Teaching my kids to ride bikes

jiigglybutt

One of my biggest little regrets is not teaching my daughter to ride a bike when she was younger. She is 8 now, and is embarrassed to ride her bike with training wheels (which I don't really see the point in them anyway as far as teaching kids to ride without them), and she just isn't confident enough to go out and practice without the training wheels (mostly because there are TONS of kids her age in our neighborhood, and they are always out riding their bikes). I try to encourage her but I am running out of ideas! How can I motivate her to keep trying to ride her bike? She wants to so bad, but she is a perfectionist, and just like almost everything else she tries, if she fails the first time, she is discouraged to try again.

I got my three year old son one of those little balance bikes, with no training wheels or pedals, and he is tall enough to sit on it and push himself... if he could comprehend that. All he does is stand and walk with the bike between his legs lol. As far as that goes, I think just being consistent with getting him to sit on it, but any tips in that area would be great!

I would love to start riding with my babies to the park. and I know they would love it too if I could get them to do it!

TIA.

KiwiAlexP

I was 8 when I got my first bike (as opposed to the 3 wheeler) - I never had training wheels but either my mother or grandmother spent time running along holding the bike steady from behind. They would eventually let go without telling me and I would discover I was riding on my own. Always did it at the park so a softer landing when I did fall off.

I can only suggest trying without the training wheels and go somewhere where the other kids aren't hanging round - the bonus is running around behind is good exercise and a bit of a giggle for your daughter

totaldetermination

Agree that you've got to find a time or place when there are no other kids about. Early morning, perhaps ?

DawnieB1977

I'd find somewhere quiet and practise there. I think I was about 7 when I learned to ride a bike without stabilisers. They were building a road behind my parents' house and we used that before cars were allowed on it.

I need to do the same with my kids. We're in a second floor flat though and it's a nightmare to carry the bikes downstairs, and we have a baby too. They've got scooters and they use those all the time.

kgeyser

My oldest is 7 years old and hopefully this will be the summer she finally learns to ride, we've been trying to teach her for about 4 years now. I've found this site helpful planning our "bike riding" sessions because it focuses on gain balance and confidence just balancing before incorporating the pedals. Might be helpful in teaching both your kids: http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/teach-child-to-ride-a-bike.html

jiigglybutt

Thanks all for the advice! I'm determined to get them rolling!

PeachyPlum

Can you load the bikes in the car and take her somewhere where there aren't people? Or aren't people that she knows? The parking lot of a school or business that isn't open on the weekend might be a good place.

I'm an introvert and I hate learning new things in front of other people, so I totally feel her pain!

jiigglybutt

PeachyPlum wrote: »

Can you load the bikes in the car and take her somewhere where there aren't people? Or aren't people that she knows? The parking lot of a school or business that isn't open on the weekend might be a good place.

I'm an introvert and I hate learning new things in front of other people, so I totally feel her pain!

I'm definitely an introvert too, no doubt she picked some of my habits from me haha! My cars are too little to put them in. We live directly across from the school and when she is here, so are everyone else's kids. Time to invest in bike racks I suppose. Do those fit children's bikes? I guess that is something I will research now Bike racks are "in style" with my kind of car now so that would work lol!