Best Kids Bikes (Special Gift ): 2014-04-06

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Which is safer for a little kid to learn on: Dirt bike or ATV?

Lil Jordan

My son is 2 and and am getting him into motocross. The dirtbike I have in mind is the pw50: http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/products/modelhome/40/home.aspx and I haven't decided on the quad yet. I just want to know which one is better and safer for him to learn on?

For anyone who will bash me and not answer the question, don't waste your time. For those who think these vehicles are dangerous, you are misinformed. They are safe when used properly and when the children are closely supervised and wearing the proper safety equip. For almost every story of serious injury/death, I can easily point out what was done wrong. For those who say they go 70 mph, no. Who in their right mind would produce a vehicle for kids that goes that fast? These dirt bikes/quads go up to 35 and the speed can be limited down to 5, plus they have a kill switch to shut off the engine if they get to far or are doing something they are not supposed to do. They also have a wrist strap to shut of the engine if they fall off for some reason. For those who say he is too young to operate a vehicle like this, then check these out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-7Z3_WTIF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cmDMPUyaus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx0xbV_ixEk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COjlC8TQxmc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmmSBwohW9M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9QF6M3Xq2M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4P47cO3s14
Yeah, small children can't possibly operate a quad/dirtbike... And there's PLENTY more where that came from! Just do a simple search on youtube.

I plan to teach him everything there is about riding and he can ride along with me. He won't be in any races until a few years from now. If you don't have an answer to the above question, then go away. Thanks in advance my peoples.

Answer
If your son flips the 4 wheeler over he has a better chance of getting seriously hurt. If he flips a dirtbike over chances are he will just get a little bump and get right back on the bike. Wrecks are less common on 4 wheelers but when they do happen it usually ends in the child getting hurt instead of a little scrape.

Go for the dirtbike. My husband got my son a JR 50 for his 2nd birthday. He is 6 years old now and hasn't been hurt yet.

is 13 considered a little kid?

Q. like when i was 9 i thought 9 was old, but now i know that 9 is a really little kid. So is 13 a little kid? Like would people still treat you like u are really little when ur 13? And is it normal for 13 year olds to like, ride bikes and play board games and fly kites and stuff like that? thanks

Answer
Your a little shorty! All that stuff seems normal. People will not consider you an adult till your 18 some might even say 21

Pedal-less bikes for under 3s?

globalstar

Hi I am writing a review of balance bikes - the learner bikes with no pedals that help kids learn better balance. I got my son one for his 3rd birthday.

Has anyone got one for a child under 3? Was it too old for them?

Also - do you think they help balance and ultimately get rid of the need for stabilisers?

Answer
We have one
my son loves it he is 3
the neighbours love it they are 4 and 5
Its tough to say my son wasnt able to ride it untill recently with 3 but I have seen some 2 year olds handleling them well
I think so but some kids prefer training wheels because it seems more stable.
Another good point is that they have no chain. My son is quite the explorer and his great grandfather was scared he will get his fingers stuck in the bike chain of his 2nd cousin when we were on a family reunion.

My son doesnt wanna ride his tricycle anymore and my neighbour (4 year old) doesnt wanna ride his bike till the training wheels come off, unforcenutly its still to high for him without the training wheels.

How heavy this GMC Denali Boy's 24-Inch Road Bike?

Friend

Hi,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GU68S2

I ordered this bike online from Amazon.com, for my 9 years old boy. I looked at several different options like Trek KDR 1000, FUJI ACE 650, Felt Kids Road. I am not sure how tall my son would be in next 2/3 years. So spending $675-800 for 2/3 yesrs may not be wise.

At the same time this GMC Denali Boy's is only $150 very inexpensive, cheap bike too. I want to know, is it a piece of Iron Tank, heavy junk or really have light weight 7005 aluminum frame?
Or it is a Heavy Iron Tank MTB with Dropped Handle bar to fool proof as Road Bike?
Dear W W, I appreciate your word "rather I save for anoce bike' then to buy a gurbage at cheap! I thought this million time because I love Road Bike. I a bikist I did not wanted to buy this Iron Tank. On the otherhand, a 9 years old boy hardly will understant Road Bike is not for abuse and street jumping like MTB. Yes, I have the same plan to get a GT,Felt or Trek in next year or so for my son. I personaly ride Trek Road.
Dear W W, I appreciate your word "rather I save for a nice bike' then to buy a gurbage at cheap! I thought this million time because I love Road Bike. I a bikist I did not wanted to buy this Iron Tank. On the otherhand, a 9 years old boy hardly will understant Road Bike is not for abuse and street jumping like MTB. Yes, I have the same plan to get a GT,Felt or Trek in next year or so for my son. I personaly ride Trek Road.

Answer
well the estimated shipping weight is 33lbs. I'd surmize from that, it's about 27lbs. that's heavy for a kids road bike. also, the GMC label is licensed to Pacific Bicycles, the largest manufacturer of Wallywood junk bikes. I've read the reviews on many of these specials, and have encouraged would be buyers to do the same. these bikes are crap! despite the stars and accolades of the purchasers, one needs to read the full review! most of them tell of mechanical issues within the first WEEKS of ownership. have I needed work on my high-end bikes? yes, but not within weeks of owning them, and never have my gears not shifted, nor have my brakes failed! I have seen these bikes on the sales floor at wallywood and target, and am appalled! they have visible gaps and cracks in the welds! I would have spent the money on a better bike. actually, I did. I just paid $300 for a Gary Fisher PreCaliber, for my 9 yr old daughter. she's already endo'd, but the bike made it through! only the chainrings got bent from the crash, which my LBS repaired, no questions. by the way, the GF is lighter than the GMC, and it has a suspension fork! also, the components on bike shop bikes are readily available at bike shops. the components on wallywood specials are not standard, and are hard to come by. in some cases, you may have to wait for garbage day, and salvage them off of a discarded bike! if you're still reading this, you're probably telling yourself Im just some other rich, elitist cyclist. you couldn't be more wrong! I'm a chef, and I dont make a ton of money. I am passionate about cycling though, and would rather save until I can afford a nice bike, than go with a POS wallywood ride! fortunatly, I have 3 nice bikes. so I shouldn't be without a ride whilst saving for a new one!

Friday, April 11, 2014

Toddler tricycle... helmet, knee pads, what do I need?

Alyssa and

My daughter is 18 months old and I want to get her a tricycle. I know its a bit young but the neighbor kids have ride-on toys and she is showing a lot of interest.

What do I need to get to make it safe for her to ride? She would only be using it on the sidewalk in front of our place, never on a street or without me right there. I guess I am the over protective kind of mom, she won't be riding alone till after she is 10 if I have my way. Is a helmet enough?

Answer
Yes for a tricycle a helmet is def. enough, and even for a bicycle with training wheels a helmet is enough also. I wouldn't put knees pads or elbow pads on my kid when they are riding a bike, unless maybe it's when they are learning to ride a two wheeler, but that's just me, if u feel better with them on then by all means put them on her, but it really is unnecessary.

