It is difficult to imagine a child who would not like to ride a bike. Almost every kid, watching how other children are having fun riding their bikes, begins to ask their parents to buy him a two-wheeled car.
But it is not enough to buy a bicycle, you also need to know how to teach a child to ride two-wheeled bike.
At what age should you start learning? In principle, already at the age of 4, many children are confidently skating. If the child is afraid, then you can postpone education until the age of 5-6 years. Well, for 7-8 years, almost all children are confidently staying in the saddle of a two-wheeled car.
If the kid already has experience in riding a tricycle, then it will be much easier to teach him how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle. At least the child will already be able to control the steering wheel and pedal. Therefore, it remains only to teach him to maintain balance.
If learning is started at an early age, you should not strive to quickly teach your child to ride a two-wheeled bike. Better to act slowly and slowly.
Security measures
Parents must take timely care of the child's safety. It is necessary to purchase not only a helmet, but also protective shields for elbows and knees. Falls are inevitable at the first stage, and even then, when the child is confident in driving the bike, safety measures will not be superfluous.
The second important point is the need to properly adjust the bike for the child's height. It is necessary to set the seat so that if the child lowers his legs, the foot will rest on the ground.
Two ways to learn
In order for the training to take place without tears and unnecessary falls, you need to choose one of two simple ways.
The first way especially good if the child is still small and has no experience of riding a tricycle. In this case, it is worth purchasing a model that is equipped with two additional wheels located on the sides. Such a machine is stable and the child will only need to be taught how to operate the pedals and control the steering wheel. After he has fully mastered the art of control, it will be possible to unscrew the wheels and begin to learn how to maintain balance.
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Some parents, trying to make the transition smoother, first unscrew one extra wheel. But experts do not advise doing this, since in this case, the bicycle becomes very uncomfortable, and this prevents the child from learning to maintain balance. Therefore, both wheels must be removed at once.
Second way to properly teach a child to ride a two-wheeled bicycle, it is better to use if the child already has experience in riding a tricycle. Such a kid needs to be taught to maintain balance. You can buy a special exercise machine called a balance bike. Actually, this is almost an analogue of a bicycle, but without pedals. They ride on it, pushing off the ground with their feet. If a child learns well how to maintain balance on this car, then he will quickly learn to ride a regular bicycle.
Learning to pedal
If you have no experience of riding a tricycle, then you need to teach your child how to pedal. The easiest way to do this is to hold the bike so that the front wheel is not touching the ground. It is necessary to explain to the child that you need to pedal evenly, and not in jerks. The first step may require the help of another adult. One person will hold the bike, the second, placing the child's feet on the pedals, will show the future cyclist how to act.
Learning to keep balance
First you need to teach your child to get off the bike. This is a fairly simple exercise, done like this:
- an adult holds the bike by holding the handlebars and seat;
- the child is seated in the saddle;
- the adult begins to gradually tilt the bike towards him, and the child's task at this time is to straighten his leg and lean on the ground;
- similarly, training is carried out with an incline to the other side.
Usually, it is enough to carry out the described exercise 2-3 times so that the future cyclist will remember what to do if his vehicle starts to roll.
At the initial stage, it is important that the trainee realizes that this car does not have additional wheels, therefore, it is possible to maintain balance on it only during movement.
That is, in order not to fall, you need to constantly work with the pedals, and try to do it evenly. If you need to stop, you need to lower your feet to the ground.
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Psychological preparation is also an important point. If a child is terrified of falling, then learning to ride is useless for him. Of course, the baby must understand that no one is safe from falling and that is why the parents insist that the child did not try to ride without a helmet and elbow pads. But at the first stage, the child will be insured by an adult who will not let him fall. If the baby gets rid of the fear of falling, he will learn to ride much faster.
Until the child learns to confidently maintain balance, the adult will have to constantly be near, holding the little cyclist on his shoulder (in extreme cases, you can hold the collar or hood). You can support behind the saddle, but then the adult will have to be in an extremely uncomfortable position, from which the back will hurt very soon. For this reason, at first, use special "reins".
While holding the child (or the bike), you will need to periodically loosen the grip so that the child can understand how he will feel if the adult is not around.
If you can't keep your balance, then in the first lessons you can try to ride, turning only one pedal. To do this, you will need to ride near the curb, with one foot the child will turn the pedal, and the second will push off the ground.
Next, you need to teach the child to make turns, that is, to control the steering wheel. The easiest way to do this is if he conducts lessons near a round flower bed, but only if the border around it is not lined with sharp bricks. First, you need to teach the child that when cornering, you need to reduce the speed, since with intensive pedaling, the risk of falling increases.
