C W
Ok now I am looking at getting my son a bike (either for christmas or his birthday) and at the moment he is 36 inches tall and weights 37 lbs, now should I get him a 12in bike with training wheels or a 16in bike with training wheels? Oh and he might go through a growth spurt soon according to his doctor b/c he has been the same height and weight for over 8 mo.
Answer
If he's going to go through a growth spurt soon, I recommend the 16 inch bike with training wheels. You can always adjust the seat to various heights. One helpful hint: be sure to keep the receipt. I always find this useful when purchasing gifts for little kids. Sometimes you would choose the wrong colored toys or pick up something that they don't like. With the receipt you can return it and even bring them along when you return it and have them choose out something that they like in the store. If they choose it out, there's absolutely no reason why they won't like the toy!
If he's going to go through a growth spurt soon, I recommend the 16 inch bike with training wheels. You can always adjust the seat to various heights. One helpful hint: be sure to keep the receipt. I always find this useful when purchasing gifts for little kids. Sometimes you would choose the wrong colored toys or pick up something that they don't like. With the receipt you can return it and even bring them along when you return it and have them choose out something that they like in the store. If they choose it out, there's absolutely no reason why they won't like the toy!
My 9yr old is terrified to learn to ride a bike.He is small-50lb,50in,what bike/training wheels should I get?
unimpresse
I would like to find a bike maybe a cruising type, low to the ground or something. He is afraid of heights. I've tried to teach him with other bikes but the training wheels are so flippin small and offer him no assurance. I wish they made a older kids cool trike not a green machine or anything but a bike with 2 bigger studier training wheels. Please let me know if you have any information or suggestions. Thank you so much!
Answer
He needs your assurance that he can ride a 2 wheeler - not the training wheels.
A 20 inch bike is what you want. (or 16 inch if 20 is too big)
But most 20 inche bikes will have a problem as follows :
For the perfect seat height for pedaling it (the seat) won't be perfect for flat foot learning. And in "older cautious" kids they really need that flat foot on the ground to feel good about doing it.
Here' a 20 " townie that fixes that problem - I am sure there are others out there but generally that's what you want - the seat set up for correct pedal distance and flat foot on ground too. It's a little pricey - but I am sure there are other brands liek this. Ask at bike shops for - flat foot designed bike like a townie.
http://davidscycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=2824
Whatever you buy for him have him go with you to sit on the bike. My son has 3 bikes because some were too big at first -he is small too.
I would say don't bother with training wheels they are just a crutch. Instead get him Razor scooter (19 at target ) before you get the bike. It uses similar balance technique as bike riding -steering for the balance etc...But it's a little less scary - one foot on scooter and one on ground....with no bike between your legs.
And when he can ride the scooter - and balance riding it for more than 15 feet or so - then put him on the bike.
But take off the pedals of the bike first - and no training wheels. Have him sit on the bike and push with both feet and steer and balance and use his feet to push hisself . Have him use his feet to stop and balance as needed - tell him to think of it as a scooter with a seat.
When he can do this well both slow and fast (slow is more important it teaches balance) - then put the pedals back on and have him try to ride it - while you hold on to him and let go.
Tell him he can do it and mean it. Because he really can.
If he gets scarred ...go back to the scooter....he may need a gentle push (emotionally) once in a while.
Our son decided he never wanted to ride a bike again when we took off training wheels. All the other kids on the street were riding 2 wheel bikes while he rode a big wheel and didn't care. Until we gave him an emotional push ...with some fussing (an emotional pushes) he did it over about 4 days time.
For you it might take a week or 2 (or more) - that's OK. Don't give up and encorage him to never give up, there will always be tomorrow. But training wheels tell him it's OK to give up.
Riding a bike is like life in many ways - teaches self reliance, freedom, confidence and that sometimes you just fall down. But you have to never give up and get back up and try again. It's not easy - And it can also teach hard work - your kid's worth it.
I can't really remember riding a bike with training wheels but boy do I remember the first few times I rode a 2 wheeler by myself...I felt BIG and I could do it and it's a great self asteem builder.
He needs you not training wheels.
And when he does it - celebrate his achievement.
He needs your assurance that he can ride a 2 wheeler - not the training wheels.
A 20 inch bike is what you want. (or 16 inch if 20 is too big)
But most 20 inche bikes will have a problem as follows :
For the perfect seat height for pedaling it (the seat) won't be perfect for flat foot learning. And in "older cautious" kids they really need that flat foot on the ground to feel good about doing it.
Here' a 20 " townie that fixes that problem - I am sure there are others out there but generally that's what you want - the seat set up for correct pedal distance and flat foot on ground too. It's a little pricey - but I am sure there are other brands liek this. Ask at bike shops for - flat foot designed bike like a townie.
http://davidscycles.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=2824
Whatever you buy for him have him go with you to sit on the bike. My son has 3 bikes because some were too big at first -he is small too.
I would say don't bother with training wheels they are just a crutch. Instead get him Razor scooter (19 at target ) before you get the bike. It uses similar balance technique as bike riding -steering for the balance etc...But it's a little less scary - one foot on scooter and one on ground....with no bike between your legs.
And when he can ride the scooter - and balance riding it for more than 15 feet or so - then put him on the bike.
But take off the pedals of the bike first - and no training wheels. Have him sit on the bike and push with both feet and steer and balance and use his feet to push hisself . Have him use his feet to stop and balance as needed - tell him to think of it as a scooter with a seat.
When he can do this well both slow and fast (slow is more important it teaches balance) - then put the pedals back on and have him try to ride it - while you hold on to him and let go.
Tell him he can do it and mean it. Because he really can.
If he gets scarred ...go back to the scooter....he may need a gentle push (emotionally) once in a while.
Our son decided he never wanted to ride a bike again when we took off training wheels. All the other kids on the street were riding 2 wheel bikes while he rode a big wheel and didn't care. Until we gave him an emotional push ...with some fussing (an emotional pushes) he did it over about 4 days time.
For you it might take a week or 2 (or more) - that's OK. Don't give up and encorage him to never give up, there will always be tomorrow. But training wheels tell him it's OK to give up.
Riding a bike is like life in many ways - teaches self reliance, freedom, confidence and that sometimes you just fall down. But you have to never give up and get back up and try again. It's not easy - And it can also teach hard work - your kid's worth it.
I can't really remember riding a bike with training wheels but boy do I remember the first few times I rode a 2 wheeler by myself...I felt BIG and I could do it and it's a great self asteem builder.
He needs you not training wheels.
And when he does it - celebrate his achievement.
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