Hope this helps, :D.

Bicycle Helmet for a 2 year old?

Boredoutof

My son just acquired a tricycle like toy. I want to get him used to wearing a helmet early on... Where online can I find a helmet for a 2 year old. I went to Wal Mart toady and thought maybe, just maybe the 3+ would fit, nope it didn't. Any suggestions? There aren't any specialized bike shops in my area. Looking for online only? Thanks a bunch

Answer
Did you check on ebay? Or academy might have them I know this isn't a online site but they might.

I also found this site they have a few for children 1-3
http://www.prorider.com/org/p230/Child-Bike-Helmets/product_info.html

Also you can go to google and look up toddler bike helmets for children under 3.

Hope I helped.

What axle size do kids 16 inch bicycle rims have?

Richard

need to know the right size :p

Answer
Most of the axles are 3/8" or 10mm. The threads vary with the imperial sized axles.

If you are making an attempt to install longer axles on a bike to install training wheels or anything else, DON'T. The large majority of 16" wheeled bikes have frames that simply won't take the stress... which is why the axles are short. If the bike already has training wheels then you can be sure the bike was designed with the extra stress in mind.

Is a 16' bicycle big enough for a 4 year old?

Wendy S

I need to know how big of a bicycle a 4 year old needs. There was a 12' and a 16' for kids. they have training wheels. I didnt get the 12 because i dont want him to outgrow it that fast. he is almost 40 inches tall. It was in a box so i cant tell if its too big or not.

Answer
His age or his height really have nothing to do with the correct bicycle size. It is based on inseam. Take him to a store where he can sit on the bikes to get an accurate measurement. Wal-Mart and Toys-R-Us both keep several bikes on display. 16" is probably a good starting point. He should be able to sit on the bike's seat with both feet touching the floor, if not the bike is too high.

P.S. To the first guest...lighten up...she wasn't sure how to get the right size so she posted here, isn't that what this site is here for?

When did your kids start riding their bikes without training wheels?

Q. it's official, my little Sarah is riding her bike with OUT training wheels! So exciting!! She is 4 years old, and her twin sister won't hardly budge to get on a bike! Her good big brother took her out and taught her and then her other older brother and daddy helped! They have been doing this since friday afternoon.She's a pro!

when did your start riding without training wheels? Who taught them?

Answer
4 to 5...

Both of my daughters learned from my father... He ran beside them holding the back of the bike slowly adjusting the training wheels until they weren't using them..

My son taught himself... My father let him help put together a swing set teaching him how to use tools... The next day I went out on the back porch to call him in for lunch, I found his training wheels and a crescent wrench... I started down the porch steps to look for him when I was nearly knocked down as my speedster zoomed by doing great... He yelled "Mom no training wheels!!!!" as he zoomed off for another lap around the backyard... LOL

How old were your kids when they could ride a bike without training wheels?

Raider Nat

My son is 4 and has recently been talking about getting his training wheels taken off of his bike. My wife, myself, and my son all ride bikes on the weekend and I guess he realized that he wants to ride like us. We also live my multiple kids and they are a few years older than my son and he wants to ride with them. We live on a Cul-de sac and we are planning to go outside after the weather clears up. I am just curious to see how old most kids are when they learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. So, how old were your kids and how long did it take?
The weather hasn't really cleared up yet so we may just wait until tomorrow unless by some miracle the weather gets better within the next hour or two. My son didn't just turn 4 either. He will be five in August. The cul-de-sac seems like a pretty safe spot for bike riding and learning. It is a pretty clear and flat area. If not, we can always go to the church parking lot. He will obviously be wearing a helmet and elbow/knee pads.

Thanks everyone.

Answer
I'd say that 5-7 is probably typical, but I know several kids who learned to ride without training wheels at 4. Mostly, it depends on how much experience they have on bikes and how good their balance is (along with their confidence).

My oldest tried a few times at age 5, but couldn't quite get it. We kept taking her training wheels off and putting them back on whenever she asked. She tried again the next summer right after turning 6 and did great within a day or two (after seeing the same-age neighbor boy on his 2-wheeler). My younger daughter was 4 1/2 at the time, and once big sis could do it, she wanted to try, too. Within three weeks, she was also without training wheels.

My youngest wasn't quite ready last summer when he was barely 4, but he wants to try again this year, and I think he'll get it before he turns 5.

We live on a flat street with a wide driveway at the end of a cul-de-sac, and my kids ride bikes a lot. I've also heard people say that their kids learned best in a parking lot, so if you have a church or school near you with a parking lot that's empty at certain times, it may be worth taking him there to learn first. And if he's not quite ready, just put the training wheels back on, and don't make a big deal out of it. He will get there.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Biking in a triathlon?

liongir

I'm doing a triathlon with my friends in April and I'm looking for tips on how to get better at biking. I'm on a team so I don't have to do swimming or running. Keep in mind, it's a kid's triathlon so I only have to bike 4 miles. I know that's not very far but I still want to train a little to get better before I do it. If you have any tips on biking, or ways to improve please answer!

thank you! :)

Answer
Hello,

I did the SF treasure Island triathlon with my friends the other day and I have a few pointers. It was my first triathlon and I really enjoyed it.

Try to find out the route and spend some time going through the course.

Train hard during the weeks before, and save the last week to run through the course at a light cruising speed.

If there are hills involved, really make that focus of your training and make sure you know what gears will give you the best speed / endurance combination.

Practice reaching for the water and drinking - a couple guys lost their waterbottles during my race and one of them hit me as I was riding... The guy turned around to go pick up his bottle, wasting a bunch of time...

Eat a lot of carbs the day before. 4 miles isn't that far, but it is significant!

Good luck.

what are some good child triathlon bikes?

Tim O

My son who is 8 wants to get into triathlons. What are some good bikes for his age?

Answer
I don't know that anyone makes a child's triathlon bikes, meaning one that has aero wheels and bars, etc. A child's road bike or even general purpose bike should be sufficient. Try attending a local tri that includes kids and see what the competition is using.

Should I just wait and save up more money for a new bike?

Zora N.

I have been asking tonnes and tonnes of questions here about potential bikes to buy; it seems that any bike that I like (or is within my price range, for that matter) is complete and utter crap (nicely said by one of the users here). I really didn't want to spend more than $275. But I have picked up a few tips from what I've learned here. All in all, it **seems** to me that the best bike I can afford is at least $500.

If you're wondering my purpose, I need it to bike to school and work (basically use it 1-2x EVERY day). I would use it on pavement road... and would probably end up riding an average of 2 miles per day. I'm also female (as you may have already guessed) and 160cm.

I realise very much that I am ignorant on these things, so I do request that you have a tiny smidge of mercy on me and not be mean :P
Thank you so so much!
@intrepidfae - Oooh in all my rush to buy a new bike, I didn't even consider used bikes from Craigslist. Good option, thanks :D
_______________________________________________
IF this rant is too long, here is the summary:

I want a good bike to use everyday. Only have $275. Should I wait?

