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Parenting

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Original poster

My ds still can't ride a bike at 7

32 replies

lostittoday · 11/04/2008 11:42

Hi
We have tried teaching him but he seems to struggle even pushing the peddles.

As soon as he trys he falls off and he gets into the most awful moods about it.
He even has trouble peddling with stabilisers unless if he is on a slight slope.

Is this unusual for a 7 year old to not be riding a bike yet.
I have seen much younger children racing about on them.

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Twiglett · 11/04/2008 11:46

has he got a scooter? let him scoot for a few months until he works out what a centre of balance feels like (or take the pedals off his bike so he can push along on his feet)

take him to decathlon and stick him on an exercise bike (or a friends house if you know someone with one)

and take him out to the park .. it's one of those things that once he gets it it all snaps into place

I think 7 is old yes, but that's only based on my kids and my DH is a cyclist tbf

Mercy · 11/04/2008 11:47

dd can ride a bike with stabilisers but not without them yet. iirc I was about 7 or 8 before I could ride without them - takes a fair bit of practice though!

Most of dd's friends seemed to have managed this from about the age of 5.

Twiglett · 11/04/2008 11:47

although if he can't pedal with stabilisers it would make me wonder if he has gross motor issues? does he have weak legs for any reason? does he say that it hurts?

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Original poster

lostittoday · 11/04/2008 11:49

He does have a scooter which he's had for a while now.
He loves that and will choose it over trying to ride a bike any day.

He is a awkward little so and so, if he falls off he wants to give up.

OP posts:

Original poster

lostittoday · 11/04/2008 11:51

No weakness in legs.
I supect he is a bit lazy and doesn,t try hard enough.

I have noticed that most children seem to manage it by the age of 5.

OP posts:

Twiglett · 11/04/2008 11:53

cycling is a different kind of motion though and takes a while to build up .. but yes I'd agree that most children IME can ride a bike by 5 .. with stabilisers it's more like 3 or 4 round here

BetteNoir · 11/04/2008 11:55

DS1 had difficulty with riding his bike.
But he is dyspraxic, so that wasn't surprising.
What did surprise us was that he took up skateboarding instead (which seems to me to be far more difficult that bike riding), and took to it instantly.
His cycling clicked at about 9.

chloesmumtoo · 11/04/2008 11:57

My ds still cant ride one now even now, he doesnt even have any ambition to try either but loves his scooter. He could never push the pedals but does have a foot problem and so we always put it down to this. He has rolling in feet, has occassional physio app, hypo flexic or something like that they call it.

Alambil · 11/04/2008 22:40

I was about 8 or 9 before my stabilisers came off - was FAR too chicken to allow parents to do it before then!

I remember one holiday in the New Forest when they'd "forgotten" the stabilisers at home and so I just had to do it or miss out riding with my sister... so they spent a good couple days running after me, holding the seat etc.

Sometimes I wonder if forcing the issue as such is a good idea or not... but I'm sure it'll come with time.

My ds will be 6 this October and still won't ride his bike for any length of time... and with stabilisers; I see his mates whizzing round our village on their non-stabilised bikes and feel sad for him but he is just nervous like I was, so I try not to say anything (and I did try forcing the issue with him - it backfired spectacularly last year!)

hana · 11/04/2008 22:47

dd is 6 and a half and uses one training wheel

I think she could ride without one but we just haven't given it time to be honest. I know she'll get it eventually. Not many of her friends can ride without them either (all 5 or 6) quite normal I'd say

Furball · 11/04/2008 22:59

ds at 6 1/2 is still very wobbly.

we found the best way last summer was to take the pedals off so ds could get used to just balancing the bike and push it along with his legs whilst sitting. (like those wooden bikes) - it worked! after a week or so, he could balance.

My ds too is very stroppy about the whole thing. it's a pride thing with him so if he can't do something or falls off, thats it. and even now you have to really really push for him to go to the park or wherever on it.

Swedes · 11/04/2008 23:04

I think stabilisers slow down mastering the art of riding a bike. I understand trainer bikes (sometimes called balance bikes) - no pedals - are the best way to teach a child. I taught my two sons by setting them off down a gentle grassy slope, lots of falling off but no damage done. I have yet to teach my younger two but I defo won't bother with stabilisers. Having moved, I'm already eyeing up gentle grassy slopes and noting their possibilities.

MegBusset · 11/04/2008 23:07

I didn't learn to ride a bike til I was 26 . I seemed to get by until then without knowing how!

Janni · 11/04/2008 23:08

Please don't worry. DS2 was 6.5 when he finally mastered it last summer - nice weather, lots of time outdoors, pressure off. It WILL happen.

Califrau · 11/04/2008 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sazisi · 11/04/2008 23:10

DD1 will be 9 this year and is still pretty crap on her bike
I was doing bunnyhops and wheelies by her age - she must've got some dodgy genes from her dad

bonkerz · 11/04/2008 23:13

DSD is 7 in July and not riding her bike yet without stabilisers. i think some children just struggle.

AbbeyA · 12/04/2008 08:25

I shouldn't worry-they are all so different. One DS was exceptionally early, but my youngest was 7 before he managed it and he got very bad tempered because he could see much younger DCs whizzing around with no problems. You just have to persevere and they get there in the end.

sarah293 · 12/04/2008 08:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Moomin · 12/04/2008 08:29

dd1 is 6 and a half and has barely managed any distance with stabilisers. Top and bottom of it she is terrified of falling off. Her bike is old and heavy and probably wasn't ideal so we have bought her a lighter-framed 2nd hand one but she is still reluctant to give it a go. A friend suggested trying it out on flat hard grassy areas to start with to get her confidence up.

She just isn't a particularly physical child, so we know it's not going to come easily to her. It'll come eventually I expect, with perseverence.

Chockypot · 12/04/2008 09:00

My dd is also 7 and is struggling to get to grips with it. She has had ear problems through out her life and we think that might be affecting her balance. I don't think it's unusual for some kids not to get the hang of it until they are 10 or 11.

belcantavinissima · 12/04/2008 09:25

ds1 cant ride a bike. he is nearly 10. BUT he does have coorddination/balance issues (he has AS). he was reasonably ok at it when he was 3 and could use stabilisers.

he is due to start occ therapy soon where they are going to teach him!!!!! yippeeee!!!!!! or i might get him a big trike

DevilwearsPrada · 12/04/2008 21:13

I've got no advice, but I can't ride a bike and I'm nearly 30. was just never interested in learning as a child, was to busy with my nose in a book.

3kidsisquiteenuff · 12/04/2008 21:28

my ds was 7 when he learnt to ride a bike and it wasnt us who taught him it was one the kids on our estate .he just wouldnt take any advice or help from us .he would get in such a stroop and throw the bike on the ground.i was graetfull that he finally listened to someone he loves it now.dd was just 5yrs when dh taught her she took to it straight away and was riding by herself days later

frankiesbestfriend · 12/04/2008 22:43

Another 30 year old non bike rider here
Dd however riding like a pro since 5

Quite embarrassing at Center Parcs when dd offers to teach me how to ride.

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