Bike riding is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air. When you teach your child to ride her bike without training wheels, it provides your family with an opportunity to go on bike rides together and it affords her a little more freedom. Removing the training wheels is a big step, and you have to teach your child how to ride without the stability they provided. Most children are ready for this between ages 3 and 6.
Step 1
Prepare the bike. Using a wrench, remove the training wheels from the bike. Be sure that all the parts of the bike are tight and that the seat is in a good position for your child's height.
Step 2
Review the safety rules. Be sure your child understands that he must wear a helmet at all times when riding his bike. Children who are just beginning to ride a bike should wear knee and elbow pads, because falls are inevitable at this stage in the process. Tell your child how far he is allowed to ride, and supervise him at all times.
Step 3
Find a place to teach and practice. According to REI, the best place to begin teaching a child how to ride a bike is a traffic-free, large, flat, paved location. You can use your driveway, a parking lot or an empty basketball court.
Step 4
Find your child's balance. It is important for your child to feel balanced while riding her bike. Have her sit on it and lift her feet a few times. She can also scoot it along with her feet. This will help her figure out how to sit on the bike without tipping over.
Step 5
Teach pedaling. Once your child feels well balanced on his bike, help him use the pedals to move the bike along. Show your child how to push the pedals in a circle to make the bike move forward. You should hold onto the seat or the back of the bike while your child is practicing this move, because it will prevent falls and help him stay on the bike long enough to get the hang of riding it.
Step 6
Move on to steering. Once your child masters pedaling the bike, help her steer the handlebars to move in circles or to turn corners. According to REI, setting up a simple obstacle course can help your child learn which way to turn the handlebars to go different directions.
Step 7
Teach your child how to brake. Some bikes require pushing back on the pedals, and others have handbrakes a child squeezes to stop the bike. Have him practice this move several times before you let go of the bike so he can stop himself as he learns.
Step 8
Practice. The more you work with your child, the faster she will learn to ride her bike. Emphasizing the skills you have taught her each time will reinforce them and make it easier for her to master her bike.
Things You'll Need
- Wrench
- Bicycle
- Helmet
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