Answer
OMG Zora, You have indeed learned something. Congratulations. I am not kidding and don't take it as condescending or patronizing. It is just such a rare happening around here. Most of the time, people tend to do exactly the opposite of what they are advised and then wonder why things don't work.

Knowing the purpose of the bike helps a lot. Now I understand that you need a reliable, dependable bike for commuting but only for 2 miles a day average. That opens some doors or at least softens the demands on the bike a bit. For a 2 mile commute "almost" anything will do but not just any piece of junk. You still want it not to break constantly on the way to work and I don't think that you are interested on getting the tools out a lot. For me, getting grease under my nails is ok, I do that for fun... when I am not at Y!A.

Back to your question. I still think you need to buy from a real bike shop. You will need the warranty, the after sale adjustments and the free tune ups. As well as help with flats and other issues that happens a lot. You see, there a few well known, first tier brands like Trek, Giant, Specialized and a few more that make great bikes but even the basic models will be a bit over what you want to pay. Then there are the second tier that are just almost as good but don't have the name recognition even if some have been around for ages. Kona, Motobecane, Raleigh, Fuji, Diamondback, and many more. You find those in the Local Bike Shop, LBS, for a fairly good price although some are only available on line which is not a good option for you at the time.

And then is the used bike option. Out of the 20 or so bikes I ever owned, only 4 were new. If you go used, get a used bike from the LBS. Clist is not for you. You wouldn't know what to look for, what kind of components. How much wear and tear is there. Most Clist bikes are asking 3x what they are worth and you will have to spend some money in repairs in the first month, maybe even several hundreds. some people find real treasures in Clist, but those people know what to look for and may take months. If you buy from a bike shop, you can trade up later, especially if they know the bike condition.

Hey, I can rant too. Feel free to ask.

The first link show my wife's new bike, 7.6 intended for longer rides and 200 mile tours. Even the 7.1 in that FX series will be a nice bike.

The second link is to an online store. Do not buy from there as you will need to do some assembly, use it for reference. You want a hybrid bike (not step through) with 700 tires, double wall aluminum rims. Make sure it has a cassette and freehub and not the old technology freewheel which is weaker. That should be enough to get you going. I sincerely think that you will out grow that bike and maybe will need a road bike later on.

Even a Diamondback wouldn't be a bad choice. I have one since 1989 with over 10k miles.

Which is safer for a little kid to learn on: Dirt bike or ATV?

Lil Jordan

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Mountain biking trails in CT?

buffalochi

what are intermediate or hardcore beginning mountain biking trails in Conneticut???

Answer
There are many inexpensive CT Guides to Mt Bike Trails at all Bike Shops, some list the entire state and some certain areas but all are under $20. Some really good intermediate-hard core trails are:
*Bluff Point (Groton, CT): This is actaully rated from beginner (fire road trail type loop) to all the ITMD-HDCORE trails in between the road/loop; its plenty of single track and some really great downhill with drop-offs. Mystic Cycle Centre Bike Shop holds thie annual Halloween Night Ride here throughout the single track area. Its worth a day to start out on the loop and progress throughout the day into more difficult; we regularly use the beginner loop as a warm-up.
*Cockaponsett State Park (Hamden, CT): There are hundreds of miles of trails throughout this state park, ranging all levels. One of my favorite Intermediate-Advanced Trails is in the southern area of the park which lasts approximately 15-20 miles and will take all day. This trail ranges from Intermediate (60%) to Advanced (30%) to OMG I'm Not Doing that (10%) plus everywhere you go is very scenic!
*Waterford Country School/Miller's Pond (Waterford - Montville, CT): This trail is somewhat difficult to enter since some of it spans over private property but well worth it. Alot of the trails were previousely used by the New London Off-Road Motorcycle Club, but all their hill-climbs are awesome Mt Biking downhills! The best place to park is at a variety of parking lots on Waterford Country School property (very biker friendly alternative school for wayward youth). The 20 mile single track mountain trails (Intermediate) pass thru many baby-head (rock) fields, water-crossings, and tree crossings and jumps but the end is where this trail turns crazy with the last few miles are a never-ending downhill extravaganza; the all-gravel fire road turns very steep and completely loose leading from one downhill switchback to another then leads to one of the best pole-lines with jumps over 4 feet and tight turns with barely enough room to land and turn! If you live in CT or RI and haven't been here you need to go!
*RT 184/Gungywamp Road (Groton, CT): Almost nearly across from where these two roads meet is a small Family-Funded Park with a small dirt parking lot off RT 184 that accomodates about 15 cars. A short mild ride of a mile or two will lead to a very fast-moving single track trail of about 8-9 miles, mostly Intermediate with a few Advanced area (INTMD 85%, ADV 15%) but the best part is the speed throughout this loop. I literally used this as a training loop to increase speed and skill doing several loops even after work during the week.
*Pachoag Pond Trails (Voluntown, CT): These trails have everythign from Beginner thru Advanced, you can always find new trails there and exploration is half the fun!

downhill mountain biking armour?

Q. hi guys/gals,
i have started mountain biking, downhill mostly, but im struggling to find body armour, i have a full face helmet, sixsixone full comp II
o'neal knee/shin pads and 661elbow pads but i need cheap body armour.
i would like it preferably under Â£40 and i need youth armour (xl) i am 13. i have been looking at :

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24007 (but i think it could be too big)

and

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24008

thanks in advance.

Answer
You are going to grow, so armor that is a little big won't hurt, cause it will last a few seasons. I'd go with the chest protector because it has more shoulder protection. These are both soft foam roost protectors (rocks kicked at you from the rear wheel of a dirt bike) so not really body armor.

Talk to your folks about getting the pressure suit, it has protection for your back, chest, arms and shoulders. I use one for dirt biking and mtn biking at the ski hill, I really like the shirt aspect because the elbow pads don't move around on ya it breathes well and is pretty comfortable.

14" tire pressure for a kids bike?

Casey Dida

Answer
The recommended tire pressure will be written on the sidewall of the tire. Not all tires are the same. Use the recommended pressure on your tires

How small is a 14" bike?

Zestfully

Is that like a kid's size? I'm about 5'3 and I they took measurements at a bike shop and they said I need a 14", I'm kind of scared of how small that is
Well they did measure the inseam. The sizing was based on the Jamis Allegro bike
20" is too big. I can't even ride the bike or stop properly with a 20"

Answer
Whoa your 5 3 and they say a 14? You need a 20 inch bike with a 20.5 top tube. Dont listen to them bra.
Check out this rider sizing chart
https://www.danscomp.com/serve/products%7Ccharts/riderchart.htm

what activities do you play with the kids that you babysit? like middle age kids...7-9 years old?

Chelsea L.

Answer
kids around this age can read a decent amount and know their basic math skills, so board or card games work well.

you can also go on bike rides, go swimming, play catch, or head to the park.

need to get an inexpensive bmx type of bike for my 9 year old son?