Then you will need to start learning more complex techniques. The child must learn to brake, turn around, avoid obstacles, etc.
In this article, we will analyze such a question: how to teach a child to ride a bike?
A reader of our site asked a question: My daughter is 4 years old, she does not know how to ride a bike, tell me how to teach a child to ride a bike? After reading the article, share it with your friends on the social network.
Stage one: Start learning to ride a two-wheeled bike
At first - two months - Gleb rode a four-wheeled vehicle. Progress was visible even here. It seems that everything is simple here - pedal, you do not need to keep balance. But this also had its own difficulties. 
Stage two: unscrew the safety wheels
And so we decided to unscrew the safety wheels. Gleb was indignant, almost immediately collapsed and that evening, even a little ride, he failed. We put one wheel (instead of two) on the uncomfortable side and drove home. We leave the next day, unscrew the wheels, Gleb sits down and drives himself! We are absolutely delighted! Gleb, in general, did not understand what he had done so unusual.
Basic techniques for mastering a bicycle by a child
In order to teach a kid to confidently own a bicycle, parents should spend a lot of time and effort for constant control over it. In this case, small wheels on the rear wheel come to the rescue, which help the child to maintain balance while driving. The main disadvantage of additional wheels is that they only help to solve the problem for a while. When a child reaches the age when it is time to get rid of such an assistant, it turns out that special training is still indispensable.
It is important! Already at the age of 3 years, the baby is quite capable of mastering the basic technique of cycling.
Up to this age, you can use the plug-in wheels, so that the baby is simple and easy to move around, and the ride is only a pleasure. One of the methods for gradually moving from a four-wheeled bicycle to a two-wheeled one is to first detach one wheel, and after a while the other.
This method causes a lot of controversy. Some people are sure that riding with one side wheel does not help a child to master a bicycle, but only creates additional difficulties for him when riding. They believe that teaching a child to ride a bike can be different. 
For this you need a helmet, a bicycle and the child himself. Side wheels are immediately discounted. You have to let the kid get used to the fact that now he has to support the bike on his own, and nothing helps him to stay upright. The kid must struggle to maintain balance and ride on his iron horse at least a hundredth of the distance that he knew how to overcome before, with additional wheels.
It is important! Your main task is to keep your child safe all the time, support him slightly by the shoulders, and help him move without stopping.
Explain to your baby that only by being in constant motion can you constantly remain upright and not fall. Let him not forget that the bike no longer has additional help, he can no longer stop or release the steering wheel when he pleases. The movement of the bike depends solely on the fact that it pedals and holds the handlebars.
Teaching methodology
At the very beginning, when the baby is just starting to master a two-wheeled bicycle, parents should constantly be near him and make sure that the child does not fall. The kid must overcome the psychological barrier, get rid of the fear that he will not succeed. 
Walk to the side of the child at all times, holding him by the shoulders or elbow. You can also hold the straps of your suspenders or overalls, or even the scruff of your neck. After a time, when the child can pick up a certain speed, and move with your help, without stopping, support the bike by the saddle.
It is important! Very often it is important for the kid not that you really take most of the bike control on yourself, but that you are there and he feels your moral support.
You can go for a trick: when you are convinced that the child can already confidently hold the steering wheel and pedal continuously, support him not as tightly as before. Let the baby still see that you are nearby, but he will already do all the necessary work himself, even without knowing it.
Be sure to cheer your baby up, evaluate his progress, and then the training will be much more pleasant and faster.
The first workout must necessarily take place in the fresh air, and the time of its conduct is no more than 30-40 minutes. Usually children get tired of doing the same things very quickly, so training through strength will quickly discourage the kid from all the desire to learn to ride a bike further. Only after the child begins to make the first progress and "see through" all the charm of riding a two-wheeled bicycle, you can increase the riding time to 3-4 hours - at the age of up to 5 years, you should not exceed this norm.
What you should pay special attention to
After the difficult and tedious study time is over, the child needs to learn some little things for more confident management. In order for the kid to be able to easily navigate in unforeseen situations while cycling, it is worth paying special attention to the braking technique. Even at the simplest distances, such as a stadium, a kid can get confused and lose control of the most innocent little things: a cat running across the road, a ball that has fallen in its path, a pedestrian, etc.
