bluephinHow Do You Teach a Child to Ride a Bike?
September 28th 2006 09:56
Jack’s sixth birthday is fast approaching and I’ve decided to buy him a bike, with a helmet of course.
When he was younger he had a little bike with training wheels but he never got the hang of it and soon outgrew it.
I figured that this was a good time to buy him a bike and teach him to ride properly. With summer coming up it will be nice to take an evening stroll while watching him tire himself out pedaling up hills!
Problem is I’m not too sure how I should teach him to ride. Like most mums I can be pretty over protective and am worried that I’m going to mar the experience for him by constantly yelling out ‘slow down, watch that crack, there’s a car three kilometers away –you better get off and walk!’
I’ve had a look at a few bikes and the ones that are for his size don’t come with training wheels so I’m going to have to buy the one that comes with a life time supply of cotton wool (to wrap him in!).
Other than knowing that I’ll probably need to stock up on band aids, ice packs and hugs, I’m clueless!
Do I just put him on it, tell him to pedal and close my eyes till I hear him scream?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated and if he falls off, I promise I won’t sue you.
When he was younger he had a little bike with training wheels but he never got the hang of it and soon outgrew it.
I figured that this was a good time to buy him a bike and teach him to ride properly. With summer coming up it will be nice to take an evening stroll while watching him tire himself out pedaling up hills!
Problem is I’m not too sure how I should teach him to ride. Like most mums I can be pretty over protective and am worried that I’m going to mar the experience for him by constantly yelling out ‘slow down, watch that crack, there’s a car three kilometers away –you better get off and walk!’
I’ve had a look at a few bikes and the ones that are for his size don’t come with training wheels so I’m going to have to buy the one that comes with a life time supply of cotton wool (to wrap him in!).
Other than knowing that I’ll probably need to stock up on band aids, ice packs and hugs, I’m clueless!
Do I just put him on it, tell him to pedal and close my eyes till I hear him scream?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated and if he falls off, I promise I won’t sue you.
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Comment by Chantal
Delegate the responsibility to someone else
Honestly, though... in my experience with kids, they're just so eager to learn. Any scrapes and injuries will just make him more motivated to conquer the challenge. It's you that will need the strength to let him get back on and try again!
Comment by Cinico
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Comment by Cibbuano
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The mistake he made, I think, is he tried to teach me to ride slow, when actually, balance is easiest when you're riding fast.
Comment by MelissaA
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Delegating is good - I've managed to do that so far.
You can buy training wheels separately at some bike shops etc. I don't know why they wouldn't have it with the bike - my daughter was 6 also when she got hers and it came with them.
The other thing I've noticed is that you'll probably be physically attached to the bike anyway until they really get the hang of the whole pedalling thing - with or without training wheels. ; )
Comment by Andrea
Diet and Health
V8 Supercar Pitstop
Then it was my turn.
Bugger this, I thought, and when she started to ride off I pretended I was running along happily behind her.
She didn't have the faintest idea that she was on her own and just rode off as normal ... until she noticed that I was watching from a distance then promptly crashed into the fence.
Give them confidence and they can do anything (within reason).
A.H.
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Comment by Cinico
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He's is a big kid......very tall for his age.....a stationery bike..that's not a bad idea.
Thanks for your comment.
Cibbuano
So I just take him to the steepest hill I can find and let go? And they say speed kills!
Comment by Cinico
Small Business Scope
You know, so many people have said are you sure they don't come with the bike? that I'm beginning to think I was looking at the wrong sort....so I went back to a couple of bike shops this afternoon with Jack and yep, none that will fit come with training wheels.
I'm going to check if there's somewhere were I can buy them separately so thanks for that suggestion!
I can just imagine myself running along behind him, gripping the seat........probably yelling at him to slow down...good exercise I guess!
Comment by Cinico
Small Business Scope
I laughed when I read the bit about her thinking you were still behind her and crashing when she realised you weren't!
I'm so glad to hear that their are other parents whose children didn't learn to ride till about 6.......it seems everyone in Jack's school are seasoned pro's!
Comment by Cinico
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Thanks for commenting on my post.
