Teaching How to Ride a Bike

Yes yes yes! We had GREAT success in a very short time with this approach. We found a VERY small hill--not even a hill--more like a slight grade in the yard. We had our daughter go to the top of the hill/grade and just lift up her feet as the bike rolled down the hill. She would go just a little bit and put her feet down...then she'd try again and keep her feet up a bit more...until she got the feeling of balancing. It worked like a charm, and when she fell over it was going extremely slow and on soft grass--so she wasn't scared to try! Good luck.

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When my son was 8 we had this problem! He wouldn't learn because his older brothers would just give him a ride. So we finally told him no more rides if he wanted to go along he had to ride his bike himself. It took 5 minutes and he was gone. Do you have a kids around the same age that could help her? My boys also taught my daughter, she would just cry and freak out when I tried.

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Here's what we did. We put her training wheels on and lifted one side about 2/3 inches higher while the other wheel was on the ground. It actually forced her to learn to balance on her own. She wouldnt fall though because the wheel was there, it just wasnt all the way touching the ground. Eventually we lifted the other one higher and she took off! We took them off and she's never even fallen. Good luck

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My daughter had a difficult time until she saw her younger brother (2 yrs younger) learn to ride his bike wo/training wheeels before her. If you could help teach her around siblings, friends, or just kids the same age or younger, it may give her the confidence that she can do it if someone younger can (this is also how both my kids learned to roller-blade - they couldn't do it on their own or with my help/guidance, but as soon as they saw their friends at school at a skate party doing it, their inhibitions went away). Further, make sure that the bike is such that she can put her feet flat on the ground on either side of the bike while she is sitting on the seat (lower the seat all the way or use a bike that is one size too small for her) - and explain that when she is riding if she feels uncomfortable or thinks she is going to fall to put both her feet out to the sides and stop her fall with her feet. Keep the training wheels on the bike, but adjust if possible so that they only touch the ground if the bike is leaning to one side of the other. Finally, controlling the bike is much much easier with speed (yes, speed - the faster the bike is moving the easier it is to control). Almost all of the control of the bike comes from the handlebars and the slower you go the harder it is to keep the handlebars straight and turning is much more difficult when going slow. Run behind her or next to her and push her as fast as you can (while still be safe) - let her know that if she starts to fall, you'll be there to catch her and she can put her feet out to the sides again (this is why you need a bike that her feet will set flat on the ground on both sides while she is seated). Be patient. Be encouraging - even little accomplishments (one or two pedals down the block) should be celebrated. If she continues to have problems, perhaps discuss with her pediatrican - it could be a balance (or imbalance) issue or problem that you are unaware of. Final suggestion: you can always rent a tandum (double) bike and ride behind her so that you have ultimate control, but she will feel as if she is doing it, and this might just build her confidence enough to go-for-it on her own.

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J. -

We had a similar situation. I assume she can already touch the ground with her feet on the bike or at least touch with her toes. The factor that intimidated our daughter the most was that she did not have a wide enough area to practice on at first to be able to get going. Not only do they need to learn to balance, but also steer. She was so focused on balancing that she would steer into the grass, fire hydrants, trees, etc. and become very frustrated as this would force her off balance.

We immediately recognized she needed a huge open parking lot where she could focus on her feet if she needed to and didn't have to worry about running into anything. We stayed from behind or on the handle bars and she learned within an hour and was so very proud. It is tougher on the parents than it is on them, but when she has room, you will find that her inhibitions will loosen up.

Good luck! It is to be such a beautiful day today so enjoy!!

H.

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You don't say if she has a new bike. We had the same problem. Our daughter was 8. What we finally had to do because she was scared of the 20" bike in the stores was go with an 18" bike. The 16" was way too small. The 18" let her legs stretch but still touch the ground. With the 18" she was able to have enough confidence to push herself and learn to balance. I guess her brain wasn't ready when she was small enough for the 16" because she caught right on with the 18". She never has ridden her bike as much as some kids. She can do it but she just doesn't enjoy it as much as some do. Good luck!

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Ditto on the smaller bike. We had to bite the bullet and buy a smaller bike and it worked. We also slowly started to raise the training wheels up. My son didn't get alot of use out of that small bike because once he got it we were able to move him up to the next size. We also did "training time" every day. We practiced 10 mins a day until he was confident. Just make sure you have that helmet! Good luck, she'll get it...
L.

