Perhaps you are one of many parents that do not think it is possible for their one and two-year-old children to ride a bike on their own; at least without the use of training wheels. Especially if you have older children who you have already taught to ride a bicycle. However, with balance bikes, it is entirely possible for your toddler to learn to ride a bike without the use of training wheels and without you having to run your behind off holding up a bike for your child. A balance bike eliminates the pedals on the bike and focuses on the most difficult part of bike riding, balance.
Learning to balance on a bike actually gets more difficult as a child gets older. That is because as they grow dependent on training wheels, they are being taught that they need those training wheels to ride. Toddlers do not develop this mental block if they use balance bikes to learn how to ride. That is because a balance bike is just their size and what’s more, your child will naturally begin to draw his or her feet up as they learn to balance, it will be a natural process rather than a forced one.
There are many brands of balance bikes to choose from. Brands like Strider, LIKEaBIKE, Skuut and KaZAM are all quality brands that offer different types of wooden balance bikes and metal balance bikes for you to choose from, You could refer to this buying guide for balance bikes. With this variety you are sure to find a style that your child will love and with some non-gender specific options, you can pass the balance bike from boys to girls or girls to boys without fear that they will reject it based on the looks.
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It is important for parents to observe the same safety rules as they would for a regular bike. Balance bikes are still bicycles and your children should still wear helmets, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist and shin guards for their protection. Not only are you protecting your children, but you are establishing good habits from a very early age. Choosing a balance bike is a great first step to teaching your child coordination and balance and preparing them for riding a regular bike in the near future.
Use A Balance Bike Before Transitioning to A Bike with Pedals
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When it comes to purchasing a kids bike, you have a lot of options, but one of the things that you need to consider is the age of your child and just how quickly you want them to learn how to ride a bike. Everyone who knows how to ride already knows that the most difficult part of learning how to ride a bicycle is learning how to balance and for a kid trying to master the art of pedaling and balancing at the same time can be frustrating. That is why a balance bike is such a great way to adjust your child to a two-wheel bike.
A balance bicycle is a bicycle without a chain, pedals and usually breaks. A balance bike is similar to a scooter except for your child is learning how to balance while sitting on a bicycle rather than standing and pushing. A balancing bike encourages your child to learn coordination rather than depending on the use of training wheels to keep them upright. This serves them well developmentally as well as making it easier for them to transition to an actual bicycle without training wheels.
The real benefit to your child learning how to ride on a balancing bike is that you will not have to train them to ride a regular bike. The pedaling action is what comes easy to kids, and kids who learn to ride a two-wheel bike without training wheels find that it is easy to adapt to the combination of pedaling and balancing when they have started their training on a balancing bike.
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Using a balancing bike is fun for the kids as well. When young children first start using a balance bike, they get to feel like a big kid and are keen to get started. The seat is low and allows your child to sit on the seat while using their feet for balance. Before you know it they will be scooting around your yard and your neighborhood. After they grow accustomed to how an actual two-wheel bike feels they will start experimenting by pushing themselves and lifting their feet. When they have gained enough confidence you can take them to an area with small hills so that they can maintain their momentum when they are biking. Before you know it, they will be ready for their transition to a two-wheel bike with pedals.
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