bike, see how he gets on, and if he does ok on it I'll get him a "proper" bike before next summer.

I'm 32, and I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 6 years old, and I was one of the first of my friends to learn - do children learn younger these days?

We got DS a balance bike for his third birthday. He got a bigger bike with pedals and rode it himself without stabilisers 6 months later at Christmas.

It really depends on his size. My DS was a whizz on his balance bike until 4.5, when his long legs suddenly started to trip him up. He had a nasty fall only because he was too big for it. Both my boys started balance bikes at 2.5 ... However they are tall, and your bike might be higher. Check the seat height and room for his legs to move.

Yes children learn much younger now because of balance bikes I think! Certainly we got ds1 a proper bike for his 3rd birthday and he just got on it and pedalled away, because he'd had a balance bike for ages before.

I think your plan is a good one.

Happy Christmas!