Point out where your child will sit, where the pedals are, and how the wheels move. Plan to begin teaching your child how to pedal when they are between three and six years old. If you show your child how the pedals work before the age of three, they might not understand your instructions.
Hold the bike up while you do this so that the wheels can move freely and your child can see the bike in action.
Now push your child’s feet up and down in the same movement that she would do if they were pedaling. Once they have gotten a feel for the movement, have your child ‘pedal’ with your hands.
Have your child try to push your feet in a pedalling motion to help them gain the strength they will need to push the pedals on the real bike.
Try to pedal slowly at first, and then more quickly as your child gains a better understanding of what you are doing.
Help your child to get on to the bike. Have them stand above the top pipe of the frame with both feet on the ground. If they can do this comfortably, the bike is the appropriate size.
To determine the seat height, make sure that your child can reach the pedal with her whole foot when the pedal is the lowest position.
Fit the helmet so that when it is strapped to your child’s head, it doesn’t wiggle very much, but is also not glued to your child’s head. The helmet should also sit level across your child’s forehead. Consider have them use knee and elbow pads along with a helmet as they get older.
Once they have mastered riding the bike with training wheels, take the training wheels off and proceed to the next step.
Pick a spot that has a gentle slope to it to help your child practice going up and downhill.
Once your child can go down the hill comfortably, put the pedals back on and have your child place their feet on the pedals. Instruct them to avoid pedalling, but instead to just go down the hill with their feet on the pedals.
Explain again that the bike will begin to move when they press the pedal down with their foot.
Remind them that the faster they pedal, the faster the bike will go.
When they (and you) feel confident with her pedalling skills, allow them to try pedalling on her own. You can even give them a little push to help get their momentum going.
