How to help with bike riding?

[Rangerrrr3z]

DS is 4, nearly 4.5. Can do a balance bike and scooter but pedal bikes were struggling a bit.

He has always been slightly behind motor skills wise and is weaker in his upper half for example his 2 year old sister climbs on the older kids climbing frames with ease , he struggles a bit
He is also a bit more nervous, trying to help this as I was always this type of child!

It doesn't seem to be nerves, he only got nervous when we were in Centre Parcs and he started on it and it rolled (due to it being a bit hilly)

But it's the pedals he struggles with! I try to show the right way and he sometimes does it but mainly goes backwards. He's had some goes and I've taught about steering and the breaks but yeah its the consistency doing the pedals he struggles with

Any tips on how I can help him? I dont want him to be behind on learning but just need tips to build his confidence. When he cant get the pedals going he gets really frustrated and gets off

Could you get him a trike with pedals? That way he doesn't lose the balance aspect (as stabilisers could) but gives him a chance to learn how to use pedals.

Honestly I'd give it a year or two unless he's particularly keen. Neither of my children had great motor skills, one learnt to ride a bike at 6 (which seemed average among his friends) and the other was nearly 9 (but she does likely have dyspraxia)

The trike is a good idea or a peddle go kart. The position makes it easier to get peddling right. I would also recommend finding a light weight bike if you haven’t already. We started out with a pretty bike for my four year old but it was 9kg we have swapped it for a 6kg one and it’s much easier for her now.

My ds was like this! I think it’s common to pedal backwards even if you’re brilliant on a balance bike.

hold onto the back of his seat and propel him forward, the pedals should go round and you can keep him moving. Takes a few weeks and then it’s a skill mastered!

Back breaking for mum or dad though.

If holding onto the back of his seat isnt feasible for you (it’s physically awkward), look up the scarf method.

You basically get a scarf and tie it under their arm pits and use it like a sky hook to hold them up while they’re on the bike. Then the only bit Theyre needing to concentrate on is pedals. Not balance, much less steering, pedal speed doesn’t matter because you’re holding them up so there’s no wobble when getting started.

That gets pedalling sussed. Then can start to lighten the tension and gradually back it off.

Take the pedals off and leave him alone about it. 4 and a half is really young to be worrying about this. Get him a pedal bike, take the pedals off it, and tell him he can decide when he feels ready for the pedals to go back on. I say this as someone with a son who has been on a pedal bike since the age of 3. You need to back right off about it and let him build up confidence without pedals until he’s ready.

have you tried taking the pedals off the bike and use it as a balance bike for a few weeks? So he can get used to the size of the bike and balancing it before adding pedals into the mix. That worked for us

Find a bikeability course. They are amazing. Usually free or a small donation. Most kids cycling within 30 minutes.

Sit him on it, lift up the back wheel so that it’s off the floor, and get him to practice that way. It’s a muscle memory thing imo 😊

Does he go backwards because it’s easier as there is less resistance? Get a balance buddy and or stabilisers and let him be rubbish for a bit. I was told
to give up on my kid as he wasn’t getting it at all after a few intensive days and the next day he was off like a shot. Another thing is those outdoor workout stations
usually have a fixed bike so he can have a go. Another thing is for him to ride with you I think my kid did it so easily because he has done 1000s
of miles on my bike (you think I am kidding) u dont have to do that many though. He balance bikes u pedal bike even better if u have a folding bike as they are smaller and slower. Do a trick u find hard and have to practise before you can do it. Children are what they see. In Germany I saw so many tiny kids riding proficiently so it is oissible
to ride much younger than four. Happy cycling. Also some
plazes do courses migjt be worth a try

Personally I think he is too young. It took dd an age to get the hang of pedals.

Get him stabilisers if it helps so he can push alon with his feet or try to pedal, but he is still very little. Why the push to get him pedalling?

Balancing and pedalling are two different intellectual skills. It’s great that he can balance, but he needs to practice pedalling on a trike too. Once he has mastered pedalling (and it’s bit thing for young minds to co-ordinate) I bet he’ll go shooting off on a bike.

Thanks all! It does still have stabilisers i wouldn't take them off yet !

It was more the pedals I was concerned he couldn't do as yeah he keeps going backwards on them

I dont know im being silly comparing. A chuld in his class who lives by us is about 3 or so months older? And i see them riding their bike around and DS has a cousin 1 month younger who can do it too

So it just made me think why cant I teach him haha was i doing anything wrong

@Rangerrrr3z we can’t compare to other children. Loads of three year olds around where we live can ride a bike yet my four and a half year olds is still getting to grips with it.
She isn’t them and they are not her, we all have our own timelines- same for your son.

@ScaryM0nster- I used reins instead of a scarf - DS was not impressed but it worked! I didn’t realise it was an official method!

Cycling UK, British Cycling & Cycle Sprog are good websites to look at for advice on children’s cycling. We didn’t use stabilisers as they are not thought now to help with balance. It’s worth looking for a flat, smooth track / path that’s easy to cycle to get started on.

I also found a scooter (we had a child’s one that can take an adult’s weight) was really useful in keeping up with the bike.

If he has stabilisers then just leave him to it. He’ll figure it out.

In years to come you’ll look back and wonder why you worried about this. Leave his bike out in your garden/yard/wherever and let him get on and try if he wants to, but don’t push him. He’ll get there and once he does it really won’t matter if he was a bit later than his friends to start.