Watch several times how well the child is able to brake. Try to sharply block the road in front of the little cyclist, standing in his way. Will he panic or will he hit the brake quickly? It depends on the child's reaction whether or not it is possible to leave him unattended during his occupation or not.
Classes for a child from 1 to 3 years old
Removing a wheel from a bike How to shift gears on a bike
For the youngest cyclists, a tricycle is best. You can start training in an apartment, when the apartment for cycling becomes too cramped, you can go outside. You do not need to immediately put your child on a bicycle, let him first learn a new toy for himself. He will consider all the stickers, try to play the bike, as he sees fit. After the interest in the new toy diminishes, you can start learning.
You can start learning about a bicycle by mastering the steering wheel. Have your toddler sit in the seat and show you how to use the steering wheel properly. Give your child the opportunity to steer on their own. Working as a wheel allows you to develop the muscles of the arms and shoulders. When the baby is good in the saddle and has mastered taxiing, standing still, you can ride around the house.
Having mastered the steering wheel control, you can proceed to the study of pedals. It will be quite difficult to deal with the pedals right away, firstly, pedaling is physically difficult, and secondly, it requires concentration of attention so that the movements are performed synchronously. In order for the kid to quickly understand which principle of movement will be correct, you should help him with your own hands, helping to pedal correctly. In order not to be distracted and fully concentrate, you should raise the drive wheel, thus creating something like an exercise bike. After mastering the pedals on the spot, you can move on to full-fledged riding.
Having mastered skating within the apartment, you can start skating on the street. At first, you should choose flat sites, without a noticeable slope. When cornering, control the speed, the tricycle is not suitable for sharp maneuvers.
Classes for a child from 4 to 6 years old
The age at which you can begin the transition from a tricycle to a two-wheeled one. This transition should be done gradually, for a start it is better to use additional wheels at the back. The technique of riding a two-wheeled bicycle is significantly different from a tricycle, so the child will not be able to feel confident enough, even if before that the child felt great in the saddle of a tricycle.
Before you start learning new driving skills, you need to prepare your bike. The seat and handlebars must be adjusted and at a comfortable height. The rear side wheels should be placed slightly higher than the main wheels, within 5 centimeters. If the kid is already familiar with how to operate the steering wheel and pedals, you can go directly to driving. If a child gets acquainted with a bicycle for the first time, then it is necessary to master these skills, which at this age will be much easier.
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When the child has already learned to ride confidently with additional wheels, you can remove them and move on to two-wheeled riding. It is necessary to prepare the baby mentally, explain that he is already skating well, and is able to do without additional wheels. During this period, it is important to closely monitor how the child is riding, and be ready to insure. First, it is important now to avoid falls and injuries. Secondly, the child, feeling your presence and support, will know that you are there and ready to help, which will undoubtedly add confidence in his abilities.
How is a bicycle useful for children?
Cycling is not only useful, but also enjoyable. The child both goes in for sports, and plays, develops physically. A bicycle is a simulator. The kid performs various exercises by pedaling. But that's not all, the two-wheeled bike helps to develop:
- Human vestibular apparatus;
- Mindfulness and observation.
A child, riding a bike, for at least one hour, performs various physical exercises... They have a beneficial effect on the growing body of the baby, blood circulation improves, metabolism is normalized. A ride on a two-wheeled horse is useful for babies with weak immunity. Together with a balanced diet, they can improve the poor health of the child and build muscle mass.
Driving rules and principles
After all the knowledge and skills acquired earlier, the child should be explained how to handle the steering wheel. Uncertain "wagging" from side to side will lead, in the end, to a fall, and in order to make it easier to steer, you just need to increase the speed. And then conditioned reflexes will not let the cyclist fall.
You need to start by driving in a straight line, without resorting to turns. More agility requires experience, confidence, skills. The algorithm of actions should be as follows:
- repulsion from the ground, giving the initial speed;
- putting the feet on the pedals and rotating them.
Hands firmly hold the steering wheel, the gaze is directed not to the ground, but forward. This helps not only to assess the situation on the road, but also to maintain balance, due to the correct position of the body relative to the moving structure.
If the child is afraid to pedal quickly, this makes it extremely difficult to ride. You need to be patient and give him a chance to want to do everything on his own. You will have to hold the bike, perhaps running a hundred meters behind it. And gradually reduce the support level to zero.
When to start learning
Doctors believe that children who learn to ride a bike from an early age have stronger immunity and endurance than their peers. Cycling helps to develop the muscles of the arms and legs, as well as improve coordination and work of the heart muscle.
Considering the benefits of driving, learning to ride a bike can be started from the age of 2-3.
