Did you give your little one the famous bike he dreamed of? Now it's time to move on to learning! Well installed in his saddle, feet flat on the ground, he is ready to give his first pedal strokes, here are some tips.
Your child will definitely go through many learnings during his life. Learn to walk, talk, eat alone, read… and ride a bike! Depending on each child, this stage usually occurs between four and eight years of age. She appeals the child's psychomotor skills, his balance, his coordination and his apprehension of the elements around him. The most common stages are first the tricycle, the pedalless bicycle, also called the balance bike, the bicycle with small wheels and finally, without the wheels!
Start learning to cycle smoothly
The tricycle
As soon as they learn to walk well, the little one will be able to get on a tricycle, a small bike linked to a removable cane that the parents push so that he moves forward. Thanks to him, the child will learn to pedal, an action he has never done before, because he did not need it. This is where coordination begins: succeed in alternating footwork movements simultaneously, while steering the handlebars in a precise trajectory. Around the age of 3 years generally all children are able to steer their tricycle on their own. The apprehension of space also begins at this time. Indeed, the child must integrate the various elements around him and interpret them to anticipate and successfully pedal in the right direction. Little by little, he will discover the first feelings of balance and be ready for the next step.
The bicycle without pedal or balance bike
Do you know the balance bike? This little original bike to say the least did not date yesterday since it was already found at the beginning of the 19th century! For children, its use appeared later and today it is an integral part stages of bicycle learning in children and will of great use before the big jump to the real bike.
Thanks to the balance bike, the little one can develop a sense of balance, coordination and above all autonomy, since he will no longer need his parents to push him and will be able to go where he wants.
The balance bike can be made of wood, metal, with large or small wheels… the choice is yours. Before purchasing, make sure the saddle can adjust to the size of the child (as with a normal bike), so that he can put your feet flat on the floor. The handlebars must also offer a good grip to allow the child to be able to steer his balance bike in the right direction. There are many bikes of this type on the market and parents' opinions are generally positive. This pedalless bike offers children the opportunity to gradually enter the world of adults and move around on their own.
Please note: when using the balance bike, don't forget to put a helmet on your child so that he could ride safely, an accident happened quickly.
The scooter
The scooter is not necessary in the path of learning to cycle but it is a good ally in the acquisition of balance. Around the age of 2 or 3 years, a child can start using a three or four wheel scooter, which are more stable. Once he has gained confidence, you will be able to switch to two wheels, which will allow him to gain speed and gain autonomy. This last stage of the scooter usually takes place around the age of 4.
Before purchasing this two-wheeled scooter, make sure it has brakes and again, don't forget to put a helmet on your child. Next step: the bike!
The bike !
With the small wheels
Your child has finally acquired enough balance and coordination to be able to hope to fit on a real big bicycle, it's time to give him one! Going through this step can be a bit unsettling for the child who may doubt his abilities or regret the bike for the little ones. Also, if he doesn't feel ready, don't force him, he might get disgusted.
Unlike the balance bike, the bike is made up of pedals, but especially of narrower wheels, so it's difficult to hold on to it. To achieve this, the child must reach a certain speed, which may seem a little scary at first. To facilitate the transition from tricycle to bicycle, opt for small stabilizing wheels, which will give confidence to your child and also accompany him in his beginnings on this new bicycle for adults.
It exists learning bars that attach to the child's bike and yours. During a ride, you can keep your child behind in complete safety. This option is a good alternative because it allows the child to pedal at their own pace.
As with the balance bike, make sure your child wears a helmet and the saddle is properly adjusted to its size. Once seated, both feet touch the ground, so they can maintain some stability both when starting and stopping.
See the entire braking system with him and make sure he understands how to brake once it is on the move. Finally, the child must hold the handlebars securely and look far ahead to control their trajectory and ride straight.
Without the small wheels
It is usually around 5 years that a child manages to cycle alone and without the small stabilizing wheels. There is no longer any question of getting any help from his parents or the small wheels, he must now hold it himself. Once this stage has arrived, the advice is the same as with small wheels: check the height of his saddle so that his feet touch the ground flat, check with him the braking system, make him wear a helmet, look far ahead of him…
Adding that he can now practice getting on and off his bicycle, as well as starting and stopping. And on the road to pedaling!