Experts advise how to teach children to ride a bike: where to start and what mistakes not to make?

Quiet and safe place

As the media report says, it is first and foremost important to choose a suitable and safe place when teaching children to ride a bicycle. According to Aušra Jusė, the head of the Private Client Insurance Department of the ERGO insurance company in Lithuania, parks, soft forest tracks and empty sports fields may be suitable for this. It is important that there is no car traffic, heavy traffic from other cyclists or pedestrians around.

“Look for more spacious places where there is no risk of collision with pedestrians or other road users, without parked cars or other objects presenting a risk of collision. Even the flickering of a child’s bicycle through a car is considered a traffic accident. Be sure to teach how to ride a bike where it won’t hurt others, and especially a child who is even more stressed, “advises A. Juse.

“No less important is the coating. When learning to ride a bicycle, a child will not avoid falls, and falling on an asphalt surface is, of course, much more painful than on a forest road, for example. At the same time, driving on very sandy, thick, or dense grass is not advisable. It can be difficult to think, roll and maneuver freely on that surface, ”says A. Jusė.

Protection for the little ones.

A. Jusė also emphasizes the importance of adequate protections. According to the representative of the insurers, a child should not sit behind the wheel of a bicycle without a helmet and protective gloves.

“It is advisable to take care of the protection of the knees and elbows. They prevent injuries and ensure that falls are less painful. This is also important because the little ones, who have fallen painfully from the bicycle, may later be afraid to get on it, since they don’t want to learn to ride. Finally, all cyclists under the age of 18 must wear a helmet according to traffic regulations. Take care of the guards immediately, this way you will develop a culture of safe driving from an early age, “he says A. Jusė.

First, a feeling of security.

Vaidas Rimkus, a representative of the Vilnius Bicycle School and bicycle trainer, points out that when learning to drive, it is very important to have a technically solid bicycle with inflated tires and a firmly attached chain. According to the specialist, it is useful to start with balance bikes with additional wheels on the sides, or those that allow the child to resist the ground with his feet.

“When children begin to learn to ride a bicycle, it is very important to have a sense of security and understand that they can control the situation. Therefore, the use of balance bikes is recommended. It is possible to remove the pedals from the normal bicycle and reduce the height of the seat so that the child can feel the bicycle rolling, daring, but at the same time having the opportunity to reach the ground with his feet, not tip over. Once the child gets used to the bicycle, it is possible to put the pedals and teach them to think. When the child learns to balance, the seat height can be increased a little so that the change is not too sudden, “says V. Rimkus.

One task at a time

According to the cycling coach, one of the most common mistakes parents make when teaching a child to ride a bike is trying to give him too much information at once.

“Training often starts from the wrong side: it shows how to brake, how to make turns.” Still, you should start with the basics and the simplest: how to balance and drive in a straight line. As a result, you must first help the child develop this skill by calmly holding the bike. At first, the focus should not be on the brakes or other details. The most important thing for a child is to feel how to maintain the stability of the bicycle, ”says V. Rimkus.

V. Rimkus also advises teaching to ride a bicycle little by little, take breaks, rest and in no way put pressure on the child.

“It is important to encourage, to encourage, not to demand too much of the child. Learning should be a fun experience for both the child and the parents. This is how you learn to drive faster, ”says V. Rimkus.