Some parents decide not to delay this process, so their children make their first trip on a three-wheeled vehicle when they are 1.5 years old.
During the first lessons, parents should not think about how to quickly teach a child to ride. The main thing in the learning process is to interest a son or daughter and not demand the supernatural from them.
Initially, children will learn the simplest thing: pedaling and turning the handlebars on a tricycle, but this will help them quickly learn the necessary skills to move on to the next stage.
As for two-wheeled vehicles, it is better to transfer a child to it from the age of four, when a small person learns to drive it on his own.
Regardless of the age of the child, equipment should be purchased before starting training: a protective helmet, knee pads and elbow pads.
Learning to ride a tricycle
The first important point in cycling for children is choosing a bike according to height. Correct fit of a young athlete on a three-wheeled vehicle should provide full access to the pedals.
Before teaching your child to pedal on a bicycle, give him a good look at the three-wheeled vehicle. Allow your child to play with him and drive him around by turning the steering wheel in different directions.
If the area of the apartment allows, then the first attempts to ski can be tried not on the street, but at home. With the first attempts, the child will begin to understand that movement is carried out due to the rotation of the pedals.
For outdoor practice lessons, choose a stadium or schoolyard. Given that all of the child's attention will be focused on the pedals, he will go in any direction without choosing a direction.
The child will begin to master the control of a bicycle only after he has brought the skill of pedaling to automatism.
Another option often used by parents is to master the steering wheel first and then pedal later. This method is also quite effective, the main thing is to carry out everything in stages.
The duration of training should not be more than 30-40 minutes. If the child does not want to continue exercising, it is better to postpone it until a more favorable moment.
Mastering a two-wheeled bicycle
A child who has mastered the skills of riding a three-wheeled vehicle and switched to a two-wheeled vehicle will only have to learn how to keep balance. As practice shows, this stage is quite difficult.
Most often, the transition to riding a two-wheeled bike occurs at the age of four.
Consider how to teach a child to ride a bike so that the result is not long in coming:
- Lower the bike seat so that the youngest member of the family can reach the ground with both feet while on it. When he learns to ride, the seat can be raised to the desired level.
- Practice the skills of landing, movement, braking and stopping vehicles to the point of automatism. Indeed, when riding a three-wheeled model, the little person did not even think about it.
- Some parents prefer to use side casters as a transitional step. As practice shows, it is appropriate to teach to ride with the use of safety wheels only if the three-wheeled version has not been used before.
- You can improve your balance skill by turning your bike into a scooter. By removing the pedals from the vehicle, the child will be able to move forward, pushing off with both feet.
- You can then put one pedal back in place. Holding the wheel, the young athlete will accelerate and push off the ground with one foot, while the other will lean on the pedal.
- The last step will be to put the second pedal back in place and fully ride the two-wheeled bike. Do not hold the bike by the handlebars, just provide your child with your support and follow him.
Before your child wants to ride on his own, do not forget to teach him how to brake correctly. To do this, roll the bike with your child and ask him to stop. After letting go of the vehicle, make sure that the son or daughter touches the ground with their feet after braking.
Another prerequisite is to teach how to get off the transport correctly. To do this, the bike must be tilted towards you, resting your foot on the ground. Have a young cyclist try this exercise from both sides of the vehicle.
How to teach a child to ride a bike
What parents need to know
Experts point out that before you teach your child to ride a two-wheeled bicycle, you must understand the following. Before a child gets on a bike, it is necessary to help him overcome the fear of falling from this type of transport and the uncertainty when riding a bike.
That is why it is necessary, first, to get on the bike yourself, showing that there is nothing wrong with that. You can also ride this bike yourself, pushing off the floor with your feet. The most important thing is to help the child overcome feelings of fear and insecurity. Then you can practice, supporting the child by the shoulders, teach him how to keep balance in the saddle, teach him how to pedal and how to control the steering wheel.
Ultimately conquering fear of bicycling
An important aspect of a child's lack of fear of cycling is the height of the bike seat. It is required to make it so low that the child, when fear or anxiety appears, can immediately put his feet on the ground. The seat can be raised to the required level later. It is important that your two-wheeled bike has additional wheels on the sides.
Most importantly, these wheels must not be flush with the large wheels to avoid various injuries and accidents on the road. Before putting a child on such a bicycle, it is necessary to explain to the child the difference between this bicycle and a tricycle. You should show such a fact as a sharp turn - it is impossible, since you can fall and get painful bruises of all parts of the body. You should also mention the brakes and teach the child to use them.
