Teach Your Child to Ride a Two-Wheeler, the Easy Way

I have a lot of experience when it comes to teaching kids balance to ride a two wheeler. After mastering the art with my kids, I have taught many others how to do the same. Learning balance is much less difficult than most people may believe. Training wheels were always the recommended way to learn how to ride a two wheeler, well, up until now, at least.

As a kid, I had the determination that it took to learn to ride my bike, I do remember though, that my parents just removed the training wheels and I fell time and time again until I got it right. I was not going to bed the day that I decided to learn until I had mastered it. This didn't happen without being covered in bumps and bruises though. I loved my bike and saw all the older kids riding and I knew I really wanted to learn. Many kids are just determined and will keep trying until they get it.

But, unfortunately, many are not as determined and would rather give up and go do something that is easier. If you have a child that is not as totally determined as you are, you may want to consider another option that is now available and much more preferred. First, don't push your kids. If they desperately do not want to ride, then back off and wait a week or two and try again. They are going to love bikes as long as you do not push them. Most likely they will see old siblings as well as neighbors and just want to learn and be like the 'bigger' kids.

Here is where you introduce a scoot bike, aka balance bike. Forget the conventional thinking that training wheels will help, they do not. In fact, they just slow the process down. So, go to your local bike shop and get a good balance bike. They will have one and they usually run about $100. My advice is to get a neutral color so that both a boy or girl would like to use it. Balance bikes do not have brakes or pedals, they are basically a bike frame with a seat, handlebars, and wheels. If you can not afford this, then try and get your hands on a 12 inch bike and simply remove the pedals and lower the seat. The first option is much more preferred because these bikes are extremely light and easy for the kids to learn.

Now get your child to have a seat on the bike and start 'walking' with the bike underneath them. They will sit on the seat and scoot with their feet. Let them do this for as long as they want, a few days for some, and a few minutes for others. After they get comfortable with this, I recommend a grassy slight down hill that they can start 'walking' down repeatedly. Do this over and over and you will see that they will simply put their feet down if they feel unbalanced. Repeating this over and over will have them start to gain a little confidence and you will see them start to pick up their feet for a few seconds at a time. If they feel uncomfortable, they just throw their feet down.

Cheer your child on and let them know that they are riding a real bike and they just about have it. Do this over and over varying the terrain and you will see progress quick. You may also try and put them on a flat driveway and suggest 'running' with the bike under them. They will pick up their feet eventually. Some kids take minutes and others take days or even weeks, but they will get it. Just build on their progress everyday, baby steps, and it will come without tears. My 2.5 year old learning in a weekend, and my 6 year old learning in 2 years with training wheels. So, scrap the training wheels, and introduce a balance bike to them!!

My kids also both enjoyed their Radio Flyer Big Flyer before they started riding a bike, we skipped tricycles at our house, no good reason, they just fell in love with the Big Flyer. My husband also purchased a Park Tool Kit to work on our bikes at home so we could keep the trips to the bike shop at a minimum.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6259958

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