That must be a brilliant memory.......if Jack's remembers his first time with as much fondness as that then I will have done something right!
Thanks.
Comment by Andrea
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A.H.
Comment by Cinico
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Comment by anonymous
I'll teach him, don't worry.
Comment by Cinico
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(notice how this has been all about me and me being scared!)
Comment by Homer Joyce
Say, "Jack. Before I had you, I had no idea of how I was supposed to go about this whole parenting thing. I've had to work it out for myself. I want you to adopt the same attitude towards this bike. OK?'
If Jack nods, say 'Alright. On your way then.'
If Jack shakes his head, say 'Alright. On your way then.' ...
After that, run into the house, check the first-aid kit, and test your phone to make sure that when you dial OOO the phone is working.
Homer.
Comment by Cinico
Small Business Scope
Thanks for dropping by...and the (sound) advice!
You know, they have instructors for music, instructors for tennis, instructors for driving, golf instructors....where's the push bike instructors...I mean, riding is an Olympic Sport afterall........
I think I'll have 000 pre-programmed into my mobile.
And I'll teach Jack how to dial it so that after he crashes and he's up and fine he can call them and say mummy's had a heart attack!
Comment by Ahmed
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If I were you I'd take it easy... I remember how I learned... ah yes... memories...
Comment by Cinico
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I realise I'm over-reacting, I'm a drama queen as I've been told many times!
Comment by Ahmed
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You catch on things pretty quickly when theres pain involved...
Comment by Cinico
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You're right though - people do catch on pretty quickly to things when there is a pain factor involved.
Comment by Ahmed
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SUre it might be slightly more painful for a split second, but its over with quicker and you feel prouder for doing it.
Comment by Cinico
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He cries when I take band aides off. This child has a very low pain tolerance level, which I believe is part of the Asperger's.
Comment by Ahmed
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Keep in mind he's still 6 years old, its expected that he will, shall we say, express his mind?
Well teach him like my dad taught me, let him sit on the bike and peddle on it while you hold on to the bike the whole time (handle bar and back of the seat) and stear him around when he gets used to going straight, as time goes on you can just hold onto the back of the seat so he can stear himself. Next step is the most difficult, you have to let him go... He probably will go straight into a wall, but will eventaully learn.
Might sound old fashioned but hte best way to raise a boy is by letting him be a boy, that is let him hurt himself a little bit on occasions. It wont help in the future if you remain over protective of him...
Comment by Cinico
Small Business Scope
You - shy? Never!
I have to admit, I'm not too over protective, I recognise my own fears and don't let them affect his development - I 'let' him break his wrist playing on the monkey bars so I haven't got him locked in a cushioned room!
Comment by Ahmed
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Well letting kids to actually breaking their bones is a quality mothers shouldn't have, I'm assuming you just let him play on the bars and he hurt himself. Well atleast you aren't as over protective as you fear you are, perhaps your afraid you might be over protective of him when in fact your not...
Comment by Homer Joyce
Don’t get me started on where are all the instructors for life skills … (Oops … too late) …
I’ve had a few discussions with various people about this topic.
We end up discussing: How come they don’t teach many life skills at school? How come after 12 years of education, we don’t know how to do hardly any of the things we’re going to spend the rest of our lives doing?
Some of the main ones that keep cropping up are:
Driving (and vehicle maintenance)
Living with someone else (other than your family)
Home buying and home maintenance.
Budgeting/Managing personal finances.
Choosing the right job according to your inclinations and skills.
We always end up wondering why there is such a focus on essay writing, when none of us have ever had to write an essay in any of the jobs we have done in the real world. Most of us would have been sacked for dereliction of duty.
Homer
Comment by Ahmed
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Relationships, home buying/selling etc are either things you learn in part from schools or things you should learn outside of schools.
School helps in real life though, what we do there helps up be responsible, essay writing for instance helps us develop an objective mind on the world around us for instnace. Its these little things you pick up, not necessarily that if you get an A in an essay your going to be a best selling author
Make no mistake though, 98% of my schooling life is redundant.