Which two-wheeled bike to choose for a child
The idea of buying a bike that can be ridden at five or seven is extremely attractive for a family budget. But it does not work at all if you want to teach a child to drive independently without any safety wheels. The fact is that for successful training, the legs of a small cyclist, when he sits in the saddle, must firmly, with a full foot on the ground.
Therefore, a three-year-old bike with wheels over 12 inches is hardly suitable, and a four-year-old is more than 14. The best option for saving is to buy a used bike, especially since the previous owner hardly managed to "roll" it to death in a year or two. Look for the lightest thing on the market for kids. Don't listen to anyone touting a 12-15kg bike with the "but it's stable" argument.
The weight of the bike should be such that your child can easily lift it or carry it into the apartment. When buying a bike, it is important to be guided by the size of the wheel. You can see how large the wheels on your child's bike should be on this plate.
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Simple expert advice will help you teach your child how to ride a tricycle and two-wheeled bike. You will learn how to overcome your child's fear of their first trip.
At what age do children start cycling
The ability to learn to ride a bike depends on physical development, motor skills and coordination of the child. According to the observations of psychologists, most children at the age of 5 years skilfully ride a bicycle.
3-4 years - the period of development of gross and fine motor skills
Children learn to balance on one leg, walk on tiptoes, jump, run. Can pedal, use the handlebars, and ride a tricycle, but cannot balance on a two-wheeled vehicle.
If your child has strong muscles and normal coordination, he will learn to ride a small two-wheeled bike with training wheels. They will not be needed after 3-5 days. Children of this age do not know how to use hand brakes, so the bike must have brakes for the feet.
4-5 years - a period of expanding horizons
Child reaches for the toys of adult children. Most people know how to maintain balance and good coordination - this is necessary for riding a two-wheeled bicycle without training wheels. At the age of five, children do not understand the danger of injury. To avoid and secure falls, experts advise:
- put on a helmet and knee pads on the child;
- stay close in the first days of training.
6-12 years is a period of confidence
At the age of 6, children are physically fit and able to ride a two-wheeled bicycle without training wheels. They have a sense of the fear of falling, the coordination and attention needed to use their hand brakes.
From 9 to 12 years old, children skillfully use the hand brakes with multiple speeds. They are drawn to develop great speed and do tricks on a bicycle.
Start learning with a beautiful story. Place a bicycle in front of your baby and place a toy on it. Tell that bunny or bear learned to pedal - show them in motion with your hands. Then demonstrate the steering wheel by turning in different directions. Explain that which way you turn the steering wheel, the wheel and the bike will go. Have your child roll the toy. By holding the wheel, he will understand how it works.
Preparation
After the conversation, you can start training on the street. Choose a flat road. Wear a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads on your baby. Fitted correctly, fit snugly and do not pinch the muscles. Adjust the helmet strap to slide your finger between it and your chin. If necessary, use a wrench to adjust the seat height. In a sitting position, the child should reach the ground with his entire feet.
Practicing the first pedal movements
Place your child's feet on the pedals. Take his hands behind the wheel. Explain that it is now his turn to ride a bicycle instead of a toy. Help your child pedal by holding their hips. Then use one hand to push the bike by the back of the seat and use the other to help adjust the handlebars.
Bicycle skills
When you see that the child is not afraid and is confidently pedaling, move on to concentrating on the steering wheel. The first method is to step away from the bike 3-4 steps forward. Hold a toy in your hands and invite your child to drive up to you. Ask to look at the toy and at you. This will provide an opportunity to divert attention from the pedals and teach you to look at the road.
The second way to teach how to control the steering wheel is to stagger pins or toys on the road. Explain to your child that you need to drive and not hurt anyone.
Workout time
Always give your child encouragement and praise for their success. Each workout should not last more than 30 minutes. If you notice that the child is reluctant to get on the bike, is naughty, distracted or looks tired, finish the training.
Some children learn to ride a tricycle in a few days. Others will take longer to understand how the steering wheel and pedals work. The main thing is practice and patience on the part of adults.
First of all, if you want to quickly teach your child how to operate a two-wheeled bicycle, unscrew the pedals. This is how you get a bike ride. The size should allow the child to “sit” on the seat and freely push off the ground with his feet. Let him run a little like that.
The next step is to select a section of asphalt or dirt road with a slight incline. This will allow the child to understand how to maintain balance while moving. At speed, he will intuitively tuck his legs. And he will understand how to keep balance with the help of the steering wheel. 3-4 workouts for 5-10 minutes will help you master balance on the bike.