Jane M

Thanks to all who answered the last ???. funny as well as informative. Anyhoo, we can't afford a pricy bmx, but want a quality bike. Also, is a 21 speed type better or just regular with hand breaks? Thank y'all for your help and comments

Answer
As far as inexpensive MTB/BMX bikes are concerned, Pacific makes the highest quality kid's bikes. I have three boys and I've been down this road many times. For a Walmart/KidsRus bike under $100, they can't be beat.

Go for the gears too: gears are a basic fact of the serious riding he'll do in the future. Better to be exposed now, on an inexpensive bike, than bewildered later.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Why a 250 bike for beginner?

Chris

So I know that a 250 is the ideal bike for a beginner, but I don't know why a 650 would be difficult for a beginner. Can you list me some cons for buying a 650cc if you're a beginner?

Answer
When I was a kid, there were a lot of bikes around in the under-250cc range. Most of us, our first bike was a 90 or a 125, or a big hairy-chested freeway-legal 150! 8^) Elvis Presley made a film called Roustabout, about a motorcycle bum who joins a carnival, and he rode around on a big, menacing-looking Honda 305! The biggest bike Honda made in those days was a 350!

In those days, they used to say there was no reason a motorcycle needed to be bigger than 250cc! People routinely crossed the continent on them. But that was in the day when US highways were 45-50 mph. A 250 is all the motorcycle you will ever need if you never need to go faster than 50 mph.

Today a 250cc bike is about the smallest you can get (except for a scooter or a moped or something). We get the 'first bike' question here a lot and a lot of people insist you should learn on a 250 because it's small and light and easy to manage. Which is true.

BUT these days most people are going to want to cruise on the highway, and a 250 is just inadequate. A Honda Rebel 250 or Kawasaki Ninja 250 will go 70 mph (on a good day with the wind behind you) but the suspension isn't designed for that speed so the bike is all over the road, not comfortable and not safe. A good gust of wind can put you over one lane, and if there's a car there, you're toast. Plus the throttle is wide open, you have no power in reserve.

It really depends on how you see yourself riding. If you're just riding to school and back, to work and back, and perhaps the occasional weekend ride on back roads, a 250 would be fine. But if you ever want to go more than 2 or 3 miles on an Interstate, you need at least 500cc and 650cc is better.

A 500 or 650 is bigger/heavier than a 250, but I don't think it's that much more. A normal 18 year old could handle it. So long as you can sit on the bike with both feet flat on the ground.

People talk about 'too much power'. But in my mind that's not a problem. The bike is not going to just take off with you like a wild horse. If you're mature enough to ride a bike in the first place, you use only as much power as you need. A little extra, in reserve, is a good thing, when you want to pass someone on the freeway. If you aren't mature enough, you can get your fool neck broke just as easily on a 250.

Anyway that's what I think.

Good beginner dirt bike?

jhustlecav

im 5'5 145 lbs 13 years old just want something to ride with my friends. theres a 2004 drz 125 would it be good i only have like $1000

Answer
Okay guys, wake up call...a DRZ is a 4 stroke and the kid ain't gonna get a new KX150F for a grand. Yes the DRZ125 would be a great beginner bike for you.

Monday, April 7, 2014

what is a good yamahah dirt bike for an 5.5 13 year old kid?

Grant S

Answer
the yz 250 if he is willing to be uncomfortable the first year on it, but if not the yz 85 for racing and ttr 125 for trail riding. But you DEFINITELY want to go to a yamaha dealer and have him sit on different ones until he finds one that will work for him. Thats the only real way to tell.

best size bike for 5 year old 50 pound boy?

Kristi

for his 5th birthday. he is still somewhat cautious on his small bike.... so it will need to be pretty basic, too.

Answer
Kids bikes go by inseam and measured by tire size.

http://www.ibike.org/education/buying.htm

Should I just wait and save up more money for a new bike?

Zora N.

How can I learn to ride a bicycle?

Danielsan

I tried riding a bike as a kid but fell and was traumatized to the point that I never got back on a bike. Now I feel, as an adult ready to take on the challenges, but that little fear keeps encroaching back in. How can I make this a successful feat overcome, and finally learn how to ride a bike?

Answer
I had trouble learning to balance a bike and I know someone who thinks correct reach to the pedal is more important than reach to the ground and put my kids on bikes too big for them and they had nasty accidents that put them off for ages.

Here are some tips:

Get a trustworthy bike-shop or sensible and knowledgeable friend help you to work out a good frame size for you. Although most adult bikes are 26" (which is the height of the wheels) the length needs considering as well. But for now, as long as it doesn't seem too hard or too easy to reach the handlebars, that should do. When you are riding well and regularly for some distance, you'll work out what, if anything, is wrong. A call to a bike shop to tell them your height should be enough for them to tell you if you should be on a 26".

Make sure the front and rear brakes are working well and mainly rely on the rear brake for now. Preferably no back pedal brakes unless you feel that lacking in skill. If so, as soon as you feel ready, get onto a bike without because it will be easier to get fully competent.

To work out a good height for the saddle, sit on the bike and make sure that you can put both feet almost completely on the ground at the same time. Best not to be able to put both fully and completely on the ground because that will make pedaling very cramped and if you are too cramped, it will affect your balance. This is an excellent height for being able to stop yourself falling over in most situations or give you some control of the fall if you do lose your balance. This will help with confidence which is key to learning.

To learn to balance a bike, find a gentle slope with a safe ending, either going uphill or just levels off. Start at the top of the slope and sit on the bike saddle with your legs hanging out to the sides, not on the pedals. Let the bike roll and use your feet to lightly push you back towards centre if you start to go over. (If necessary, take the pedals off for this stage but children upwards of about 7 and adults probably don't need to.) Keep going back to the top of the slope and rolling down again; as you feel more confident about your balance, try putting your feet on the pedals (but don't worry about turning them yet). The slope doesn't need to be very long - the dead-end I learned on only had about 3 houses on each side. When you can balance the bike and get your feet on the pedals, start trying a bit of pedalling. Soon after this, you're ready for a longer slope or a piece of quiet straight road.

When you have mastered your balance and are starting to ride fairly confidently, start raising the seat a bit at a time, never going beyond what you feel safe doing, until your legs are just slightly bent as you sit on the seat and put your feet on the pedals.

It took me most of an afternoon to finally get my balance. My family had spent quite a bit of time helping me but I still hadn't got it. That afternoon of rolling down the slope was pretty much what finally got me going.

Also, stay away from bumps until you feel really confident and then just small ones until you work out what you can handle. And of course, *never* jump your bike up onto a kerb unless you have special wheels - they'll get damaged and go out of "true" and then the brakes won't work properly.

Do you always do what your toddler wants to do?

