Roll with It!

Roll with It!

Many kids learn to ride their bikes in the 4-6 year old range.  It is an exciting day when the training wheels come off and another step towards independence is taken.  It's important to properly prepare your child for this step.  So let's get your kiddo riding safely.  

Let's start with the bike itself.  Make sure the bike is the correct size for your child.  He or she should be able to sit on the seat and have their feet touch the ground.  Children shouldn't "grow into" their bikes.  A well fitting bike will build confidence and quickly increase your riders skill level. Your child's bike should also match their riding ability. Your local bike shop is a great place to begin when looking for a bike.  Bikes might cost a bit more than at the big box stores, but the customer service and knowledge that comes with them is more than worth it.  

Make sure the bike has reflectors and lights on it. A horn or bell is beneficial as well. Making the bike easy to see is the goal.  

Before that first ride, make sure to do an inspection of the bike.  You should check the brakes, tire pressure, and chain tension regularly.  This is where your local bike shop is a valuable resource.  Many bike shops will perform these services for for free or for a very minimal fee.  It has also been my experience that bike shops are more than willing to show you how to do simple maintenance on your bike.   What a great skill for your child to learn. 

Next, let's get your little rider decked out and ready to ride.  Most importantly, make sure your child has a well fitting helmet that they wear every time they ride.  Make sure that the helmet is sitting correctly on the head and that the pads and straps are adjusted for comfort and safety.  Letting your child pick out their own helmet will increase the likelihood of your child wearing it.  Many helmets for kids come with stickers and ways to personalize for the child. Of course, role models are very important.  Make sure you are wearing your helmet when you are on your bike as well.   

Make sure your child is wearing appropriate clothing to ride.  Clothing should not be lose or flowing.  Sorry, no princess dresses on the bikes.  You don't want anything that could catch in the chain or on surroundings.  Reflective and bright colored clothing help to insure that your child is visible to others.  

Make sure your child is wearing closed toe shoes, no sandals or flip-flops. 

So now it's time to ride.  Make sure your child knows the rules of the road.  Teach them how to be safe as they ride.  There are many websites that will help you to teach your child how to ride safely.  A great one I found is :  https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/teaching-children-bicycle-safety  Make sure your young child is always riding with an adult present, it is recommended that children under 10 ride on the sidewalk if it is available.  

While swerving and zigzagging are fun to do, remind your child that the road is not a place for that.  Find or provide a safe place for practicing stunts.  Kids will do them so trying to stop them is just asking for trouble.  But, acknowledging their need to go to the next step will foster their independence.  Just help them to be safe as they are doing this.

I hope these tips have been useful to you and your family.  Bike riding is a fun way to spend time together as a family. So get out there and ride.