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Well..I did'nt learn to ride a bike til I was 9 yrs. old b/c I was scared too! I went to spend a month in the summer w/ my Grandpa and he attempted to teach me to ride the bike. One day at the top of a hill, I thought he was still holding on but he had let go and I was doing it by myself!! Even when I realized he'd let go, I got nervous but knew if I did'nt keep peddling, I'd fall!!!!! I spent the rest of that month riding my bike there!!!!! I do agree w/ the smaller bike, like others have posted too!!!! :)

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When my boys learned to ride I sat on the seat while they did the peddling and we went down a very small long incline. A park might work, My yard as a small hill.)I helped steer and i balanced the bike.We did this a few times then i stood up the bike and my son keep going and they didn't know i was gone and the had done it all by there self.(of course the bike can't be too tall)

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I've taught two children to ride the bike now and I have to say it's a mixture of gentle prodding and allowing them to decide when they're ready to try. My daughter came to me one day and just said, "Take them off" (about the training wheels) after we had been asking her for some time. She just decided that all the other kids could do it, so could she. My son, on the other hand, didn't get it down until he was at least 11. He just couldn't get his balance to coincide with the pedaling and all that.

Did you see that Walmart has this handle that you can attach to the back of the bike so you don't have to bend down to help hold it up? I thought it was really neat.

Anyway, all I can say is to constantly tell her that nobody gets on the two wheeler the first time and is able to ride it without falling. We all have to learn to balance and get that security. Try pointing out the other kids in the neighborhood that can ride a two-wheeler (especially the ones closer to her age). Show her how YOU can ride one if you can.

Try not to loose your patience. Be encouaging and understanding of her fears. It'll come when she's ready.

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Have you tried doing it in a field rather than on pavement? Somehow falling off onto the grass is perceived as far less frightening, and the grass kind of slows them down, too, which makes them feel safer, sometimes.

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We have had great success with our children (5 soon to be six...) While we have only taught our first 3 to ride it was smooth and quick.

We simply put a doable time limit on it. We told them that we would try for ONLY 5 minutes a day. That they needed to agree to do it without tears or complaint and that we would stop at 5 minutes. This helped them to overcome their fears for a short time...not fearing that they would never get it and we would make them do it forever! Amazingly enough, they all accomplished riding in 2 days (only 10 minutes time). The longest one took 3 days. He was very scared to try. It also helped to have a bike they could touch the ground easily with. So the bike was too small, but upgraded when confidence was achieved. Hope this tip can help you. Even if it takes longer it will only be at 5 minute increments. Enjoy her newfound freedom:)
Sorry I just noticed I wrote this under my mother in laws profile. I am Rachael M from Michigan... Enjoy.

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Well, not sure if this will help - I was in the same position with my then 8 y.o. Son it was suggested to me that he learn to ride a scooter 1st this was how his cousin learned. When he was 8 we noticed he was balancing perfectly on the scooter for an entire block. So we were making him try he had a strong desire to ride but was afraid so we made him try with the same results as you are having! I have to admit my nephew came over & simply told him if you can ride that scooter then you'll be a pro at riding your bike in no time, you just need to practice I had my back turned during this conversation! The next thing I knew he was halfway down the block! So all I really know is the scooter helped him with balance & that is how his cousin also learned too. Hope this helps-

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Hi J.,

When I taught my daughter to ride her bike at age 5 she learned with in 1/2 hour. The trick is getting her on a bike that is much smaller. I used one of her first bikes and took the training wheels off. She felt secure because she could just put her feet down very easily.

Hope it works for you.
R.

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Training wheels worked for my son. When I noticed the training wheels wouldn't lift any higher, I bent them up and went a few more weeks. Once I took them off, there was no teaching required. He was good to go.

If she is feeling embarrassed or shy about it, it may help her confidence if you took her to an out of the way park where she will not feel like she has an audience judging her.

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J.,

I am going to assume that you're trying to get her to ride without training wheels. When we took our son's off, he was excited about it because his friend next door (and the friends younger sister) were both doing it. He wanted to keep up. So, we told him once they come off, they won't go back on. He agreed.

Then, we practiced going up and down the driveway. We had 1 hand on his handlebar next to his and the other on his back. Oh, he had on a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. We practiced for a while every day. Eventually, we were able to let go of his handlebar and just have hold of his shoulder (so he knew we were there). Then we moved that hand to the back of his seat. He was riding on his own before he knew it. I let go completely a few times.

The main thing is to praise your daughter for trying. Pick her up when she falls and praise her again for making it a little further from the last time she fell (even if she didn't).

