Help Me Teach Dd How to Ride a Bike

**AmyBoz** · 01-05-2008, 12:33 PM

Seriously, I feel like I have the only almost-7 year-old who cannot ride a bike. We recently took off the training wheels, and she just can't get the whole pedal and balance thing. All of her friends ride bikes and I think she is feeling the pressure, but still can't get it. I am SOOOOOO patient with her out there, but I am really frustrated.

Any advice!?!?!?!

(Yes, I realize this is a strange request in January, but it was beautiful today, so we've been outside all day.)

**Jskell911** · 01-05-2008, 01:03 PM

Amy, my son is 11 and cannot ride a bike or tie his shoes. So, don't feel like you are alone. The bike thing, well his balance is off on a good day never mind a bike! LOL And the show thing is just a motor dysfunction, but no matter the reason I am sure there are many who cannot ride a bike!

**clyde** · 01-05-2008, 02:54 PM

1. get on grassy hill with about 45 degrees of slope
2. let bike seat down so child's feet can easily touch ground
3. let her go down hill trying to keep her balance. she uses her(stiff) legs to keep from falling over.
4. in a few trips she will have mastered balance,then get her to rest her feet on the pedals as she goes down the hill.
5. after she masters this, get her to pedal.

where i'm from peddling is riding.

**JohnH** · 01-05-2008, 02:58 PM

How big is the bike? Is the size over-awing her?

Get rid of those stabiliser wheels, if there are any.

Lower the seat so she can plant both feet flat on the ground for confidence building. If that is not possible then get another bike.

Let her use her feet to (a la Flintstones) push the bike along.

Then get her to put one foot on the pedals and use just one foot for wheeling around.

By then her confidence should be at a level where she can put both feet on the pedals and freewheel. It is then just a short step to sustaining the ride by turning the pedals.

When she is more confident then raise the seat to the correct height.

If she still can't ride a bike then buy her a car.

**Missy** · 01-05-2008, 03:30 PM

My eight year old can't either. We live on a very very steep hill, so we can't teach where we live, tha'ts for sure.

I think I would find somewhere grassy, maybe a city park? That what if she does tip over, it would be a softer landing.

When I learned I was at a bike trail. My father sat on the seat behind me (big banana seats back then) he kept the balance while i pedaled. He was talking and talking away at me and finally asked a question. I had to answer, a long winded answer. All the while pedaling away. When i waited for his reply it was then i realised he had jumped off. I had been pedaling, balancing, and riding for who knows how long. Big confidence builder. it took a few more times to get the start up figured out.

Good luck!!

**KJayEsq** · 01-05-2008, 03:37 PM

When we were kids, I recall learning how to ride on the grass. If there wasn't a slope, then my cousin would give me a push to get me going. Sure, I fell a lot, but it was on grass. Eventually I got it. I then taught my little brother how to ride in the same manner. Good luck!!

**mmy2grls** · 01-05-2008, 04:21 PM

Last summer my daughter learned to ride at age 7. I tried and tried to teach her and she couldn't learn. 3 of the neighbor kids decided to teach her and with a few hours she was riding like a pro.

Maybe theres some kids around that can help her?

**nuisance26** · 01-05-2008, 04:44 PM

~I had my kids out to practice on their bikes today too. They don't get it yet. I really don't have any advice except to say that I was about 9 when I finally took the training heels off of my bike. I didn't realize I had a vision problem but after I got my glasses I improved in all motor abilities. Maybe have her eyes checked?~

**AmyBoz** · 01-05-2008, 04:51 PM

She's already got glasses, but thanks!

**many houseapes** · 01-05-2008, 06:02 PM

When I was learning,I would keep one foot on the curb & one foot on the pavement of the street. I finally got the balance thing by doing that & one day, just got brave enough to push off the curb.
Some of my younger kids learned by riding in the grass.
Don't worry, she'll get it

**McD** · 01-05-2008, 08:23 PM

My parents couldn't teach me either....they tried and tried but I got so frustrated.

So they just took the training wheels off my bike and my cousin Zach taught me how to do it.

**zakity** · 01-05-2008, 09:12 PM

My oldest didn't learn until his grandmother gave him a scooter. He was 8, I think. We told him that he couldn't use the scooter until he learned how to ride the bike. DH also paid them $2 for riding around the circle drive twice without touching.

**Marie78** · 01-05-2008, 11:16 PM

I think the training wheels should go back on for awhile, once the confidence is back, she'll ask you to take them off again and then when you hold onto the back of the seat and run to keep up with her she will be taking off without you and she'll be balancing herself without realizing it, she'll get it. She's just not sure of herself yet.

**MVS0122** · 01-06-2008, 08:13 AM

My son finally learned at the very end of last summer (so we may be doing it all over again in the spring) and he's 6 1/2. We were told to make sure the seat was low enough for his feet to easily touch the ground, and to try it on a grassy slope first. That didn't work for him. One day camping with my family they were determined he was gonna learn it, so he spent the whole day trying over and over with someone running alongside him to right him and he finally got it after hours of practicing.

**Darlene** · 01-06-2008, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by JohnH

How big is the bike? Is the size over-awing her?

Get rid of those stabiliser wheels, if there are any.

Lower the seat so she can plant both feet flat on the ground for confidence building. If that is not possible then get another bike.

Let her use her feet to (a la Flintstones) push the bike along.

Then get her to put one foot on the pedals and use just one foot for wheeling around.

By then her confidence should be at a level where she can put both feet on the pedals and freewheel. It is then just a short step to sustaining the ride by turning the pedals.

When she is more confident then raise the seat to the correct height.

If she still can't ride a bike then buy her a car.

I liked alot of these sugestions, especially the ones I underlined (good post John! Good one about the car

) Just having her push with her feet and picking her feet up (on her own to glide) she'll be learning to balance on her own without pressure, then you can move on to onto raising the seat and using those pedals. Just like a basketball player has his ball with him all the time, becoming one with it, the more she sits on that bike & tools around it will become comfortable to her.
Wheeeeeeeeeee.