How to teach a child to ride a bike: a complete guide

It is important that EVERYONE knows how to ride a bike! In life, everyone finds themselves in a situation where using a bike becomes inevitable and knowing how to use it is therefore fundamental. Especially for children, learning to ride a bike is an important stage in their motor development, a rite of passage and the acquisition of a skill that, a bit like staying afloat or swimming, will never be lost again!

Furthermore, riding a bike is good for the physical and mental health of the child, and doing it with parents strengthens their bond and allows the family to share unforgettable memories. It is good to experience this moment in which you will find yourself teaching your children to ride a bike in a calm way and without unnecessary anxiety and fear, for you and for the children.
Here is a complete guide that will give you some suggestions for teaching how to ride a bike without giving up the fun!

To teach a child to ride a bike, we suggest you choose the right moment, so that the child is prepared and encouraged to get involved and, why not, even to take a few falls. Choose the right bike, initially without pedals so that he/she becomes familiar with a two-wheeled vehicle and learns to keep his/her balance, and then move on to a bike with pedals but without training wheels and of the right size. The child must feel safe, his/her feet must be able to touch the ground and he/she must absolutely wear a helmet and preferably knee and elbow pads. He/she must then understand the mechanism of the bike, that is, that when stationary he/she can support the vehicle with his/her legs, while when in motion it is the speed itself that keeps it up, and with his/her hands on the handlebars he/she can direct the vehicle and brake if necessary.

How to teach to ride a bike without pedals

The first step that is recommended is to teach the child to ride a bike without pedals: the so-called “balance bikes” allow the child to learn what balance is and to “handle” the bicycle. In fact, sitting on the saddle the child must “walk on the bike”, leveraging his feet. And during this phase it is important that both the little cyclist and the parents are aware of the falls that may occur: falling is normal, it is part of the game, the important thing is to be protected and safe.

To teach a child to ride a bike, our advice is to skip the training wheels step and go directly from the balance bike or bike without pedals to a model with pedals. In fact, with the balance bike the child acquires confidence, coordination of movements and the ability to stay in balance and it will be easier to then move directly to a normal children's bicycle.

Once he has understood how to stay in balance and how to brake using the controls (and not with his feet as he is used to doing on the balance bike), you can try to get him to start by himself by choosing one of the following methods:

1. the child can start by pushing himself with his feet and then, once he has reached a good speed, put his feet on the pedals;
   
   
2. the child can keep the bike braked, put only one foot on the pedal, release the brake and then pedal in order to give a good push, later he can try to put the other foot on the pedal too;
   
   
3. the child can put one foot on the pedal, while with the other he can push himself on the ground, only when he has reached a good speed can he try to put the second foot on the pedal too.

It is very important to give confidence to the child, to make him feel safe and encouraged, aware that the first falls will certainly not be missing but there will also be a lot of fun and satisfaction!

It can be easier for a child to learn to ride a bike: lightheartedness, the desire to have fun, the reduced sense of danger are winning and make everything easier. However, even an adult can learn to ride a bike, it will take motivation, the right tips and a bit of training. As seen for children, even to teach an adult to ride a bike we recommend starting by making them become familiar with the vehicle and with the ability to find balance on their own, initially even just by pushing themselves with their feet (so at this stage it is a good idea to adjust the saddle so that the aspiring cyclist can fully rest the sole of their foot on the ground). Once they have acquired a bit of confidence with the vehicle and familiarity with the use of brakes and gears, you can suggest that they try pedaling on their own, preferably on a flat, smooth and danger-free path.

He will then have to put one foot on one of the pedals and push himself with the other, until he reaches a dynamic balance that allows him to lift his foot from the ground to the second pedal. And after a little practice, and maybe a few falls, he will be ready to become an expert cyclist!