Learning to ride a bike is the kid equivalent of getting their driver’s license. Remember the freedom of riding around the neighborhood with your friends? While you may not allow your child to wander as far as you were allowed to, there is still a tremendous amount of joy that comes from learning to ride a bike. Learn how to teach a kid to ride a bike in no time flat with these tips and tricks.
How to Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike Fast
Start with the Three-Wheeled Rides
If your child hasn’t yet had a big wheel or tricycle, you’ll want to start there. You can also let your kid ride around on three-wheel scooters. The important thing is that he is becoming comfortable with being on wheels. The earlier in life you can get him started, the better.
Even if your kid is older, you can find tricycles for big kids, too. There are even some adult tricycles that look pretty cool, so there’s no shame in the 3-wheel game.
Find a Balance Bike
Here’s the thing. When we were growing up, balance bikes didn’t exist. Training wheels were the only way to go when you were learning to ride. Boy these things are a game changer. If you want your child to take to riding quickly, the balance bike is the way to go. The way it works is that the bike doesn’t have pedals. Your child uses his feet to push himself along. Once he has momentum, he can lift his feet and learn to balance the bike.
A balance bike is the only way to learn about balancing when it comes to going around corners. The only downside is that balance bikes can be expensive – really expensive. One way to get more bang for your buck is to get the type that you can add pedals to later, like this one. Or you could always try to find a used one locally.
Because they are such a valuable learning tool, many people have purchased them for their kids. These are now laying in the garage collecting dust. Ask your friends and family if they have one you can borrow. Or, put a post on Facebook yard sale groups letting people know that you’re looking to purchase one. You can also keep your eyes peeled for people selling them in the groups or Facebook marketplace.
Move to Training Wheels
You can’t just go from a balance bike to a regular bike. Your child will also need to learn how to pedal and brake. This means using a bike outfitted with training wheels. Many kids’ bikes come with training wheels so there’s no extra expense. Remember that it’s important to keep this step in the training process.
Let Him Go
Once he has a firm grasp on balancing, pedaling, and stopping, he’s ready to move to a regular two-wheel bike. Thanks to balancing bikes, this step is so much easier. Children find it to be an almost seamless process.
Teaching kids to ride a bike is so much easier than it once was. Take the time to find a balance bike your child can borrow or buy one. It’s well worth the expense.