Comment by Cinico
Small Business Scope
Couldn't agree more. Who needs pythagorus' theory in the real world?
Frankly, of all the things I learned at school the only one that really helped me to succeed was surviving the school yard bullying!
Cinico
Comment by Ahmed
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(Whats so wrong about pythagorus' theory? a^2 b^2 = c^2, and a whole bunch of other simple plug'n'play formulae)...
Comment by Cinico
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He fell off when he was playing on there, so I didn't encourage him to break it!
I know I'm not that over-protective, I just like to rip myself off sometimes!
Besides, I did need some pointers on how best to teach him to ride. It never hurts to listen to others advice.
Comment by Homer Joyce
I am glad that I was taught to read and write at school (and do credit the education system for that one).
Otherwise I'd miss out on the entertainment and comedic value of your posts.
Homer.
Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by Cinico
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All I can remember from maths is how to turn a calculator on and something about 'the sum of the sides squared!'
I think schools are great, they should just offer a wider choice of subjects then the compulsory curriculum - most of the courses are designed for those who wish to enter university and not everyone wants that.
A few life-skills courses (other than Home Ec. and Manual Arts) would only serve to increase a child's real-world knowledge and there's no harm in that, is there?
Comment by Ahmed
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I think teachers should learn to teach in a manner students understand, 'the sum of the sides squared' is a really oddball way of putting it.
Comment by Cinico
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Ahmed - thank you - seems I have you and the greater community fooled! Kidding, naturally. I'm a wonderful mum - so Jack keeps telling me (though that could be because he wants a go on the play station...)
Comment by Ahmed
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You really should have bought him a gamecube though...
Comment by Homer Joyce
Comment by Homer Joyce
If we keep this up all day, your site will get more votes than any other site has ever received. ]
Homer ...
Comment by Cinico
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This is payback for all the 'a new message has been posted' e-mails I've been getting from your site Homer!
Comment by Ahmed
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Oh and well said Cinico.
Comment by Cinico
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Seriously though, this is deteriorating.....even I'm ashamed of my inabilitiy to keep a focus on the task at hand....teaching my child to ride.
So, I shall cease and save it for my next post!
Comment by Homer Joyce
I just want to see if your site can get to 300. If you can't type due to your sides splitting ... bad luck ...
As to payback: Isn't the fact that I've spent the last hour deleting: a new message has been posted on chatter for children, posts from my Inbox payback enough?
By the way. Is what we are doing suitable conent for a site called 'Chatter for Children'? ...
Do Orble have any censorship?
Homer
Comment by Homer Joyce
If I was worried about being dethroned ... I would cease posting on this site ...
And besides, I hardly consider the chair I sit on a throne ... (I do not post from the toilet) ...
Homer...
Comment by Homer Joyce
Comment by Cinico
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Even I'm getting sick of my own post!
I have an e-mail address if anyone wants to continue this discussion, send me a personal message.
Thank you to all who posted comments on how to teach Jack to ride.
I'll include some photo's when he gets it and let you all know how he (we) went!
Comment by Homer Joyce
I sincerely hope Ahmed and I are not preventing you from posting your next post ...
Sorry about that. This will be my final post on this post ...
Homer
Comment by Angry Little Doll
Get a another parent & child, either starting out like Jack or more confident on a bike. Another child will give Jack a peer to watch and learn from. Another parent will give you a peer to watch and learn from. And perhaps a stiff drink after.
Comment by Cinico
Small Business Scope
Nope, no-one has suggested that one as yet but it sounds like a great idea.
Especially the stiff drink afterwards.
Thanks
Cinico
Comment by Marnie
I personally think that kids need space to learn. We live on a farm and there is plenty of room for running, riding bikes and crashing bikes!! Both boys are really confident riders and I personally think it's because we showed them how to start and they quickly had to learn how to balance (and watch where they were going). My experience was that the training wheels made them fall harder. Once the trainers came off they soon worked out how to fall gracefully.
Take off the training wheels......show them how to get started and then let them have a few crashes. It's only dirt....it'll wash off. They'll be all the better for it I promise. Needless to say they'll also sleep extremely well at night time.
Marn
Comment by Anonymous