How to Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike
Learning to ride a bicycle is one of the biggest milestones for children. While there's no definite age for when to teach your child to ride a bike, most children have developed enough coordination and balance by age 4 or 5 to be able to handle one, according to Better Homes and Gardens. Be patient while teaching your little one -- some kids take longer than others to feel comfortable riding a bike. It all depends on your child's comfort level, along with where she is in her physical and mental development.
Things You'll Need
- Road cones
Instructions
Find a grassy field that contains a gentle hill or slope approximately 30 yards long, recommends the International Bicycle Fund. The slope should flatten out at the bottom or go slightly uphill to permit the bike to slow down. Ensure that the slope is not too steep or it will be difficult for your child to control the bike, and he might have trouble stopping it. Look for grass that's short enough to not obstruct the wheels but will still provide cushioning in the event of a fall. Lower the saddle and remove the pedals to allow your child to be able to handle the bike like a scooter. Learning to ride the bike as a scooter will help him feel more steady and allow him to have control over the bike while he learns balance. Avoid lowering the seat too far -- your child should be able to sit upright on the saddle and place his feet flat on the ground, which will allow him to slow down or stop the bike when needed. Move to midway up the hill. Keep the bike steady while your child climbs on. Release the bike. Instruct her to scoot down the hill by keeping one foot on the ground. When she feels ready, encourage her to coast by lifting both feet approximately 1 inch off the ground. Remind her that she can always place one foot back on the ground if she begins to feel unbalanced. Walk the bike back up to the top of the hill. Repeat the procedure until your child feels comfortable coasting down the hill without placing her feet on the ground for longer periods of time. Reattach the pedals. Instruct your child to rest his feet on the pedals to get used to the feel of them but continue to coast down the hill. Remind him to always place one or both feet on the ground if he begins to lose his balance or wishes to slow down or stop the bike. Instruct him to start using the pedals once he's able to coast all the way down the hill with his feet resting on them. Show your child how to use the brakes. Typically, most bicycles for children contain foot brakes, which operate by backpedaling. Instruct your child to ride down the hill and use the brakes when she wants to slow down or stop. Advise her to place her feet on the ground to stop the bike if she feels she still needs to. Allow her to practice using the brakes until her confidence improves and she no longer needs to use her feet to stop the bike. Raise the bike seat back to its standard position. Lift the seat high enough so there's a slight bend in your child's leg while the bike pedal is at the bottom of a stroke. Locate a flat area of the field or look for an empty parking lot to further practice developing bike skills, such as braking, hand signaling, steering and making turns. Create different obstacle courses for your child to practice his steering by strategically placing yellow driving cones that he is forced to maneuver around. Help him become skilled at stopping and starting by telling him to brake on the word "stop" and begin pedaling again on the word "go."
