For moms whose child struggled to pedal a bike and even a tricycle, do they eventually just get it or should I seek other help from doctor or OT? My son will be 4 in august and still struggles to pedal. A side note is that he holds the pencil the wrong way according to teacher saying that he is slow on developing that handwriting muscle. He holds it between his ring and pinkie finger, but if corrected he will hold it the other way.
My kids could not pedal a tricycle or a bike with training wheels, so we bought balance bikes instead and then switched to a regular bike with pedals (but no training wheels) at age 5. They've done awesome ever since. Sometimes the problem is the bicycle, not the child.
At age 4, they're still learning a lot of motor control things -- like holding a pencil. Ask his teacher to keep at it and he'll be doing it the "right way" in no time.
It's always good to start practicing their motor skills when they are infants, but trust me, your child will learn to peddle and to skate when ready. All of it just take practice/repetition.
My daughter refused to use a tricycle. SHe would sit on it, move the pedals once and that was it. At 3 1/2 her preschool assement noted that she could not ride one. Well her Grandparens got her a bicycle for CHristmas and with the warm winter she was on it a few time, then this spring she went on it a lot. SHe now pedals without a problem, and her assesment from this spring (she is now 4) came back fine.
Point is your son will do it when he is ready, just provide the opportunity. For my daughter she really was only interested when we found a FLAT area for her to practice on (basketball court) where she did not have to worry about cars etc. and had plenty of room. That may help your son, becuase there are less things for him to think about (don't worry about steering, just pedal...).
Good luck!
Pedaling - If they don't have it by this age, yes, you need to work with him. Some trikes are easier then others, btw, so you may want to hand pedal it and see how it is. I am NOT saying he is behind at all, he really isn't. It's exposure as well as skill. But it is a skill they do need to learn.
Pencil Grip - still really not an issue unless he is going to kindy this fall. Buy a pencil grip and work with reminding him. If you go to a teaching supply website you will find many types of helpers for this, google it too.
Sometimes it just takes time. Be patient and he'll get it. He also should learn how to hold a pencil the right way after time.
My first is like that. He never could figure out how to pedal and tricycle or a bike with training wheels. Finally yesterday he figured out on his own how to ride a 2 wheel bike with no training wheels. He did it on his own when he was ready. He will be 9 in Oct. He also holds a pencil wrong.
My DD is almost 5 and she just learned how to pedal.
My (all star super coordinated) 3 yo (turned 3 Saturday) DS can ride a bike up and down the street (with training wheels) with no problems. Sat on a bike at TRU and was zooming around the store in 10 minutes.
It really depends on the kid but you could get Occupational testing done and see if there are tricks to help him do these things faster. I personally just waited it out.
Don't worry, he'll get it eventually. I'd just give him an opportunity to practice just about every day. My 5 yr old didn't pedal well until he was 4 too, and my 3 yr old isn't even close.
We bought our son a smart cycle when he was two and he struggled to get the concept of pedaling on that - but after time he did. When he turned 3 a few months later, we bought him a bike with training wheels and he was off and never looked back. We took off the training wheels the following spring (he just turned 4) and he picked up the bike and went on his way (not sure how he figured that out). My neice is 4 and still struggles on her bike with training wheels - she just doesn't get the concept of pedaling. We loaned them the smart cycle - since you can't play without pedaling. We hope that will give her the concenpt of what to do.
Now.. my son is now 5, he can't pump a swing, but he plays hockey (ice hockey so he ice skates), roller blades and rides his bike like crazy - but can't pump a swing. My neice has been doing that since she was 3. Every kid has different strengths I guess.
My kids always had trouble pedalling until the training wheel came off. For some reason the training wheels were holding them back.
They eventually just get it. I did. It took forever to learn to tie my shoes too.
Be patient and keep trying. Good luck to you and yours
Another option to help with motor skill is to get a balance bike. They have no pedals and they use their feet to ride it. My son loves his and he cruises around and picks up his feet. He should be able to go straight to a pedal bike and not training wheels.
My 5 year old just mastered peddling. I think some kids just get it and others take a little longer. Thinking back to my other kids I think most of them were 5 when they finally got it.
LOL! My daughter didn't learn how to pedal until about 4 months ago. She is 6-1/2! She just kept trying to pedal backwards or push on both pedals at the same time. It finally just clicked for her this spring.
Actually, she could pedal a tricycle if she wasn't thinking about it. Anytime I told her "good job!" or otherwise pointed out to her that she was pedaling, she suddenly lost all coordination.
I don't know if the inability to pedal a bike or hold a pencil correctly is enough to be worried about seeking OT. Four years old is still pretty young. If his teachers tell you that they recommend it, then you might want to have him tested. But your son is still within the normal range. Probably nothing to be worried about.