Happy Momm

My 2yr old is whining to go outside. It's still early here and cold out so I don't want to go out right now...but we always go out in the afternoon. Or sometimes he wants to play Elmo games on my laptop, but I don't want him to because he's being too rough w it. My question is do you just try to keep your child happy or do you say no when you don't feel like letting them do something?
Darkangel- your reasoning sounds like since Ive let him use the laptop before he should always be able to. Not true. If he's playing nicely with it, yes, if he's being rough, no, he can't have it.

Answer
If I did, he would never wear clothes. He would always be either outside playing "awesome" (pushing a riding toy up an inclined driveway at an empty house and riding down the hill) or he would be eating cookies. My older children would constantly be wearing princess dresses and bad makeup, occasionally coming outside to ride bikes.

Being a mom means balancing everyone's needs. Don't forget to balance your own needs too! If you can't deal with going outside now, then put in a movie and forget about it.

Balance bicycles for toddlers - do/did you have one?

eml

I would like to get a balance bicycle for my son who is 20 months. I was going to buy one for his birthday which isn't until the end of November, but I am considering just going ahead and getting it for him now. I was looking at the Strider, as they seem to have gotten the best reviews at that price point and I won't spend more than that. Do/did you have one for your toddler and were they able to use it before the 2 year age mark listed on the bike? What were your experiences with one?
Not a tricycle - he already has one of those. A balance bike is basically a bicycle without pedals.

Answer
My son got his Strider when he was 18 months. It took him a while to get the hang of it and he started out basically just walking with it (instead of sitting on the seat and pushing with his legs he would not sit on the seat and just walk with it.) It really helped him when we started riding our bikes in the driveway while he was on his Strider. He will be 2 next month and he rides it really well - he has actually started lifting his feet off the ground to balance. Riding his Strider is one of his favorite outdoor activities to do. Plus, it is very light-weight so when he does fall it is very easy for him to pick it up and keep going.

I can understand how some people think it is a waste of money to buy a bike without pedals since I thought the same thing. Some kids at our son's daycare had Strider's and our son really liked them and wanted to ride them so that is when we did some research, talked to some parents and ordered one. I was worried when our son didn't seem interested when we got it but we stuck with it and am very glad we did since he loves it now. The theory behind them is that you will never need training wheels on a bike since kids learn balance on these without having to also learn how to peddle and ride a bike tilted due to training wheels.

We do not regret buying our son his Strider. In my opinion it was well worth the money and a great activity for active kids. When our son outgrows it - which will be several years from now - we'll pass it onto to his cousins.

What to do on a summer day?

Abby

Okay my parents way of having to do something fun, is to do NOTHING! Gosh! There is nothing i can do! I'm am so bored! Like seriously all i do all day is watch t.v doing stupid dishes! I want to do something exciting. I wanted to go swimming but my mom was like saying No because of my hair! I ask to go to any amusement park they say it cost money, i tell to take me out, the next place i no i am is at my aunt's boring place! There is nothing to do! I to old to imagine stuff! Like I want to do something in Toronto man! I am So bored, I can't go bike riding cuz my bike isn't working propaly and my dad won'r fix it like seriously every time i want to do something small they make up something! Please help! I am bored !

Answer
read magazines, try on clothes, dress crazy and walk around in public, sleepovers/slumber partys, squirt yourself with the water hose, sleep,

1.Get a make-over at the mall
2.Go to a restaurant that you have never been to before
3.Have a picnic
4.Bake cookies
5.Give yourself a manicure
6.Go bowling
7.Have a scary movie marathon
8.Go for a bike ride
9.Go online and discover all the tourist spots near your home that you have never been to before.
10.Go swimming
11.Create a new playlist that would include all the songs if a movie were made about you
12.Make up the list of actors who would play the characters in a movie about your life
13.Plan a vacation to an exotic destination for the future â do the research online
14.Take a long, hot bubble bath with candles and music.
15.Run through the sprinkler with your clothes on
16.Rent and watch a whole season of your favorite television series
17.Swing on swings at the playground like you used to (can you go all the way around?)
18.Climb a tree
19.Write a stand-up routine and practice it for your friends
20.Read a book by an author you like
21.Go to a museum
22.Call an old friend from elementary school and catch up
23.Hunt for bugs in the yard
24.Have a BBQ
25.Learn a new language
26.Play mini-golf
27.Wake up early and watch the sunrise
28.Make a smoothie with only local fruit
29.Have a friend or relative teach you a recipe of a food you love them to make
30.Write a story
31.Get a pedicure
32.Grill your breakfast on the outdoor grill
33.Organize your CD collection
34.Make a list of traits you would want in the perfect BF/GF
35.Check out the library (and not just the internet â peruse the books, too)
36.Spend an entire day in your pajamas
37.Make or update a website
38.Go to the Zoo
39.Play Badminton
40.Plant a veggie garden
41.Get a play from the library and direct your friends in it
42.Find a really cool quote online and then text it to a random person on your friend list
43.Make ice cream
44.Memorize a really funny joke and tell it to a friend
45.Have a sleep-over
46.Camp out in your backyard
47.Write a poem
48.Go to a local farmersâ market
49.Play a game you havenât played with since you were a kid
50.Make up a secret code
51.Have a garage sale
52.Star-gaze and learn the summer constellations
53.Build a sandcastle
54.Pick strawberries
55.Write a story with a friend â each taking turns
56.Make a movie with a camcorder
57.Go backpacking
58.Get a facial
59.Dance like no one is watching
60.Dance like you have an audience
61.Spend a whole day playing board games with friends
62.Make up a treasure hunt for friends
63.Read the back of your cereal box
64.Give yourself a make-over
65.Learn a new exercise
66.Think about a business you would like to own someday and write up a plan
67.Play crochet
68.Go to the movies
69.Make up a scavenger hunt for you and a few friends
70.Go hiking
71.Make up a new game
72.Make popcorn the old-fashioned way
73.Volunteer at a nursing home, hospital, animal shelter, daycare or library
74.Listen to a new style of music (and give it a real listen â a couple songs or more)
75.Hang out with your grandparents and ask them to tell you what it was like to be a teenager for them
76.Write a song
77.Make a list of things you want to do before you are twenty
78.Learn how to knit
79.Buy a random magazine at the store and read the whole thing
80.Redecorate your bedroom
81.Make a funny commercial and post it online
82.Get a part-time job
83.Get a pen pal
84.Learn a new game
85.Go on a photo-scavenger hunt
86.Have a water gun fight with friends
87.Play poker and use candy to gamble with
88.Google your own name
89.Bake and frost cupcake
90.Set up a backyard party for younger kids and offer to babysit for the whole day to earn some cash
91.Check out colleges online
92.Have a snowball fight (use the ice from your freezer)
93.Wash your family car
94.Make dinner as a surprise
95.Paint a picture
96.Try not to complain for a whole day (this is really difficult â try it)
97.Try to make a house of cards
98.Offer to go grocery shopping for the week
99.Take driversâ ed
100.Do something nice for someone else but donât tell them it was you
101.Write your own list of 101 things to do â I bet yours will be way better!

What do people from other countries think of Candians?