The last step is to screw the pedals into place. Show the main position of the pedals from which you want to start moving. Sit on your bike and show an example how to start. Ask your child to repeat.
Many children easily begin to ride a two-wheeled bicycle after the first start. They have no fear of losing their balance, so pedaling is faster.
If a child is afraid
Often children are afraid:
- Get injured- don't ignore fear. Explain that you can protect yourself with a helmet, knee and elbow pads. This is what professional cyclists do. Suggest trying it on a flat grass surface.
- Feel like a failure... Explain that the main thing is not achievement, but the effort he exerts. Talk about his first steps. Have fun sharing how you learned to skate and bike yourself.
To overcome fear, a child needs to:
- Time- some children need to understand and come to a decision on their own.
- Communication with parents- this is how the child feels strong.
- Motivation- ask what the child needs to learn to ride. Remember how his training began, for example, swimming.
A significant part of the skills is acquired in childhood, when there is an active cognition of the world around. Cycling is one of these skills. Driving two-wheeled vehicles actively trains the vestibular apparatus, thanks to which a person is able to clearly navigate in space and quickly respond to changes in body position. In addition, a bicycle is an excellent training for attentiveness and reaction.
Do I need to talk about the health benefits of a bicycle? Probably, it's still worth it, because uniform physical activity is simply irreplaceable for the body of a young researcher. It has been proven that children who start cycling in early childhood cope with illness faster, are more active and cheerful.
However, riding a bicycle well and correctly is a matter of thorough training, a thorny path through falls, wobbling, and "disobedience" of the bicycle. Children, although they master great things faster than adults, do not have enough patience to overcome all sorts of difficulties. That is why, from the first skiing, the role of instructors and “living examples” should be played by parents. Today we will consider how to teach a child to ride a bike and what stages you need to go through.
First trips: preparing equipment
In theory, a child can sit behind a bicycle wheel at 2.5-3 years old. However, at this age, the child learns to actively move: run, jump, somersault. Let's let him complete the work he has begun, and only after that we will begin to attach to the great. The optimal start time for preparation is from 4 years. The gender of the child does not matter. Both boys and girls are equally ready for a bicycle.
To interest a child in how to ride a bike, it is good to show them a living example - yourself riding a bike. As a last resort, you can periodically play videos of calm pokatushki, best of all for children. There is no need to force the child to ride. He must want himself. The likelihood of not wanting is insignificant - it always attracts great children's eye, and everyone wants to catch the feeling of flight and speed!
It is unlikely that a child realizes that riding is associated with falls and injuries, so taking care of the safety of the child's riding is the business of adults. To protect vulnerable parts of the body: head, arms and legs - you need to buy the appropriate equipment. Safety for the head is provided by a bicycle helmet - a special device that is put on the head and fixed to its size. A helmet should not only provide protection, but also be comfortable. The main criteria for choosing a helmet:
- Strength and lightness.
- Clear fixation on the head.
- No pressure on temples, forehead and back.
- Good ventilation.
A children's helmet must be carefully tried on, it must meet all of the above requirements.
Children's helmet: reliable, comfortable and beautiful
When teaching your child to ride, remember that at first he will most likely fall off the bike. To mitigate the negative effects of a fall, use elbow and knee pads to protect your arms and legs. Children's options are readily available from any sports department or specialist bike store. When trying on, the main thing is to determine that they do not press, do not restrict the movements of the arms and legs, and also completely cover the areas of the elbow and knee joints. And, of course, shoes: they should be closed and comfortable. Sneakers are ideal in this matter.
Varieties of children's bicycles
And now let's come to the most important thing in the question "how to teach a child to ride a bike?" - the choice of a bike. Children's bike options:
- Three-wheeled, without chain, "front-wheel drive".
- Pedal bike, "scooter".
- Two-wheeled bike with additional wheels at the back.
- A full-fledged child is great, "an adult in miniature."
A bicycle with three wheels - one in the front and two in the back. The pedals rotate the front wheel. It is stable and all that is required of the child is to maneuver and turn using the steering wheel only. This option can be perfect at the very first stage, because it is quite easy to learn how to ride it. Your child will be able to master such a great thing in two, maximum three, days. Of course, this is the safest type of bike, but it's much more interesting to ride on two wheels! It is not worth buying "three wheels" on purpose, it is better to rent it.
