Balance bikes for kids are a great way to teach your kid to ride a bike. Anyone who has experienced teaching their child to ride a bike the conventional way knows how stressful and emotional that can be. But balance bikes for kids are changing all that, and make teaching children to ride a bike much easier.
I taught my first child to ride a bike using the standard, tried and tested method of using stabilizers or training wheels. We bought her a lovely little bike with the standard training wheels. Then when we thought she was old enough we started to take them off. This caused a lot of anxiety and stress, and tears. Why? My daughter had become dependent on the training wheels. It is this dependency which then has to be "untaught". It is like having to go through "cold turkey" to wean them off the reliance on the training wheels. Training wheels are counter-intuitive and counter-productive because of this reliance. She was really worried when just one training wheel came off, and because she became scared, her confidence evaporated, making it more difficult to teach her. We got there in the end, but it was an emotional journey. That is why, after that experience, I decided to teach my next child to ride a bike using a balance bike.
So what is a Balance Bike?
Balance bikes are also known as Gliders, or Running Bikes, are basically a bike without pedals. The child sits on the bike and propels themselves along with their feet. The basically stride around, and when they stop they just put their feet down on the ground instinctively.
What you effectively do is to breakdown the key stages of bike riding. First you build their confidence of pushing along on two wheels. As the child grows in confidence you will discover that their feet leave the ground for more and more. Finally they are coasting along, for longer and longer periods. They are balancing on the bike. So the natural next step is just adding pedals. You have none of the problems of trying to unlearn elements.
Most child development experts agree that the ability to ride a bike is an important developmental milestone because it demonstrates that a child has mastered certain skills including:
Body control
Balance
Following directions
Repetition of movement
The League of American Bicyclists, a Washington non-profit that promotes cycling, recommended this method of training people new to cycling.
"It seems to be easier and more intuitive for kids to scoot along on something," says Andy Clarke, the league's president. "It gives them a greater sense of control over what they're doing," he says. There's no harm in using training wheels but "you don't want to become dependent."
Another advantage is that you can teach children at a younger age, by introducing a balance bike around 2 years old, and in some cases even younger. The learning curve is much more instinctive and natural. Before you know it the child will be confident enough to coast along. So progressing to a pedal bike is a continuation of that learning curve.
Balance Bikes range between $50 to $300, and some come in amazing design styles. Some great designers from all over the World have created classic looking wooden bikes, which are extremely stylish.
Kids Balance bikes are not only great looking and a lot of fun, but they extremely effective. The balance bike is the ideal way to teach a child to ride a bike. So no more tears, lots of fun and loads more confidence. That is why balance bikes for kids are becoming more and more popular with parents and their children alike.
I taught my first child to ride a bike using the standard, tried and tested method of using stabilizers or training wheels. We bought her a lovely little bike with the standard training wheels. Then when we thought she was old enough we started to take them off. This caused a lot of anxiety and stress, and tears. Why? My daughter had become dependent on the training wheels. It is this dependency which then has to be "untaught". It is like having to go through "cold turkey" to wean them off the reliance on the training wheels. Training wheels are counter-intuitive and counter-productive because of this reliance. She was really worried when just one training wheel came off, and because she became scared, her confidence evaporated, making it more difficult to teach her. We got there in the end, but it was an emotional journey. That is why, after that experience, I decided to teach my next child to ride a bike using a balance bike.
So what is a Balance Bike?
Balance bikes are also known as Gliders, or Running Bikes, are basically a bike without pedals. The child sits on the bike and propels themselves along with their feet. The basically stride around, and when they stop they just put their feet down on the ground instinctively.
What you effectively do is to breakdown the key stages of bike riding. First you build their confidence of pushing along on two wheels. As the child grows in confidence you will discover that their feet leave the ground for more and more. Finally they are coasting along, for longer and longer periods. They are balancing on the bike. So the natural next step is just adding pedals. You have none of the problems of trying to unlearn elements.
Most child development experts agree that the ability to ride a bike is an important developmental milestone because it demonstrates that a child has mastered certain skills including:
Body control
Balance
Following directions
Repetition of movement
The League of American Bicyclists, a Washington non-profit that promotes cycling, recommended this method of training people new to cycling.
"It seems to be easier and more intuitive for kids to scoot along on something," says Andy Clarke, the league's president. "It gives them a greater sense of control over what they're doing," he says. There's no harm in using training wheels but "you don't want to become dependent."
Another advantage is that you can teach children at a younger age, by introducing a balance bike around 2 years old, and in some cases even younger. The learning curve is much more instinctive and natural. Before you know it the child will be confident enough to coast along. So progressing to a pedal bike is a continuation of that learning curve.
Balance Bikes range between $50 to $300, and some come in amazing design styles. Some great designers from all over the World have created classic looking wooden bikes, which are extremely stylish.
Kids Balance bikes are not only great looking and a lot of fun, but they extremely effective. The balance bike is the ideal way to teach a child to ride a bike. So no more tears, lots of fun and loads more confidence. That is why balance bikes for kids are becoming more and more popular with parents and their children alike.
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