What do people from other countries think of Candians?
So im a Canadian, and I want to read the stereotypes you people honestly think is true. :)
I just want to clarify a few things.
Who the hell says aboooot? I'm from Ontairo and I say about. I've NEVER EVER in my 14 years of being alive heard someone pronounce about, aboot.
Also, the Eh thing. That two letter thing is like, barely used its SOOO rare. Everyone says HUH.
Igloo thing, I've NEVER EVER met a igloo eskimo person whatever their called. Nobody lives in igloos except for those people up north who live like right beside Alaska. (Yukon, Northwest Territory, Nunvut.) We live in houses, buildings condos, ect. and they are made just how American people make American homes. THEY ARE NOT MADE OUT OF SNOW BLOCKS AND ICE :D
Oh! and it does not snow all the time. The only time it snows is in winter, or at the ending of fall.
No, not everyone speaks french. A lot of kids, teenagers epically Hate! french class why? because
its hard.
What else.....
we drive in cars. Tayotas, Honda, Escalate, GMC, and so on. not sleds moose and polar bears.
When i look outide my house, I see a backyard with a tree, not a maple tree but a willow tree and some outside stuff (chair, table ect). No penguins, no ice ponds. not of that stuff.
Jobs, k seriously no fathers dont work as lumberjack people, and moms stay home making syrup. I buy syrup and the grocery store. thank you very much. Jobs are like american jobs.
OH ALMOST FORGOT! we have malls!!! yess!! we do! lol, no they dont cell deer fur. They have stores like Victoria Serect, TNA <3, Garage, Holister, American Eagle, so much to list! if you want to know how malls are like in canada look here http://www.scarboroughtowncentre.com/ fairvew shows you the inside of the mall as soon as you get to the website! http://www.wem.ca/ http://www.fairviewmall.ca/en/Pages/default.aspx , http://www.vaughanmills.com/ theres sooo much more but those are the ones i go to. and yess!!!!!! we do have theme parks i'll put one up for you to look at lol http://www.canadaswonderland.com/
K so, back to my question.
Dont list the stereotypes I just said were untrue. :)
AND THAANKS :D
Oh! and if you want to know how Candians talk, just listen to Justin Beiber and Drake lol you hear them saying abooooot and talking in that weird way people think candians talk? Nope.
*sell.
and the french thing, that is how it is down here. People dont like french class at all. Except for one or two.

Answer
OMG! I'm French and I love American Canadians. (As opposed to French Canadians like Celine Dion; she's annoying and they murder French when they pronounce it, can't stand that!) Yes, I keep hearing "aboot" in my Canadian favorite TV shows, it's so weird and cute and funny! I have never YET heard a Canadian say "eh?" but all my American friends when I ask them about a Canadian accent, they always mention that. (I don't hear a difference between USA & Canada accents except for "oot" and "aboot".

Canadian men are hot as hell. Canadian actors don't bother much with plastic surgery (well not as much as in USA).

I imagine there's probably moose sightings everywhere. The Banff castle is a cool place to visit. Ontario/Toronto rocks. There's underground clubs there where all the vampires hang out and there's another one where all the Shaolin cops hang out at. Still there's another one where this undead rides his bike to, gets behind the mike and sings. (He used to sing all the time before he got thrown out the window).

What else? You have a cool hanging wood & rope bridge above a forest. You recycle the same actors several times as guest stars in the same TV series, playing different characters. You almost only film Sci-fi for TV shows, LOL! What's that aboooot??

You need independence from the Brits!!! Why you submit to the queen? Such a tiny country, there's more of you. You should kick their a**es and then get your own money without her face on it, and stamps too, and your own president or something. Why wait for the queen to tell you when you can wipe your nose, you know!?

In the winter kids drill a hole in a tree and suck out what comes out. Then they fasten a bucket to the tree and collect the sap, add a ton of high fructose corn syrup, bottle it and sell it. (It's really gross. I bet the Canadians keep the good stuff (no HFCS) for themselves and sell the laced one to USA).

Canadians don't have an annoying accent like the Brits or the Australians, therefore they're sexier. You have a huge Chinatown where a Shambala master dude lives. He can walk through walls and his buddy The Ancient makes him potions and he carries a flute but then he died in Bangkok.

It must be hot as hell in the summer (very humid) and then freezing in the winter so you need long underwear like in the westerns (long johns). Man, oh man, I wish I lived in Canada, or at least visited, except for the summer weather!

Oh yeah and you also have a truckload of immigrants: Asians and Portuguese. I was shocked. I thought we had all the Portuguese. How they get to Canada? I mean I know a plane, boss, the plane but why do they choose Canada? I have no idea. And some dude posted that there's a lot of Middle Easterns, I guess muslims, huh? I'm baffled. I didn't know people from those hot weather places would be interested in living in Canada. Me, I come from the same latitude, pitch black at 9am in the winter and daylight till 11pm in the summer (hate that but love the black mornings!!) So that would be no big change, except for the language.

I would like to know if you have a big African Canadian population?? African Americans are really hip and cool and hot and so if there's a lot of them in Canada, even better because I like Canadians better than Americans.

Other than that would love to know more about the White Canadian culture. How different is it than USA? Because for most foreigners, they go "Canadians, Americans, same difference!"

Now my questions for you Canadian boy (or girl)

Do you hate Americans? How do you consider yourselves different from Americans?
What do you Canadians eat? (Besides hot dogs and souvlakis) What's a typical Canadian food?? Oh and you seem to hate the French! :( Do Canadians as a rule hate the French, like Americans do? Do those who hate the French are the French speaking ones or American speaking ones like you? Do kids go to school more hours than Americans, like in Europe?? Because Americans only go to school like 5-6 hour days that's why they're so uneducated. We go to school roughly 8am to 6pm.
Main question: do Canadians always want things to be "nice" and in denial, and backlash people they formerly admired when they don't conform?? (like they did with Tom Cruise once he spoke the truth about depression meds, because he wasn't "nice" to the host and he was very blunt & direct with the truth). Are Canadians for truth like the French or for make believe and lies like Americans?
Finally how much of the Toronto population is vampires? (Ok, ok just kidding with that one, sorry I just had to throw it in there!) =P

Do your kids ride their bikes to school?

Jessica Vo

And what are their ages? At my kids school the bike rack is pretty empty (although he does go to a private school.) Only kids who ride to school are them (10&8) my nephew JJ (was 8) his friend Caden (10) and my God Daughter (was 10)..Is this a lost joy? Is it because parents are scared of abductors?

Some of my funnest memories were riding to school as a kid and I grew up in a high crime area. I know my kids love it, they will leave early so they can stop at the Doughnut shop, or hit up the skate park while it's empty.

What is it like where you're from? Bike kids? Bus kids? Walkers? Or mainly guardians dropping off. Thanks.

Answer
There are around 280-300 kids at my daughters elementary school. Probably 3 of them ride their bikes. Most ride the bus and maybe 50-60 of us drop our kids off and pick them up.

