Teach a child to ride a bike (without breaking your back)

Post Script (2009-08-12):

I received a great tip from Doug Miller in the comments section. He pointed me to this product at Amazon. It looks like a great starter bike. Please read Doug's comments they are very insightful.



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The goal of this post is to help a child somewhere learn to ride a bike with confidence.

Imagine this...

Imaging you are walking on a tight rope. Now, imagine that someone is walking or running next to you holding on to the back of your pants while you are on the tight rope. They are either holding you so tight you do not have a chance to fall or they are pushing you around so much you are not sure where your center of balance is.

This is the way a lot of people teach their kids to ride a bike without training wheels. The parents (and their poor backs!) are running beside their kids trying to hold them up. Yet, in their efforts to teach their kids how to ride a bike they are depriving them of the chance to accumulate experience with some important bike riding skills.

What skills are needed to ride a bike?

(1) Balance

(2) Starting and Stopping

(3) Peddling

(4) Steering

The learning plan outlined below is designed to get your child to proficiency with each step in the order they are listed above. The other goal here is teaching your child to learn how to learn. If they are just learning to ride a bike they are a little too young to grasp this concept but just think of it as "planting seeds" for future discussions.

Major prerequisites

(1) Select the proper size bike for your child. I made the mistake with my first child of buying a bike that was just a little too big. I thought I was making a smart financial move. I was thinking, "I will get two years out of this." In reality, my daughter could not efficiently peddle the bike because it was too big for her little legs. She got frustrated. She was experiencing the opposite of what I want your child to feel. She felt frustrated instead of feeling successful. I violated a principle I teach - start small then go bigger.

So, before you try anything mentioned below, select a bike that is the right size for your child.

(2) Find "learning to ride" location that has a gentle slope. I recommend starting on grass slope then moving to pavement. Grass is a little slower and a little softer. Once your child masters the skills on grass you can repeat the process on pavement.

Learning to ride a bike

Step 1 - Correct seat height

Adjust the seat of the bike so your child can put their feet flat on the ground. This is the starting point. This is the starting point of feeling balanced. This is the starting point of building confidence.

Step 2 - Feet up and feet down

The purpose of this step is to get your child used to feeling the bike.

Goal #1 - Lift both feet up and put them back down without falling over. Repeat 10 times.

Ways to praise:

- I like the way you are starting with both feet on the ground

- Nice job lifting your feet up! That was your first time. How did it feel?

- That was the best one yet! Keep up the good work. You are doing great.

Goal #2 - Lift both feet up, touch the peddles, put them back down without falling over. Repeat 10 times.

Ways to praise:

- I like the way you are starting with both feet on the ground (reinforcing a strong and stable starting point. The point of highest confidence.)

- Nice job lifting your feet up... you are getting really good at that.

- That was a great attempt. What did it feel like? What are you going to try this time?

- Way to go. You got your feet on the peddles and put them back down. That is a new world record for you. Want to try to see if we can get 2 in a row... 3 in a row... etc..

Step 3: Feet up, roll down the slight incline a short distance, feet down.

The purpose of this step is to get your child used to feeling the bike in motion. The goal here is to start with small goals then incrementally move to larger goals.

Also, for this step grab three items (e.g. cones, rocks, etc.) that you can use to mark a starting point and measure the end point.

Goal #1: Make the first attempt

- Put the starting marker in a position to mark the front of the tire.

- Have your child push the bike forward, hold their feet up (not on the peddles yet), then put them down.

- Put a marker where the front tire ended.

- You've just established their "new world record!"

- I wonder if they can beat it?

Ways to praise:

- I like the way you are starting with both feet on the ground (reinforcing a strong and stable starting point. The point of highest confidence.)

- Look were your tire ended up. Great job! A new world record.

- I liked the way you put your feet down. You really controlled your balance and the bike well. Did you feel in control?

- Do you want to try to set a new "world record?"

Goal #2: Make several more attempts marking the "new world records."

Step #4: Feet up on peddles, roll down slight incline for a short distance, put feet down.

This step is similar to step #3 but it brings the skill level up a notch by putting the feet on the peddles.

Goal 1: Make first attempt.

Goal 2: Make several more attempts marking the "new world records" with the feet on the peddles.

Ways to praise:

- Continue in the same spirit as in step #3.

Step 5: Feet up on peddles, roll down a slight incline for a short distance, apply break, put feet down

This step is similar to step #4 but you are introducing how to apply the break and put the feet down under control.

Goal 1: Make first attempt

Goal 2: Make several more attempts with the goal of learning how to gradually apply the break to stop. This will help avoid skidding and sudden stops.

Ways to praise:

- Nice job. How did that feel?

- It looked like you pressed the break "hard", can you show me what "soft" looks like? (and vice versa)

- I liked the way you stopped under control and put your feet down. How did that feel to you?

Step 6: Feet up on peddles, peddle the bike, apply break, put feet down

This step introduces a new step into our sequence - peddling. Up to this point we've been building skills and confidence. Hopefully, there are still smiles on the face of your child. If not, take a break. This is a process that takes some time. You do not need to master each step in one day. Keep it light and keep it fun.

Having said that, here is the set of goals.

Goal 1: Feet up on peddles, peddle the bike one rotation, apply break, put feet down

Goal 2: Repeat goal #1 several more times.

Goal 3: Feet up on peddles, peddle the bike [suggest a number to your child] rotations, apply break, put feet down.

Ways to praise:

- Great job! Let's mark your world record in this event.

- Nice job. Remember you can apply your break to stop.

- I like the way you stayed balanced and under control.

Step 7: How far can you go?

Goal: Let's see how far you can go.

Summary

You've set small incremental goals. You've praised your child and built their confidence. Your child is now proficient at the basics. You planted the seeds of learning how to learn: break a big thing into little pieces. The rest is about accumulation of experience. It is about the amount of time you spend on the bike.

Milestone

Welcome to a milestone. The other side of teaching your child to ride a bike is the parenting side. Learning to let go. Learning to support. Learning that learning sometimes involves bumps and bruises.

Keep up the great work. You are doing great! I hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July.

Post Script:

I would love to get your input on this post regarding youth/rec sports. If you have someone in your circle of family and friends that might have some thoughts in this area can you please forward it to them or interview them at your 4th of July party and post your comments. Your efforts will help youth coaches and all the kids that participate (or will participate) . Thank you.