I hope this helps.

L.

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Have you tried taking off just one training wheel? That worked for my kids. It helps them master the balance thing without feeling like they are totally on their own.

Also, we raised the training wheels as high as they would go before starting to remove the "security" of the training wheels before taking them off.

Good luck!

K.

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last summer i taught my daughter to ride a bike by w/o training wheels by just having her sit on the bike and move it with her feet, not using the pedals. after a few days of trying this for a few minutes each day, the next step was to push off with her feet and see how long she could keep both feet off the ground while the bike was moving. after a day or two of that, she felt pretty confident that she could start to balance, so then we found an empty parking lot where i could hold one handle and the back of her seat for a second until she got her feet on the pedals, this was the hardest part for mom because it's not easy trying to balance a bike and a kid from the side, but once they 'get it', they got it. they key was to have the bike seat low enough so that she touch both feet flat to the ground when learning.
you may also want to consider some kind of reward for being able to ride her bike to the corner or around the block without help or similar goal for incentive such as a trip to the movie theater, have a friend over for a sleepover, etc. good luck!

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Hi J.,
I feel your pain and the frustration of your daughter. In addition to the wonderful suggestions here, I had two more - perhaps someone else other than mom and dad could work on this with her? Is there a college or high school age responsible "mentor" person who could do it? Sometimes it needs to be someone other than mom and dad, esp after three years.

The other suggestion there used to be a class out in Commerce Township at the Abilities Center called Spinning Wheels for kids like yours - older kids who just can't get the hang of riding a bike. It is not cheap, but may be worth trying. When I used to work there a few years ago, the kids had a 100% success rate! Not only was it about the methods they used, but also being with a group of "big kids" in the same boat. Their website is www.abilitiescenter.com and their phone number is ###-###-####. Hope that helps. M.

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J., Help is on the way!

All you need is time and patience.
Have your daughter hold her bike. Have her stand between the bike as if she were going to ride it. Stand next to her for support. Do not do anything. Let her walk the bike holding the handles for a while. Then have her put one foot on one peddle and have her push the bike with her foot that is on the ground. Have her do this for a while. Then change feet. Have her put her other foot on the peddle and push. Have her do this until she feels comfortable enough to put her feet on and ride.

Much success

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My cousin tried for years to teach her son how to ride and he would do the same thing, so one day when my husband and I were over for a visit, she asked us to take him to a parking lot around the corner and work with him. Since he did not want to look like a baby in front of us, he was much braver and IMMEDIATELY began riding his bike. We had to take him home to get the training wheels off, because they were getting in the way of him turning. Maybe getting a close friend or family member help your daughter would help. Sometimes children are more clingy with their own parents. Good luck.

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Hi, how we did it with both kids is to simply grab on to their coller ( like cats do the scruff of thier neck ) and run with them, you can feel when they lose balance and they know you are right there. It was more secure for them than the typical stick or the wobbly training wheels. Good luck!!! J. L. mom to a 16 and 9 year old and living overseas. ( come from Mich )

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I have taught 3 kids to ride a two wheeler. My second learned easy and forgot by the next summer. I put one training wheel back on. This gave him security that he can lean to that side if he felt off balance. Without realizing it, he was not using the training wheel at all.

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In our case our son decided to ride when he wanted and asked us to help him. We had tried the year before and he was to stressed and nervous about it. When he initiated he learned that night and has been riding evver sense

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You could try moving the training wheels up so they are still on, but not on the ground. She will feel like she has safety with them on & it may give her the confidence she needs to try it. Hold on to the bike while she gets on & let her go! Maybe invite a friend over that rides a regular bike & she will want to keep up. That's what worked for my daughter. I think she was about 7. Rewards may work also. New bike helmet she can pick out, or a basket, or bell, something like that. Good luck!

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Just a couple differnt views on bike learning-

My oldest daughter was taught by a neighbor girl of the same age on a tiny bike.

I taught myself as a child by coasting down gentle grassy slopes. I do not belive I would have been able to be taught by my parents. Too much pressure.

..not everyone will fit into the picture perfect mold of the Amercan dad letting go of the bike seat while the child goes confidetly forward with joy.

However it happens, it will happen, and should. Unless she has a motor skill delay.

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My husband taught both our girls to ride their bikes in one day (if you can believe that!) One was 4 and the other 5. Taking the training wheels off and lowering the seat so they can reach the ground with their feet and make sure you hold onto them and run with them at a good speed so they can hold their balance.

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