We become what we think about.
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Trying to get children to ride a bike can be a difficult challenge sometimes. This is something that I learned early on.
I had pressure from other people in my life to have my firstborn learn how to ride a bike when he was 5 years old. So I tried and failed miserably for a while.
Suggestion From A Neighbor
My neighbor explained to me how she taught all of her children to ride a bike. She purchased a bike that was smaller than the child, so the child could sit on the seat and their feet would touch the ground completely. I tried this way with my son, and he tried it a few times but kept telling me that he didn’t want to learn how to ride a bike.
For a little while I was pressuring him to ride because I was receiving the pressure from other people that I was being a bad parent, not making him learn to ride a bike.
I don’t know about you, but this pressure can make you crack in other places! Children teach you so much about yourself, especially your weaknesses! So I finally started listening to my son and not pushing him to ride a bike.
New Idea
A few years later, my son’s father bought him a razor scooter from a garage sale, and he taught himself to ride the scooter. A few months later, he came into the house and said Mom I want to learn how to ride a bike. BAM! At this time my son is 10 years old. I said ok go and get your bike, make sure the tires are full of air, and let’s go! He got on his bike and I held the back of it twice and he was able to ride on his own. Never had to buy training wheels, helmets, knee and elbow pads!
Thinking Back
When I was trying to figure out how he could ride a bike so quickly, I thought well I stopped pressuring him and a scooter teaches the children how to balance, so once the child had figured out balance, on a scooter then he has the balance for a bike! So what I did with my third oldest, because my second oldest already knew how to ride a bike from her grandparents, I tried the same idea with him.
Teaching The Other Child
This past summer during the whole COVID-19 pandemic I went out and bought a razor scooter (try to get one at a garage sale) for my third oldest who’s picture is above. He rode this scooter for about 2 months and then I bought him a small bike (pictured above) at a garage sale so that his feet could completely reach the ground being flat-footed.
I ran with my son twice so he could learn the balance and he was upset because he was not getting it right away. My son is 6 years old at this time. He had a temper and quit for the day. You can see from here children are also hard on themselves like adults are! I know I am.
I expect myself to understand things quickly because I tell myself I don’t have the time not to. This is untrue, give yourself time to learn and make mistakes. A lot of the pressure will be off of you. My son went back out in the next few days, with my daughter and he was able to ride his bike (pictured above) to the corner without falling or anyone helping him 🙂
Parents here you go, I tried this way with a razor scooter twice and it worked!
Finished Reading:
The Life Giving Table by Sally Clarkson. This book is great. Really opened my eyes on how to run my home and set the mood. Great questions at the end of each chapter, and recipes. I have made a few and they are delicious!
Celebrate Yourself by Eric Butterworth. I am reading this book again. Such a great daily devotional about you, the universe, and God. How to celebrate you every day!
Make sure to always look for used books!
My book Big Banks Small Thinking is currently self-published in a pdf file here!
Comments: How did you teach your child to ride a bike?
