Buzz
Learning to ride a bicycle is a significant milestone for children worldwide, and teaching them is an equally important responsibility for parents or adults. While you might have learned by using training wheels, experts now recommend removing the pedals and practicing balance by gliding. Regardless of the method you choose, remember your role is to guide, not hold or push them; encourage the child instead of making them fearful. Treat it as a fun activity and reward them (and yourself) with ice cream!
Steps
Prepare Your Child and the Bicycle
Start teaching your child to ride when they are physically and mentally ready. Some children develop the balance and skills needed to ride as early as 4 years old, but the average age is 6. Every child is different, so wait until they are strong enough to balance on the bike.
- Some children may take longer to be mentally prepared, and that’s perfectly normal. Avoid pressuring them and instead offer encouragement, starting lessons at the right time.
Use a bike that fits the child, allowing them to touch the ground with their feet. For children around 5 years old, a bike with 14-16 inch wheels is ideal. When seated, their feet should rest flat on the ground with legs fully extended.
- Using a bike that’s too big or too small can delay their progress in learning to ride.
Remove the pedals from the bike. While this might sound unusual, it helps children focus on balancing while gliding. They’ll use their feet to push and stop the bike.
- Typically, a wrench is all you need to remove the pedals, but follow the bike manufacturer’s instructions.
- You could also buy a balance bike designed without pedals, but this is an unnecessary expense.
Use training wheels only if absolutely necessary, but limit their use. Training wheels help children learn basic skills like pedaling, steering, and braking. However, the hardest part—balancing—is left for the final stage.
- If you teach balance first, other skills become much easier to learn later.
- If you do use training wheels, don’t keep them on for more than a week or two. Otherwise, your child may get used to riding in a way they’ll need to unlearn.
Choose a wide, flat area with a paved or concrete surface. Streets and sidewalks have too many distractions and potential dangers. Look for an empty parking lot with a smooth surface.
- Flat grass might seem appealing as it cushions falls, but it’s harder for kids to push the bike on grass—whether using their feet or pedals. Grass surfaces are also bumpier than parking lots.
Ensure a properly fitted helmet and use other safety gear. Select a helmet designed for cycling and suitable for a child’s head. It should fit snugly, with no more than two fingers’ width between the eyebrows and the helmet’s front edge.
- Consider using knee and elbow pads for added protection. Cycling gloves can also prevent scrapes during falls.
Start with Balancing Skills
Lower the seat slightly so your child can push off the ground with their feet. For regular riding, the seat should be high enough for the legs to extend fully when the feet are flat on the ground. However, when learning to ride without pedals, the knees should be slightly bent.
- Typically, a wrench is used to adjust the seat height, though some bikes feature quick-release mechanisms for the seat.
Hold the child (not the bike) but avoid gripping too tightly. Place your hands on their shoulders, back, or neck without squeezing. If more support is needed, position your hands under their armpits.
- Your goal is to stabilize their body, not to keep them upright or push them forward.
- Support the child rather than holding the handlebars or seat.
Let the child push the bike forward while you lightly support them. Encourage your child to use both feet to propel the bike. Initially, the bike may wobble, so keep their body balanced. Allow them to adjust the handlebars to get used to steering while moving.
- Hold onto the child and help them step off if they’re about to fall, rather than trying to keep them on the bike. Doing so would only replicate the role of training wheels.
- Once your child is comfortable pushing the bike, ask them to use their feet to stop as the bike slows down.
Encourage your child to look forward, not down. Our instinct when learning to ride is to focus on the handlebars or front wheel, and perhaps the pedals. Instruct your child to look ahead while gliding.
- If you have a second person assisting, ask them to stand ahead of the bike to draw the child’s focus as they move forward. Tell your child to look at that person.
Reattach the pedals and adjust the seat to its proper position. Once your child can balance while gliding using their feet, they’re ready to start pedaling. Reinstall the pedals following the manufacturer’s instructions, and raise the seat so their legs can fully extend when their feet are flat on the ground.
