While the shelves in the parenting section of your local book shop will be stacked with advice, reassurance and childcare hacks, becoming a parent remains a voyage of discovery with no two children following the same developmental pattern.
There are big milestones and little wins, that together add up to ensure a healthy, happy child.
How and where you choose to teach your child to ride a bike has always been a bit of an ambiguous stage within this journey. Largely reliant on the cycling habits of your own parents, the decision to buy a bike and practice pedalling is different for everyone, but still something that is embedded as a skill for life.
Together with British Cycling and the Youth Sport Trust, we set out to make teaching a child to ride an easy and fun part of parenting, breaking the process down into simple games that you can play together. Taking this approach removes the stress associated with trying to pedal on the first outing, instead building up gradually to develop the necessary movements and – of course – your child’s confidence.
To get started on your family’s cycling journey, check out the free games and app at readysetride.co.uk – you don’t even need a bike to begin
Need a bit of convincing to get out on the bikes this summer? Check out these common learn to ride questions every parent has asked at some point:
What age should a child learn to ride?
There is no right answer here as children develop at different rates. Kids as young as 18 months can take to a balance bike and be scooting in minutes, where for others it will take a little longer to want to give it a go.
I don’t ride a bike myself; how do I teach them?
You don’t need any cycling knowledge to work through the HSBC UK Ready Set Ride games, with clear instructions provided in short videos that you can take with you to the park or away on holiday via the app.
We don’t have anywhere nearby
If you’re just starting out, you actually don’t need a bike! The first games are all about gripping, jumping, balancing and moving to build up all of the skills they will need to pedal. When it comes to finding places to ride, check out these ideas – there’s bound to be something nearby.
I’m terrified that they will fall off
With most sports and activities, getting a grazed knee or taking a tumble is actually pretty common when you are starting out. Wearing a cycling helmet is great for peace of mind, plus when kids are first learning short grass is a great place to start – giving a soft landing! If your child does find themselves on the floor but they are ok (apart from being a bit teary), give them a hi-five and celebrate their ‘awesome crash’ – it will help them to brush it off as part of the process.
Should they use stabilisers?
The key to riding a bike is balance. While stabilisers have long been associated with learning to ride, they actually stop a child from finding their balance point and can therefore mean it’s harder for the child when they are taken off. Using a balance bike or taking the pedals off of a bike to use it for scooting will embed the right skills early on.
