LEARN
How to teach your kid to ride a bike
By Diane Peters
The best way to run a quick errand, enjoy a beautiful day or make the most of a vacation outing? Jump on bikes and pedal around — ideally with the whole family. But when your child outgrows the bike seat and the trailer, it’s time to get them on their own two wheels.
Hopefully, your child will be excited to bike under their own power. After all, cycling is on the rise, with bike sales soaring 75 per cent in April 2020 alone, according to a U.S. study. With more bike lanes cropping up, fun bike trails being expanded too, and many families keen to get exercise, biking is increasingly a great way to get around while getting fresh air.
By about four or five years old, most kids have the balance, dexterity and leg strength to be able to ride a bike, plus they can understand basic instructions by this age. If you think it’s time to get the family rolling together, here’s how to tackle the hurdle of teaching your child how to ride.
Go easy
Not all kids are pumped and ready to hit a two-wheeler by kindergarten. If you have a child who’s extra careful or risk averse, introduce the idea gradually. Pushing too hard can lead to a power struggle.
If you have the option, get the most relaxed adult in the family to serve as the bike instructor. An aunt, grandparent or close friend, meanwhile, might have better luck convincing a reluctant cyclist to give it a go. Whoever does the teaching: keep it light and fun and know when to pack it in for the day.
Another option is to enrol a prospective cyclist in lessons or a bike camp, which are more available than ever before. Even a child who can already ride can fine-tune their skills with a bit of professional help.
Gear up
The right-sized bike matters. Most kids of riding age will need a 14” or 16” bicycle. Ideally, their feet should touch the ground with straight legs while they’re sitting on the seat. Choose a lightweight bike and one that stops moving if you pedal backwards — handbrakes can end up being more of a distraction and are less intuitive for a safe stop.
You can also start things off with balance bike, which has no pedals. Kids can scoot around on these and learn balance and confidence. They’re not difficult to find used, as kids use them for such a short period of time. You could also convert a regular bike by taking off the pedals — just look to the web for instructions. Training wheels is another option, but they slow kids down and young riders who use them too long may get frustrated when you remove them — they won’t have practised their balance.
Go for a spin
To practise on a fully pedalled two-wheeler, head out on a nice day to a quiet, open space such as a paved schoolyard or an empty parking lot. Of course, get that helmet fastened tight while kneepads — plus bandages at the ready — aren’t a terrible idea.
Begin by teaching your child how to stop by getting them to practise pedalling backwards and feel what happens and how to manage stopping their momentum. Once they’ve mastered that and are comfortable balancing upright with their feet on the ground, it’s time to start moving.
Hold the bike seat while they pedal. Have your child look ahead, not down, which will help with steering. Run with the bike until they’re moving steadily, and then practise letting go for short stints. If they fall, offer comfort and first aid, but try to avoid making a big deal out of every stumble. Once there are serious tears, the outing is over.
Go again
While some kids might master two wheels in a single session, most will need repeat visits to get it right. Once your kid is feeling reasonably confident, they need to practise starting from stationary.
Teach them the ready position: one pedal up and slightly forward. Have them stomp down on that upper pedal to get rolling. Getting the hang of building up enough speed to stay steady is the challenge with starting without a push.
Road time
Once your child can ride on their own in a safe location and has had some practice at the schoolyard, on sidewalks and on bike trails, you can move things out onto the road. (That might be their first summer as a cyclist, or you might want to wait until they are a year or two older.) Riding near traffic can be stressful for everyone, so choose a bike lane on a quiet street for your first outings.
Ride behind your child so you can keep an eye on them and any hazards, and use verbal instructions to guide them. It would be wise to teach your child the difference between right and left before hitting the road. Whenever possible, add in additional verbal cues, such as “towards the curb” or “turn into the alley,” to make your directions extra clear.
Start with short neighbourhood rides and build your way up to longer rides that go further away over time. Before you know it, your young cyclist is ready to enjoy the fun and fresh air of life on two wheels.
Diane Peters is a Toronto-based writer and editor who has covered health, business, parenting, science and many other topics. She is also a parent to two teens.