Saying goodbye to training wheels: How to teach your little one to ride a bike like a big kid 

Kids grow so fast that in the blink of an eye, you see your little one crawling as a toddler and riding a bike with their adorable helmet. A great satisfaction for every parent after seeing your child’s first steps is teaching them to ride a bike, which is a memorable moment for every adult as well, and we are sure you can still remember the time your parents taught you, too. Once your little one feels confident enough, it’s time to let go of training wheels, and the next adventure begins. Of course, it might be overwhelming at first for both of you, as you have to pay extra attention to them so they don’t get hurt, and they might have fear because they don’t know how to keep their balance. However, with small steps, you can achieve great things together, so in this article, you can find a quick guide to teach your little one to cycle safely: 

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Is it time to remove the training wheels? 

A question arises for every parent: is it too early? Most people believe that the perfect age to remove training wheels from your kid’s bike is around 5 or 7. However, this is pretty subjective, and the decision has to be taken based on the abilities of your child and their confidence. However, falls are inevitable, and even if it might look scary at first, since you’re by their side, nothing worse can happen. However, safety comes first, so it’s crucial to purchase protective gear, which includes a helmet and padding for the knees. Also, buy some lights for evening rides. Before deciding to remove the training wheels, it would be best to have a talk with your kid to prepare them for the next cycling step and try to encourage them because they might feel scared at first, but step by step, you can surely succeed together. 

Choose the perfect bike for your kid 

If you think that your kid’s current bike might be too small for them, you might want to buy a “big kid” bike, and they will surely get excited about it. Consider getting them a bike that is not too tall, because usually, most children end up with a bike that is too heavy and definitely too big for their height. So, when looking for a bike, you should look at the weight because the lighter, the better for your little one; a handlebar that can be easily controlled, hand brakes that should fit properly, and a saddle that has to be comfortable and slightly concave, so your kid doesn’t slip forward. Still, since we’re talking about little kids who love to stand out, make sure you purchase your kid’s new bike in their favourite colour, and consider adding accessories they would love such as a basket for taking their favourite toy for a ride. 

Practice balance 

To ride a bike with training wheels is surely easier, so the first thing you should focus on when teaching your kid to ride their next non-assisted bike is to practise balance. In fact, keeping balance is not something you immediately figure out how it must be done on a two-wheeler, and it’s even harder to describe it to your kid. So, the best thing you could do is to take off the pedals, lower the seat and encourage your kid to “walk the bike” with their feet on the ground. Now, the next big step is the bunny hops, where your kid has to go forward with their bike to have a brief second where their feet are off the ground, which can be a great way to practise balance. After that, encourage them to do the same thing but for longer, and, finally, try gliding with one foot at a time only. 

Try pedalling 

Now that your kid has gained an idea of how a two-wheeler works, it’s time for the pep talk. After gliding, most kids feel ready to put their feet on the pedals, so tell your kid that you think they’re ready and explain that you are going to be by their side. Put back the pedals and encourage them to glide again with one foot at a time for a long distance until they are ready to take both feet off the ground. Understandably, this big step can be scary for both of you at first, but do your best to keep calm and boost your little one’s confidence. Make sure their protective equipment is on and adjust their hamlet to fit their head perfectly, and they’re good to go. Sometimes, a moment of distraction is enough for your kid to get harmed; that’s why it’s essential for you to be with them and be aware that if a harmful event occurs in traffic and you are a victim of a car accident, online, you can find a guide on how to sue to get compensated for the injuries.

Ride together 

Once your little one gets confident enough to go for a longer ride, it’s crucial to be by their side, even if they might want to go with their more experienced friends. So, it would be a great experience if you rode together so that you could also teach them how to behave in a more trafficked or crowded place. Hitting the road can be exciting but also dangerous, so whenever they want to go for a ride, reserve some time on your schedule to be by their side during this thrilling adventure. You can plan a family trip every weekend when you have some time off so your child can keep practising, and it can also be a great way to strengthen your relationship and explore the beauty of natural environments for a fulfilling and relaxing experience.