I take my kids to school. There are no sidewalks on our road, for one. Then the rest of the way is the main road with no sidewalks. My middle school daughter goes to school 20 miles away so I take her and pick her up, too. No way she would get there on time riding a bike for 20 miles lol .

Can I put 14" wheels on a kids bike?

pmondrag

My 4 year old daughter is ready for a two-wheel bike w/training wheels. When we went shopping for bikes I noticed she is way too big for a 12" bike but she felt very unstable and hesitant on the 16" wheeled bike. It looked too big for her. They had a couple of 14" bikes at Toys R Us, none of which we liked, but she seemed most at ease on those and seemed to be best fit. Instead of buying a 14" bike this summer and another 16" bike next, I was wondering if I could buy a 16" bike (that we actually like) and just put 14" wheels on it until she is ready for the 16" wheels. And if I can, where do I (and can I) find 14" wheels that makes sense it terms of cost?? Doing custom-order would defeat the purpose.
Thanks so much for the feedback. I hadn't thought about the frame sitting lower. I'll probably find a cheap used $12 just so she learns and then when she is confident switch her to the 16" - who knows maybe she'll be ready for it before I know it! I'd rather her be confident as you mentioned. Thanks so much!

Answer
This might work. You need to keep in mind, everything about a 16" bike is scaled up. Everything is bigger, not just the wheels.

Anyhow, the first problem will be with hand brakes. The hand brakes won't be in the proper position to squeeze the rim of the wheel if you put a 14" wheel on a bike made for 16" wheels.

Putting 14" wheels on will also put the pedals closer to the ground which may cause your daughter to drag a pedal on the when turning. If she drags hard enough, it might flip her right off!

Finally, finding 14" wheels is going to be a pain. Consumers just don't go out a buy 14" wheels. Thus, I suspect, if you can find the wheels, they will be cost prohibitive.

In my humble opinion, a small bike is easier for a kid to learn to ride. They feel more in control of a bike they can put their feet down with. In the dear, dead days of my youth, we started our kids on a little tiny bike with 12" wheels. We promised to get them a "real" bike as when they learned to ride. In next to no time, the training wheels came off and they learned to ride. Good to our word, we got them "real" sized bikes and they were pleased as could be with themselves. My daughter was just over 4 when she learned to ride and my son was about 4 1/2.

Hope this helps.

BMX Bike adult or kid?

Dennis

How can you tell if a 20" bike is made for an older rider or a younger kid..besides the dora the explorer stickers. lol
I found this bike from "New state" in ok condition. I dont know too much about bikes and would like to know if this bike would be good for a 20 year old rider before i spend too much money on it
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee107/cdmontes21/Mobile%20Uploads/1-27.jpg
bummer...what should I look for in a frame to tell the difference

Answer
It's a crappy department store bike, probably a Next or Pacific. The geometry is probably terrible if you are trying to any serious riding on it.

are bmx bikes sized differently than kid bikes?

I saw a 20" bike at target but it was too small. Yet i search on the internet and they say 20" would be good.

Answer
20" is just the tire size. The way you find different sizes on a bmx bike is by the top tube. If your height is 5'4 to 5'10 get a bike with a 20 to 20.5 inch top tube if your taller then 5'10 look for a bike with a 20.5 or higher. Bikes from Target,Wal-mart,K-mart,etc. are heavy and not worth buying at all. And they only come in one top tube size. Check out www.Danscomp.com they have a great selection of bikes,and remember the your top tube size so you can have comfort while riding.

Good luck

Sunday, April 6, 2014

My 4 year old son is racing BMX on an 18 inch micro mini against 20 inch bikes. ?

sudadon

How much of a dis advantage is this? Should I step up to a 20 inch if he is ready?

Answer
The bigger wheels are a distinct advantage. So yes when he's ready for the larger bike go for it. One other thing, while weight is always an issue in performace, bike and wheel weight is critical for speed with small riders. The bike weight is a larger % of total weight for a youngster. A couple pounds means little to a 180lb man compared to a 40-50lb kid. Get him on the lightest bike you can afford.

is a 26 inch bike good for me?

Simrah A

im 13 and 5 "5 inches i want a cruiser or a mountain bike thats 26 inch is it good for me??

Answer
PLEASE get the tire size out of your mind. That's how discount stores measure bikes. Real bicycles from real bike shops are measured by "frame size". You could have been on a bike with 26" wheels a long time ago - at about 5' tall even.

Look at the two links below. Both bikes have 26" tires. 1st bike has a small 13" frame size my kid started on when he was about 5' tall. 2nd bike has an 18" frame size - for when he grew (quickly) to about 5'7" tall.

At 5'5" tall, you would need about a 15" or 16" frame size. 3rd link.

what is the council so stupid?

Q. i live in australia, melbourne, hampton park and i really love riding dirtbikes and i always wanted to build a go kart but i have no where to test it? so here me out , literally a 30 second walk from my house is a park now this park is basically a oval and in the middle of it is just a small swing and a slide and the rest is clear land, another 1 minute walk from that park is another park that is bigger but still has alot of land then 4 minutes walk from there is just a plain paddaock perfect i mean perfect for riding dirtbikes, and then we have the wetlands , its a massive land with mini hills and trees and its just huge it goes all the way through hampton park now this is my point ok. lately kids have been riding dirt bikes around the roads and stuff and risking there lives and other people and some people care some dont the cops how ever have been knocking people off there bikes with there cars now you can stop this all if the stupid council just take a little bit of that land in the wetlands and make it into a place people can ride dirtbikes i mean its perfect and also they have to pay alot to get the grass cut but if they let us riders go there and ride on the grass they wont worry about it, this is a win , win situation because if they charge like 5 bux per person they will make alot of money and if people get annoyed they should make it like 3 times a week , the coucil is getting money less kids will ride on the road, cops can stop putting people lifes in danger and every one is happy what do you think about this?

Answer
The cost to set it up, the cost for insurance (which would be near 10k a year) and th cost for having someone staffed to take the money, run it. - It is not worth it. They will make a loss. Councils do not have extra cash. Everything they do must make money.