Great without pedals is a two-wheeled design with a saddle and rudder. There are no pedals, it is set in motion by pushing the feet off the ground. This type of bike trains the child's ability to keep balance, however, his speed and controllability are not very good. Should I buy it on purpose? Unlikely. A much better option would be to get your child a full-fledged bike and unscrew the pedals from it for a while.
An unconventional approach: children's bike without pedals
For the safety of movement, there are additional wheels that are installed at the back. You can buy them just in case, but, if possible, do not put them, otherwise the child will get used to them, and then he will not learn to ride without them. But all the delights of movement are manifested on two wheels, without extraneous bells and whistles.
Choosing a child's bike is a crucial moment, especially for a child. He must fit him in size, be in excellent technical condition and look beautiful. Yes, children love it. Before riding, adjust the saddle and handlebar for height so that your feet can freely rotate the pedals and reach the ground, and the handlebar and your child's own hands do not block his view.
Two-wheeled horse driving rules
First, show your child how to use the brakes and turn the steering wheel. Usually, beginner riders rotate them very strongly to the right and left, which is why the bike collapses. You need to start skating first along a straight trajectory, in places where there will be no people, cars and obstacles. At the beginning of the movement, you need to push off the ground with one foot, after which you immediately begin to pedal. Look strictly at the road, and not at the front wheel and, even more so, the legs.
It is unlikely that a child will be able to master this right away, a series of trial and error associated with falls will go. Of course, this is inevitable, but the task of an adult is to minimize falls, to correctly adjust the position of the arms, legs and head. And, of course, to encourage. Be patient, otherwise the child may not want to ride anymore.
When training, we hold on to a large
A common mistake in children is slowing down and light pedaling. Balancing at low speeds comes with experience, and at first it is only possible at speed. Convince the child that there is no danger, let him pedal, and you are always there, insure against falls. Often you have to hold the bike at all while the child is riding. It's okay, as he gains confidence, support can be weakened.
Why is it best to look straight ahead? With this head position, the road is perceived safer, because it is visible in advance. Moreover, balance on a two-wheeled bicycle is better maintained when all parts of the body are evenly distributed relative to the frame, and the head is no exception.
How to hone your skating skills
It will take less than a week to teach a child to ride fast enough to maintain balance. This will be followed simply by the improvement of riding: turns, detours, turns, changes in speed. In the process of active riding, braking skills are also honed: a young cyclist himself will begin to feel where to accelerate and when to start pressing the brake.
We complicate the "track": we add turns. First, we explain to the child that the steering wheel plays only a partial role in maneuvering, and you will have to slightly tilt the body in the direction of the turn. We monitor the size of the slope and stay close to support the bike in time if it starts to collapse. You need to start with turns of a large radius, and then gradually reduce it. It is best to demonstrate these actions on your bike: children's eyes, like sponges, absorb information very well.
Learning to skate by example is a good form!
Once the turns are mastered, we add a turn, circles, snakes and eights. In general, what is enough imagination. In principle, the interested child will begin to invent "road pretzels" on his own. The main thing is not to fall too much.
We work out changes in speed. Get in the way of the child and give him the task to brake right in front of you. On a free straight section, maximum acceleration will be an excellent exercise. You can even arrange small competitions for the child himself, adjust him so that he overtakes. It is also useful to teach coasting: this way the vestibular apparatus trains even better, and for balance it is not necessary to always pedal.
Riding downhill and downhill will teach your child to ride on rough terrain in the future. If the bike is high-speed, then it's time for an adult to explain how and when to change gears. Moving down the mountain will allow the child to feel the brakes: when to grip them harder and when to release them.
Is it difficult to teach a child to ride a bike? It is unlikely that children are very good at accepting new things. Yes, it will take a little patience and tinkering, but the result is worth it. Over time, a young cyclist will master his transport like five fingers, and will become a real companion for you!
Perhaps no other form of transport gives as much pleasure and benefit as a bicycle. Therefore, many parents strive to teach a child to ride it as early as possible. Whether the kid will fall in love with this type of transport, whether the training will be easy depends on many factors.
In this article, you will learn
At what age to start
Early learning to ride an iron horse contributes to the development of coordination of movements, improves the condition of the vestibular apparatus, and has a general strengthening effect on the entire body of the baby. If you choose the right vehicle, you can start as early as a year. The main thing is to teach in stages, starting with a simple technique and gradually mastering a complex one.
Of course, you don't need to buy a real two-wheeled bike right away. For kids from one to three years old, tricycle models and bicycles without pedals have been developed - scooters, or bike runs.
