Wow, the balance bike really worked

[GardenStream]

My DS started using his balance bike when he was a little over 3. Early this summer we noticed that he was running and balancing really well. We started to encourage him to get going as fast as he could and then coasting with his feet up for 20 or 30 feet. He could do that, so for his 4th birthday we got him a big boy bike.

We had a little trouble transitioning him over to the big bike. He didn't want pedals because he couldn't go as fast. Anyway, a couple weeks ago we went camping with a friend and their 4 year old daughter was riding all over on her bike and DS wanted to try it too.

We set him on the bike and gave him a push. Within 10 minutes he had it down and was riding all over the park with his friends. I can't believe how easy it was and we never had to mess with training wheels at all. I am a believer!

[deditus]

That's wonderful! My dd was trying to ride her cousin's bike last weekend (with training wheels) and I stood there looking at her struggling and thinking that she would do much better with a balance bike. She has great balance and I think the training wheels were totally throwing her off.

[newlywaaz]

us too! My 4yo can ride a pedal bike as long as he is going fast. We're still working on slower paces, but I know it'll come when he's ready. For now, we LOVE our knockoff balance bikes.

[leighi123]

How do you teach them to pedal? Ds has awsome balance on his balance bike, but got on a friends regular bike (without training wheels) and had no clue how to use the pedals at all.

[GardenStream]

Originally Posted by leighi123

How do you teach them to pedal? Ds has awsome balance on his balance bike, but got on a friends regular bike (without training wheels) and had no clue how to use the pedals at all.

DS has been riding a tricycle at his grandmother's house, so he understood the pedaling. He starts walking and running with it for a few feet and then once he gets coasting a little bit, he brings his feet up to the pedals and starts to pedal.

The first time riding was mostly me pushing him to start and then walking behind reminding him to pedal. His biggest issue was forgetting to pedal, the bike stopping, and then both toppling over. It took him a while to remember to pedal the entire time. Teaching him to start on the bike by himself without me pushing was key to him doing it all by himself.

[AllisonR]

Exact same scenario here. I worship the balance bike!
Dd learned to pedal on a tricycle. Then we gave her DS's old balance bike, and she was using it so well at 3 that we gave her his old bike and she was on it like a pro, pedals and all, before she was 3.5 yo. Actually she goes so fast sometimes it scares me! But I think NOT ever having training wheels really made the transition so easy for her.

[honeybunmom]

After watching our 4 year old coast down a hill on her balance bike several times last weekend, we started discussing the big girl bike! I think it's time.

[MoonStarFalling]

My 3 yo just can't get the idea of the balance bike at all. She just walks with it between her legs w/o sitting on the seat. I keep hoping she'll take to it.

[crowcaw]

Originally Posted by MoonStarFalling

My 3 yo just can't get the idea of the balance bike at all. She just walks with it between her legs w/o sitting on the seat. I keep hoping she'll take to it.

My twins got balance bikes for their 2cnd b-day. One took to it right away, the other did the above for about 6 months. On the 3rd b-day they got regular bikes; one was riding smoothly within a couple months and the other by 3.5. The only problem with the balance bike is it doesn't teach braking so they were both dragging their feet to stop for a good 3 or 4 months after they had learned to pedal well.

The balance bikes were passed on to friends and both children who got them were riding 2 wheelers before they were 4 yo.

[UrbanSimplicity]

yes, they are great - my dd rode a 2 wheeler at exactly 3.5 years old!

[Alison's Mom]

We gave DS his sister's balance bike last summer when he was 2, turning 3 and he has gotten really good at it, lifting his feet up for long periods of time, and scooting around really fast. I signed both kids up for 'pedalheads' which is a 1/2 day summer camp that teaches kids to ride without their training wheels. The intention was to buy DS a new 2 wheeler this summer and get him used to the pedals a few weeks before the camp (which starts next Monday), but then I decided he should get the bike as a birthday present (the part is on Sunday - one day before the camp starts!). When I mentioned a new bike, he said that he didn't want one and he just likes his old one. It's now too late to withdraw, so I'll have to go through with the camp and just hope for the best. . . .

[WindyCityMom]

Awesome!! My 2.5yo has a Skuut balance bike and she loves it. She can't balance on it though. One of our neighbors acutally tried to give us a ratty rusty hand-me-down barbie bike because "They felt bad because DDs didn't have pedals"... we thanked them and explained, but they were still puzzled.

[GardenStream]

Originally Posted by crowcaw

The only problem with the balance bike is it doesn't teach braking so they were both dragging their feet to stop for a good 3 or 4 months after they had learned to pedal well.

That's one issue my DS is having. He had a hand brake on his balance bike and got used to that. He is having a hard time making the switch from a hand brake to pedal brakes. We got him a 16" bike with hand brakes, but he refuses to give up the 12" starter bike. I think the 12" bike may need to "disappear" soon.