that brims
A little background: My eldest daughter wanted a bike a few years ago, and so we got her a really nice one with training wheels... which she is really nervous about riding. I'd forgotten how much training wheels suck. So here we are two years later, and she still can't ride a bike.
The question: Now my three year old wants a bike, so I'm wondering, does anyone have experience with those balance bikes? Are they worth it, or just kind of gimmicky? Should I just stick with the flawed, but time-tested training wheels? How did your kids learn to ride a bike?
Answer
Got my daughter a balance bike at age two (a Strider... light weight and sturdy.. the wood ones seem to break all the time and are very heavy.) She LOVES it and scoots around everywhere with it. At age three, got her a bike with training wheels.. she's still not taken that much interest in it, though rides it once in awhile for the novelty. We're thinking (she's nearly four) of taking the training wheels off... feel she might actually do better without them. IF she had been taller when we'd bought the Strider, might have gone right to a peddle bike and just removed the peddles and turned it into a balance bike in order to save $$.. BUT the Strider isn't that costly and I think it will likely have a resale value when it's time to move on from it.
My girl hasn't mastered the peddle bike yet, but she's a pro on the balance bike and she's really enjoyed it. Jury's still out on whether or not it helped her learn to ride a peddle bike, but regardless, she's had a blast with it.
Got my daughter a balance bike at age two (a Strider... light weight and sturdy.. the wood ones seem to break all the time and are very heavy.) She LOVES it and scoots around everywhere with it. At age three, got her a bike with training wheels.. she's still not taken that much interest in it, though rides it once in awhile for the novelty. We're thinking (she's nearly four) of taking the training wheels off... feel she might actually do better without them. IF she had been taller when we'd bought the Strider, might have gone right to a peddle bike and just removed the peddles and turned it into a balance bike in order to save $$.. BUT the Strider isn't that costly and I think it will likely have a resale value when it's time to move on from it.
My girl hasn't mastered the peddle bike yet, but she's a pro on the balance bike and she's really enjoyed it. Jury's still out on whether or not it helped her learn to ride a peddle bike, but regardless, she's had a blast with it.
What age do kids normally learn to ride a bike without training wheels?
Jazmyn
My daughter is almost 7 and doesn't know how and is scared she will fall. I'm just trying to figure out if she is behind other kids.
Answer
It is just fine that kids are learning at 4 or 5, but 7 is not too old either. There are so many factors, most of which are exposure and opportunity, that come into play. The avid rider's kids may ride much more often than someone else's so that one kid has 40 hours on a bike by age 4 when it takes another child to age 7 to get 40 hours. My main point is not to be concerned with being behind; many kids learn up to age 9, with the average age being around 6.
If her fear is really preventing her from trying, suit her up with helmet, elbow and knee pads. Tap the pads while on her so that she can know what it feels like. Be silly about tapping the pads, like it hurt your finger or something.
It is just fine that kids are learning at 4 or 5, but 7 is not too old either. There are so many factors, most of which are exposure and opportunity, that come into play. The avid rider's kids may ride much more often than someone else's so that one kid has 40 hours on a bike by age 4 when it takes another child to age 7 to get 40 hours. My main point is not to be concerned with being behind; many kids learn up to age 9, with the average age being around 6.
If her fear is really preventing her from trying, suit her up with helmet, elbow and knee pads. Tap the pads while on her so that she can know what it feels like. Be silly about tapping the pads, like it hurt your finger or something.
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