Teach Your Child to Pedal
Show your child the “starting position” for pedaling. Rotate the pedals so one is slightly higher and ahead of the other. When standing on one side of the bike (with the front wheel to your left), the pedals should be positioned roughly at 4 o’clock and 10 o’clock.
- If your child is right-handed, the right pedal should be forward, and vice versa.
Let your child generate forward momentum. While lightly supporting them, ask your child to place their dominant foot on the forward pedal. Instruct them to push down on the pedal while lifting their other foot onto the second pedal. Remind them to steer and look ahead as the bike moves.
- Avoid pushing the child or the bike to “get started.” Guide them until they can generate momentum on their own.
Gradually reduce support but stay close to the bike. Initially, your child may struggle to maintain momentum, but eventually, the bike will keep moving forward. As their pedaling improves, lessen your grip but continue running alongside, just behind them.
- As before, hold onto your child and help them step off if the bike starts to tip, rather than keeping them seated.
Teach your child how to steer and stop. Practice balancing while turning the handlebars, both before and while the bike is in motion. If your child turns too sharply and starts to fall, gently guide them down and let them try again.
- Similarly, practice using the brakes—whether foot brakes or hand brakes—both before and while riding.
Stay close to the bike until your child feels confident riding alone. Some children want you to step back and let them speed ahead, while others feel reassured having you nearby, even after they’ve mastered pedaling. Your role is to encourage, not to act as a safety net to prevent falls.
Your child will fall a few times, and you’ll need to accept it. Even when they can ride without your help, they’ll still take a tumble occasionally. If the surface is flat, let them ride slowly, and ensure they’re wearing protective gear to minimize the risk of serious injury.
- Check if they’re okay, but avoid overreacting with excessive comfort or coddling.
- You might say, “Oops! Are you okay? Seems like you’re fine—let’s get back on the bike and try again. You’re doing great!”
- Understand that falling is part of the process, and learning to get back up is a lesson in both biking and life!
Make Teaching Bike Riding a Fun Activity
End the session when it stops being fun. Some children learn to ride in just an hour, while others need multiple sessions. If your child loses confidence or interest, pause and resume teaching later in the day or the next day.
- Some kids are eager to practice for hours until they master it, but typically, plan for multiple sessions lasting 30 minutes to an hour each.
Avoid setting unrealistic deadlines or unnecessary pressure. Let your child learn to ride at their own pace. Forcing or shaming them into learning faster might make them resist the idea altogether. Avoid saying things like:
- “All your friends already know how to ride, so you need to learn too.”
- “Your sister learned in just an hour, so you can do it too.”
- “We’ll stay out here all day until you can ride.”
- “You want to be a grown-up, right? Grown-ups know how to ride bikes.”
Stay positive and encouraging. Bike riding should be a fun activity. Praise every small achievement, and help them up when they fall or struggle. Use phrases like:
- “That’s how you keep the bike steady—great job!”
- “Wow, that push was strong—the bike went far! Keep looking straight ahead.”
- “Nice save back there! Next time, try not to turn the handlebars too sharply.”
- “Soon, we’ll be riding together to get ice cream!”
Let someone else teach your child if needed. Some children learn better from someone other than their parents. If your child is close to a relative or neighbor, consider asking them to help, if they’re willing.
- This isn’t a problem—the goal is for your child to learn. Afterward, you can enjoy riding together everywhere!
Tips
- Don’t force your child to learn if they’re not interested. If they don’t enjoy it, they won’t learn no matter how hard you try.
- Instead of removing pedals, you can buy a balance bike. These lightweight bikes have no pedals, making it easier for kids to learn balance by gliding. Even very young children can use them. Once your child is ready, transition them to a regular bike.
Warnings
- Ensure the brakes are working properly and the tires are in good condition.
- Always make sure your child wears a helmet while riding.
What You’ll Need
- A properly sized bike
- Helmet
- Knee and elbow pads
- Cycling gloves
- Patience and a positive attitude!
