Ok, this is very off topic, but I've seen a number of posts out there from people with kids. Has anybody taught a child to ride a two-wheeler? I'm having a very frustrating time with my 7-year old daughter and my back cannot take too much more. Any "tricks" that you might have would be very helpfull!
When my brothers taught me to ride a bike, they took me to the top of a hill and gave me a push. Took out the tail light of a big old ford. That and a lot of peer pressure kept me motivated to learn. Not a technique I'd use on my own kid.Maybe try some on the grass, so it wouldn't hurt when she fell over.
a good trick is to leave the training wheels on, just bend them up more and more as she gets better, soon, the training wheels won't touch the ground at all and you can remove them
chew aura pizza cheat main"the world in my hands, there's noone left to hear you scream, noone's there for you"
The bending the training wheels thing is the trick I am currently using, but she simply rides down the sidewalk tilted. I don't want to bend them too much, because then she will fall over once and not want to get back on. (very emotional)
joatmon,Now to derail the thread: I am racking my brain trying to think about where your avatar picture is from. I know I've seen it before, but I cannot put my finger on it.
Of course!! I don't know why I didn't come up with it. I had Pink Floyd on the brain, but couldn't come up with the album. I kept thinking Dark Side, but knew that was wrong. I though about Wish You Were Here, but was like "nah, that's the guy on fire".Old age: memory is the second thing to go.
I've been working on my 7yr old as well. She started out by going 3 feet then saying she can't do it, it's to hard. I told her there is no such word as 'can't' and to keep trying. I try to remember my DOD motor cycle classes. They had some good tips. After a week with the training wheels she's doing better keeping it in the middle. I have to keep telling her to leep looking down the road (sidewalk) and not to look down. If you look down you'll fall down. This weekend we'll try raising the training wheels and do some big circles in a parking lot and get her to look at where she wants to turn. It seems to me that it's easier to learn if you can get them to go a littler faster and let the bike help hold them up.And another 'tip', use lots of padding (helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, ect...) it will give them more confedance and not fear falling so much.
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quote:And another 'tip', use lots of padding (helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, ect...) it will give them more confedance and not fear falling so much.I'm sure if I ever have kids, I'll make them wear all that stuff too, but when I was little only one kid on our block wore a helmet and we all made fun of him. There was nothing wrong with him, so it's not like he was any more likely to fall and bust his head open than any of the rest of us were. I guess his parents were just ahead of the times. I guess it's easier for kids now though because they all seem to be wrapped in little bubbles, but when I was 7 there was NO WAY I'd be caught dead in a helmet. I know when I first learned to ride a two-wheeler, the cuts I got from hitting a wooden corner-fence thing and falling over were the motivation to keep my balance and not fall again. I think my dad did it by holding on to the back of my seat and staying behind me the whole time. Since I couldn't see him anyway, he just held on until he felt me keep the balance, then let go. I guess he didn't think I'd make it all the way to the corner...and hit the fence thing our neighbors had. Going straight is one thing - turning corners the hard part.
Since I work in a bike shop the best solution is a Trail-a-bike. It's a half bike that attaches to adult bicycle. The company that makes thems is Adams. ALot of people start their children that was at age 3 and up. Then go to the training wheel route. Simply riding with the child on your own bike might work as well. You need to convey the exciment you have to her and see if it helps any.
you make a good point fire. remember when playground equipment was all hot, flesh searing metal with sharp screws and points just waiting. and the "padding" below the junglegym was just a bunch of rocks? im still alive, and i have to say, the playgrounds of today just don't look as fun.
chew aura pizza cheat main"the world in my hands, there's noone left to hear you scream, noone's there for you"
One key thing to remember when teaching your child to ride a bike is PATIENCE, PATIENCE and more PATIENCE. I found myself getting veryfrustrated teaching my son how to ride, but I never let him see me get mad, it would only make it worse.Keep working with your child and one day it will all click in and the smileon her face will make it all worthwhile. Just be prepared once she starts riding by herself you will no longer be needed !!!!!
Here was my trick, taught to me by someone else: Have your child sit on the bike (without training wheels), feet on the pedals, but not moving. You hold the bike by the back of the seat. You move the bike left and right, back and forth, while your child tries to keep balanced by turning the handle bars. Eventually, your child will feel comfortable balancing the bike, so when he/she starts riding and moving forward, as the bike tips to one side or the other, your child will naturally compensate. Then, let the child go riding. This approach really works.