5yr old and bikes!

[LissaQ]

Struggling to be calm, obviously not cut out to be a mother, but teaching DS (5.5) to ride a bike is putting me in a home!! Any tips? We've tried with stabilizers, we've tried without. He just has no concept of how to balance himself. Also, he is very tall for his age and he just looks uncomfortable on his bike. I've checked at reputable cycle shop, frame size correct, could raise saddle but then feet wouldn't touch ground. Getting back ache and bad temper! Really want him to learn as his dad has just been diagnosed with MS (huge shock for us all), we used to enjoy long hikes as a family, but these are not so practical now, long bike rides would be ok. Finding myself snarling encouragement! Any advice!

I'm scarred for life by my parents trying to teach me to ride a bike (and I STILL can't).
They just took the stabilisers off commpletely instead of raising them a little bit at a time and then bought an enormous bike from someone they worked with so that the crash & fall off was from a much greater height.
In the end I rather self-importantly told them I didn;t want to ride a bike ever (think I was about 8)

Oh - could you try a trike to begin with - the balance spread is easier to get the hang of

DD is 5 yo and has been riding a bike WITH stabilisers for a while now so I thought let's try without. Using a tip from here we have lowered the seat and removed the pedals. She is now supposed to paddle it up and down the drive, lifting her feet when she has a little speed to find her balance and once she has this she can have the pedals back etc. Anyway sounds easy but she given up already

Scooters are also supposed to be very good for helping develop balance.

Dd has a scooter as well

Maybe it's just a bit soon? My ds1 learned to ride without stabilizers at age 5 1/2 but some of his friends at that time hadn't. In fact, the friend that he's playing with right now outside is 7 1/2 and still can't, just not interested. My ds2 on the other hand learned before he was 4, just really keen. He'll do it in his own time - how many 15 yo do you see with stabilizers!

I'd really really recommend the removing pedals technique - it's worked well for both my 2. I read about it on a MN thread a couple of years ago and it was great for my 'non-athletic' DD. OK, it looks a bit odd when you're out and about. BUT, no more backache trying to hold on the back! Basically they need to get the hang of balancing first. Just get him to scoot along using his feet and gradually get him to lift them off the ground for a few seconds. Go with your gut instinct as to when to put the pedals back on (might take a few weeks), when he's quite confident about balancing. Then he can master the balancing and pedals at the same time. Have just been through this with my DS (just 5) this summer hols and he's cracked it!! Good luck, keep persevering!

stick him on a scooter for a good few months until he really gets the hang of this balance thing .. once he can zoom along put him back on the bike

they have to be ready

but once they get it .. they really get it quickly .. within 3 weeks DS was charging around on his bike

don't let it freak you out

seriously try a scooter

I agree that the scooter helps give them balance. DS was riding one of those fold up scooters really well, we put him on a bike without stabalisers and he just rode it.
He was very wobbly and couldn't steer and pedal at the same time, but he could ride it without falling off (well until he crashed into the wall anyway!)

Agree with no-pedals route for balance - worked for my ds (5) - altho I hadn't thought of removing existing pedals so we bought him a 'fun-bike' - wooden number without pedals. Like-a-bike is a more expensive version.

Anyway, he loved scooting around on it, and has now graduated to his bike - braking is now the only problem!!

Good luck