At wits end with son stealing?

cherokeegr

I don't know what to do anymore... My son is 10 and he has been stealing since he was 8. I cant say he started off with small things cause he started stealing from his aunt and uncle, even his brother. Taking money, stole his brothers laptop and gave it away at school. Shoplifting candy. Stealing Xbow 360 hard drives, 360 controllers, etc... We have tried time outs, restriction, counseling, spanking, confronting, having him take it back and apologize, even taking him to the police station and having them talk to him. He comes home almost everyday from school with something new. He says that people just give him stuff... Money, pocket watch (really nice one) toys, etc... Stole $80 from his dad a few weeks ago and passed it out on the school bus like candy. Yesterday we noticed that we were missing some money and this morning, his dad caught him with MORE money. I don't know what to do anymore, where to go, what help to get him. He has been seeing his counselor for 2 years now... Apparently it is not working. I cant put him on restriction from anything else cause it is already all taken from him. This is a almost everyday occurrence. I have told him and his sister both (which is 6) that we are not allowed to take things or steal things from anybody period. (Unless family member GIVES it to them in front of me.) My kids don't want for nothing, they have toys, bikes, he has a dirt-bike, they have DS's game-boys, Xbows, PS's. They have clothes on their backs, roof over their head, food on the table. He stole money from his sister this morning (note it was only a nickel) but its the point of it. I am at the end of my rope and about to fall the rest of the way... HELP!!!
To amazed~ He has been going though therpy/counseling for the past 2 years with no immprovment
To mommy~ We dont have that here.
To Hoppele~ He has been in numourous fights due to his stealing.
Ok, this is to the next 3 people on the comments...
1st, He has been spanked, he gets spanked almost everyday.
2nd, he no longer has his toys, Xbow, dirt-bike or any other entertainment. He has been on non stop restriction for 2 freaking years.
3rd. I HAVE taken him to the PD and it worked for about a week.
4th. There is more than enough dispiline in this house. The punishment comes with the crime. He gets his ass spanked on a daily basis. Funny his 2 sisters and brother dont do this kind of thing, just him. He gets the worse of the dispiline but he is the only one that does anything this extreme. His siblings are 17, 16, and 6. Do yall not read the whole thing before commenting? Everything that yall are telling me to do I have already done and is in my description. Please read WHOLE thing before commenting thx.
To Merry! I greatly appreciate you answering. He already has a clear bookbag (due to having so many books) He has gotten to where he cuts places in the bottom of his shoes to hide things (like money). There is already a no closed door policy in our home due to some other issues. Only door that is allowed closed is our front door and the bathroom door. We live in Kentucky USA.
I have been calling a million places today trying to find out if there are any programs that I can put him in. I was told that I have been doing everything right that i can and that it is time to press charges against him for being uncontrollable. I cant see me doing that to my own son, having something like that following him for the next 8 years. I might have to though. I am starting a new councelor tomorrow and see if maybe it is just the one he has been seeing lately.
To cassa.. You have a good way of looking at things. I already dont work, I stay at home so that as soon as my kids get out of school I am here for them. Most of his stealing is affecting the family, not really people at school (which I found out today) He is stealing money from us and buying things from kids at school, things that I am thinking those kids have no right to bring to school. But thats my opinion... I praise my kids when they do something right but i cant let stealing go unpunished. He dont care who he hurts in the process and actually laughs about his stealing. His dad told him he had to do around the house to pay back what he has stolen and he laughs about it. He is starting a new theripist tomorrow so I hope to get things to change. And it is a actual theripist and not a government one that has a million people. He deals soley with children. He will be tested for OCD, Kelpto, and ADHD (which I know he doesn't have). I will update as soon as I can! Thx to all answers

Answer
The stealing has is about anger and how he see's himself/sense of self! Praise him for what you love about him, hug him and let him know your on his team ... tell him "I Love you too much to not want you to be the best person you can be".

The current psychologist is not helping and I would look at other alternatives. YES..it does take time but at his age after 2 years I would be expecting to see changes in the right direction and this does not appear to be the case. Something happened to trigger all this and if that hasn't been addressed by now then the 'root cause' of your son's behaviour has been swept under the carpet!

Not sure where you are from (you don't say) I am in Melbourne Australia and would highly recommend a program run through the Alfred Hospitals Child and Adolescent Health Department known as ALFRED CAMHS ..they specialise in complex behaviour issues specific to kids and young adults..whilst you might not live in Melbourne there has to be something in your area or surrounding you that can support you and your son. Talk with a Social Worker in your area and again with the police .... the more people the better...eventually you will find the person who has the answer your looking for!!

As for immediate ideas... No school bag ..No Jacket & No Pockets ... a clear plastic zip-lock bag will do ... limit where he has to 'hide' the things he takes!

Another idea (although heart-breakingly extreme) would be to take your son to all the local shops in your area and get him to hand them a photo of himself so they are aware he is a 'shop lifter'.

Taking "everything" out of his room is one idea.. another idea I heard of and thought sounded interesting ... Remove His Bedroom Door ... 'privacy' & 'respect' is restricted ..it is also something you have to earn!

I wish you all the best ... as a parent myself my heart goes out to you..this would not be an easy situation for any of you ~ take care! :)

Which is the best way to parcel a Kids Bicycle from Bangalore to Kerala?

Vbb

I would like to parcel a used Kids bicycle from Bangalore to Kerala. Kindly help me the following

1. Approximate cost for parcel
2. Do we need any packing to be done for this?
3. Please suggest a best & cheap courier company
4. How many days does it take to reach Kerala.

Appreciate your help

Answer
Bus Parcel! Thats the best way to send your bicycle, safe & economical. It reaches your destination in Kerala the next day!

Contact the private bus operators in Kalasipalayam Bus Stop. Make a good packing & advice the bus operator to keep in the front of the luggage area. Hope this helps you.

Parents of kids/teens that ride bicycles: Helmets?

If you and your kids/teens ride bicycles, do you wear helmets? Do your kids/teens wear helmets? Do you not care if they wear a helmet or not?

Thanks! I'm 16, and I would wear a helmet no matter what, but my friends don't because they say it looks ugly, but a girl who was 15 recently died from just riding casually on her neighborhood street (no cars) fell down without a helmet on and died from internal bleeding.

Answer
I always wear a helmet and make my kids wear helmets. In my state kids under sixteen legally have to wear helmets or the parent can get cited. It may be unfashionable safety is more important.

what size honda dirt bike is good for starters.?

Gabriel

I am 18 5'8" and 160 lbs. when i was 8 i had a honda xr70. now that i can afford my own bike i am looking to buy one. i was looking at a 2004 crf150f for $1500. i was thinking about buying it but my friend told me thats for smaller kids. i have not ridden for a long time.
i rode my friends bike about a month ago and got use to clutching. so now i am looking for a bike. i want a honda. Is a crf150f really to small for me? or should i look into a crf230f? im sure people will say just go with a crf250 but they are very spendy. what i am looking for is a bike that i can master clutching on (i drive a 5 speed car so it shouldnt be to hard) and that i wont be intimidated by like being scared that im going to get thrown off the back of it.
considering my size and riding experience which bike would be best for me?

Answer
The only way to find the right bike for you is to actually inspect the bikes. First, sit on the bike. Do you feel comfortable on it? Make sure you aren't on your tippy toes when you are sitting on the bike with your feet on the ground. If your feet are flat on the ground, make sure your knees aren't extremely bent. Also, talk to the dealer. Let them help you find the right size.

What size dirt bike should a 4'10 tall kid ride thanking 85cc?

dillan m

anny more addvice becuse i am geting in to motocross raceing pretty soon so please tell me if i have any more addvice

Answer
get on a kx 85! its a great starter bike and has some nice power! i used to have one, and i grew out of it now i got a bigger kx 100! its sweet. 85's are great for people who want to start racing too!

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