Riding a Bike

[PotatoPudding]

This isn’t serious in the grand scheme of things but I would appreciate some advice.

DS is in yr1 and can’t ride a bike. I got one for Christmas when he was 3, which he absolutely begged Father Christmas for. It sat untouched for almost two years, so I sold it.

I know kids don’t have to be interested in bikes but all his classmates can ride bikes and scooters (DS can’t ride a scooter). We live in a village where lots of kids ride bikes and scooters to school. DS never even used his balance bike or trike when he was little.

I am worried he’s going to be left behind a little bit. He already gets upset because lots of the boys play football at break time but he has no interest. Playdates are so far and few between because of polarised interests.

I would really like to encourage DS to ride a bike but have no idea how. DH & I don’t have bikes, can’t afford them and have nowhere to store them. Are there places that do cycling lessons? I am just not sure what to do.

I struggled with this until DS was in year 5. I employed our local bike-ability person for private lessons and it worked. Although he has no interest in continuing to ride, at least he can.

Thank you. This is very helpful. I just want him to have the option; the same with swimming (which he’s also not interested in unless it’s on holiday).

I taught DD - she was 9 when she finally mastered it. I can ride one but don't, but she was really keen. I just bought a bike, took her to a space that was large, flat and quiet and we practised a lot until she cracked it.

Scooting is super simple, I would expect he’d pick that up so easily with a trip to the park! I’ve never come across a kid that can’t and most crack it before their 3rd birthday. My DD struggled with cycling too so I booked her onto a course of 3 mornings when she was 5- they promised if they didn’t crack it in the 3 they could attend as many sessions as it took for no extra charge. DD required an extra 1 but that was it!

I still remember a tear stained 6 year old dd wailing "I'm not the sort of girl who can ride a bike!"

Sadly I can't help because a total stranger in the park somehow taught her in half an hour one afternoon. And I have no idea what hat he did....

I’d be a bit concerned that he can’t use a scooter? How are his mobility skills in general? Kids should have the balance skills to use a scooter by 3 at the latest. Has he no interest in the scooter or can he not balance on one?

How are his fine motor skills? I think I would read up on core strength in children and see if it applies to you. A weak core can make physical activities difficult

There isn't much you can do if he has no interest in riding a bike.

I think they have to want to do it. My son is Y1 and been riding (no stabilisers) since he was about 3.5. Loved his balance bike before that (especially with covid was on it daily for about 2 years!)

my 3 year old daughter has zero interest and hasn’t sat on her balance bike for about 8 months. She’s just no where near as physical and just not interested. Lots of other strengths and skills though.

my husband hobby is ride cycling do they regularly see him heading out on his bike which probably gave son motivation

i would just keep suggesting when you go the park - should we take your bike? One day he will surprise you and say yeas!

for what it’s worth I never learnt to ride a bike as a child. I remember being a bit embarrassed about it when there was a cycling proficiency thing at school in year 6 but otherwise I didn’t really notice !!!

How are his motor skills in general? Running, jumping, kicking, climbing etc?

Does he not do them as he can't... or because he doesn't want to?

He’s fine with all of that. He just isn’t interested in any sport.

Whereabouts in the country do you live?
A lot of cycling clubs in my neck of the woods (W Yorks) have kids sections, including "tiddlers" classes to teach kids to ride in the first place.

I taught my dc to ride, but via balance bike, and the transition was quick and seamless, both dc were 3.

I have seen adverts of business who run cycling lessons, it's usually a spin off from Bikeability instructors.

How many opportunities does he actually have to ride a bike /scooter? Do you (both of his parents) take him out for walks,to the park etc and tell him he's taking his bike. Did anyone try to teach him how to do it?

Why was the bike left untouched ? When they're little they need encouragement,guidance and opportunity to try things.

Everytime we went from a walk from when DD was 2 she was told she can either ride her scooter or her bike. Scooters and bikes aren't really fun until they can do it and go fast. Its practice practice practice.

Sounds like you haven't really been encouraging it very well, and just presuming he would suddenly take an interest.

Same as swimming, its non negotiable in our house. DD had to learn either scooter or bike, didn't mind which, but otherwise going for a walk was slow and would take too long if she wasn't on wheels.

She rides either scoiter or bike to school every day as well since reception

Dts couldn't until they were 8. They're both hyper mobile and querying dyspraxia now too.

Maybe he's just not ready. My 10yo taught herself a few weeks ago, after disastrous attempts over the years with me trying to teach her. She's now off and away, rides it all the time, and is even stopping at the park after school to give lessons to her friend. (The best way to learn is to teach someone else!) It was quite the crossing the rubicon sort of moment for her, her confidence has gone up massively since she started cycling.

Give your child a bit more time. He's still young, and when he's ready to learn, he'll ask. Just let him know he can do it at his own pace.

As for scootering, maybe a 3 wheeled scooter would work better for him? Or ones with large air tyres?

My son was too scared of his first bike when in Y1. It had stabilisers but he never used it. Then when he started year 3 and saw friends going to school on bikes, he wanted to try again and mastered it in about 3 days. Did mean having to buy a new bigger bike but we didn't bother with stabilisers this time, just took him somewhere nice and flat when no one else was around.

He also only mastered a scooter in the summer between year 2 and 3. It's important to build resilience but it's a fine line and you don't want to push too hard.

Get a cheap second hand bike, take the pedals off. Get him out and about in it in the park etc so he starts to learn balance, before long he will be ready to master the pedals.

If the bike was untouched when he was 3 and 4, that's down to you. They need to to be proactive and encourage a lot. Not being interested and asking to take the bike out doesn't mean much, you just take it anyway when they are little.

I agree with this. Learning how to actually learn is a key life skill, and it encourages resilience in kids, so you have to force it at the start. My DD hated her balance bike at first (when 2.5), but we taught her that she had to practice. She'd look at the 'big girls' on their bikes and say she wanted to be like that, but she couldn't get the concept that they didn't start off like that, riding fast and with confidence, they had to go through the boring learning bit where it was hard and they struggled. So we in effect made her persevere by making her using it non negotiable. She then not only learnt how to ride it, but she learnt how the concept of learning works - you start off shit, and it's boring and hard, until you crack it and then it becomes fun. We've then usefully applied that concept to learning a whole host of new skills