When parents want to teach their children how to ride a bike, they often attach training wheels to its sides. Riding a bike equipped with training wheels allows children to develop the coordinated leg movements required for pedaling without having to concentrate on maintaining their balance. Once the children are comfortable riding the bike, parents remove the training wheels so the children learn to balance on their own.
Age Ranges
Young children often start out on tricycles. The dual rear wheels keep the bike steady while they practice pedaling and sitting upright. Typically, children 2 to 3 years old can handle tricycles and similar small vehicles. At 4 to 5 years old, children can use bikes equipped with training wheels. Training wheels typically come with attachment hardware that allows parents to connect them to most brands of bikes. At ages 6 to 7, children should be able to ride a bicycle without training wheels.
Runner Bikes
One school of thought says children should learn the basic movements on a bike equipped with training wheels and then move to normal bikes. But another says training wheels are less effective than simply letting the child experience bike riding. Parents who employ this method might use runner bikes, which essentially are normal bikes without a pedaling mechanism. To use them, children push themselves along with their feet and coast. To maintain their balance, children should keep their feet just a few inches off the ground.
Alternative Training
Another alternative to training wheels is to pick a gentle, grassy slope and allow children to coast down it on a regular bicycle. This teaches them how to balance and steer at minimal risk. Short grass is better than long grass, which might slow down the bicycle too much. Start at the bottom of the slope so the child doesn't gain too much momentum. Once the child is comfortable with balancing and steering, move to the top of the slope.
Considerations
Whatever method you use to train your children, it's important that they wear proper safety gear, such as a helmet, knee pads, elbow pads and wrist guards. If your children learn that wearing safety gear is a normal part of bike riding, they'll be less likely to remove it when they get older.
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