Which bike to choose
Successful training depends on the choice of a vehicle. The kid is not able to maintain balance on heavy or age-unsuitable vehicles. Much also depends on the condition of the child's muscular corset. Observing certain conditions, difficulties can be avoided:
Construction requirements. The materials of the product must be of high quality, the model must have ease of movement and maneuverability. The presence of reflective elements, the absence of sharp parts, parts made of thin plastic are required. Spin the wheel - it should run smoothly.
Advice... There is nothing wrong with buying a balance bike or other children's transport from hands. Usually, such items do not have time to fully work out their resource and are in good condition.
Safety engineering
Almost all sports activities increase the risk of injury. To avoid bruises, abrasions and other troubles, it is advisable to take the following safety measures:
- Protect vulnerable spots with special safety equipment: put on a helmet, on your hands - elbow pads, on your legs - knee pads. Be sure to select all equipment by size. Train your baby use protective equipment in training every time.
- Buy sportswear and shoes, or wear long pants and a sweater with breathable stretch fabric sleeves. It is desirable that the legs are covered: during a fall, the limbs are most often affected... Shoes should also be closed, tightly wrapped around the foot, with a grooved non-slip sole.
- Check technical condition of the bike... Adjust the steering wheel and seat, check the elasticity of the tires, align the structural parts if necessary.
Does your child wear protection while cycling?
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How to master a two-wheeled bicycle. Memo to parents
Two-wheeled children's greats are not much different from their adult counterparts. They sit on them, as a rule, from the age of four. Here are some tips to help you learn how to ride quickly and easily.
- If the child has no experience at all, it is better leave additional side casters... Learning will be easier without them, but the parents will have to put in a lot of effort helping the child to maintain balance.
- Removing one pedal for a while, turn your bike into a scooter. With one foot, the baby will start and brake, accelerate, and with the other, pedal. If necessary, you can do the same with the other pedal.
- It is better to hold the student by the shoulders, not behind the seat or steering wheel. So the kid will quickly have a sense of control when driving, and the adult will not have back pain during long lessons.
- Be sure to show the child before teaching how to get off the bike properly, teach how to brake, consolidate the skill in the process of cycling.
Advice... You can arouse interest in cycling by traveling on a bike with a baby sitting in a special chair.
This is how training in 3 days might look like.
Day 1
Day 2
Learning to keep balance
It is better to learn to balance on a safe road lying on a gentle slope, with a flat surface without pits, hollows and cracks, about 50 meters long. It is better to start on a balance bike or bicycle with removed pedals and additional wheels. Sit down the child, make sure that his feet reach the ground. Use protective equipment.
Climb up the path. Let the little cyclist ride gently downhill. If necessary, he will regulate the movement, pushing off with his feet, he will learn to keep the steering wheel straight.
You need to teach gradually: repeat several times, let the baby avoid touching the ground with his feet. Workouts can be considered complete when you manage to drive down the slope several times without touching the ground.
How to pedal properly
Reattach the pedals to the bike. Hold the frame and let the child stand on them. Then offer to ride down the slope, keeping both feet in this position. After fixing the result, offer to make a few turns as you move down the path. Be sure to secure at this stage until the trainee learns to pedal on his own.
Braking training
It is better to teach the skill first on a flat road under the command of an adult. Explain that it is desirable to brake smoothly, but confidently, the pressure should be short-term. Alternate hand and foot brakes alternately.
After your subject learns, train on a gentle slope until you are sure he is able to brake on his own.
Important! It is advisable to take bike rides away from the roadway. Inspired by success, a tiny athlete can unexpectedly turn to the wrong place. Teach elementary traffic rules, explain that there is a danger of hitting a pedestrian.
Watch the video, which explains in detail and shows with an example how to teach a child to ride a bike in just 1-2 days.
- At first lower the seat so that the baby can easily brake with the soles of his feet. When he learns, adjust him so that he reaches the pedals with his straightened leg.
- Can be used for insurance high curb sidewalk... On the one hand, the cyclist will be supported by an adult, on the other - if necessary, he will lean on the curb.
- To teach any skill motivation needed... In this case, it can be the desire to make bike rides with parents, the opportunity to arrange a competition with a friend. Watching videos of athletes or cartoon characters on a bike can also be inspiring.
- If there are several children in the family, first you need to train a senior, then others will also want to ride.
- Keep ready first aid equipment with open wounds.
- Cycling is not an easy science. Support your baby both physically and emotionally, be sure to praise for your successes. If you fail, instill that everything will definitely work out.
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