Parents of toddlers and preschoolers have undoubtedly heard of the balance bike. There is always a kid on a balance bike wherever you go, whether it’s the park, a neighborhood stroll, or a playdate.
If you’re curious about what are balance bikes and how does a balance bike work, but don’t know where to start, this guide is for you.
What Are Balance Bikes?
There are no pedals on a balance bike. It has the makings of a bicycle, with a frame, fork, bars, and wheels, but no motor. Children can advance by pushing off the floor with their feet.
Stabilizers aren’t necessary for a balance bike (aka training wheels). To improve their balance and coordination, children don’t need stabilizers because their feet are firmly planted on the ground. They can move on to pedals whenever they feel comfortable doing so.
Balance Bike vs. Stabilisers: What’s The Difference?
The main difference between a balance bike and stabilizers is that balance bikes don’t have pedals.
Stabilizers are pedal free too, but they also have wheels at the back to support your child while they learn to ride. A balance bike will help your child learn how to balance, steer and control a bike.
They’ll also learn how to start and stop. Once they’ve mastered these skills, they can then move on to a bike with pedals.
Stabilizers will give your child the confidence to ride a bike without falling over. However, they won’t teach them how to balance or steer. This means that when they take the stabilizers off, they might find it difficult to ride.
How To Ride a Balance Bike?
Check The Dimensions of Your Bike to Ensure a Proper Fit.
It’s difficult and uncomfortable to ride a bicycle that doesn’t fit you properly. Your child’s knees should be slightly bent while seated in the saddle, and the child’s feet should be able to touch the ground.
Your child should be able to steer the bike with ease if the handlebars are within reasonable reach. The handlebars on a good bike can be adjusted in a number of ways to ensure a comfortable ride for riders of varying heights.
Master the Art of Stopping Properly
During the initial stages of learning to ride a balance bike, most children will naturally use their feet as brakes. Brakes will become necessary as your child gains speed.
As they gain confidence, you can teach them to use the front brake as well. Consider running beside them with a hand on their back in case they need to slow down.
Protect Your Vulnerable Areas by Arming Yourself with Padding
Proper gear can prevent even a minor fall from deflating your child’s self-esteem. Wearing protective gear, such as a helmet that fits properly, jeans, and a padded jacket, are all good ideas. If you don’t want your clothes or shoelaces catching in the wheels, don’t wear them too loosely.
Choose a Place That is Both Secure and Convenient.
If you want your child to learn in a safe environment, find a place that doesn’t have a lot of people or other distractions around it.
Obviously, you should steer clear of obstacles like parked cars, steps, open water, and so on. If you want to make sure your kid has enough momentum to balance safely, have them practice on tarmac or short, dry grass.
Search For a Low Hill
Find a very mild downhill that will aid in picking up speed, and your child will soon be coasting along with ease. Just be sure to include a decent run-off at the bottom!
The Key is To Put in The Time and Effort and Have Patience.
Most people quickly learn how to keep their balance. But it can take more time to learn how to brake and pedal properly.
If your child is reluctant to ride the bike again, put it away for a few weeks until he or she is ready to do so. If you add bells, stickers, or a basket to your child’s bike, it might make them more interested in riding it.
Follow the Lead of Others.
You should ride your bike in front of your kid as much as possible because kids will mimic what they see their parents doing. It would be ideal if they had a sibling who also enjoyed cycling. This way, you can take your kid’s riding, which is the whole point.
Why Choose a Balance Bike?
Physical Development
In a recent study, it was shown that children who learn to cycle on balance bikes tend to improve in various areas of development. These include gross and fine motor skills, coordination, and balance. In addition, these children also tend to develop a better sense of spatial awareness and have increased levels of concentration.
Bye Bye Stabilisers
A new study has found that children can learn to ride a bike without the need for traditional training wheels. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, found that balance bikes – which are bikes without pedals that children can use to practice balancing – are just as effective as training wheels when it comes to teaching children how to ride a bike.
The study’s lead author, Rebecca Puhl, said that balance bikes can help children develop the skills they need to ride a bike without the need for training wheels. “Balance bikes provide an opportunity for kids to practice balancing, steering and braking, all of which are essential skills for riding a bicycle, ” Puhl said.
“And because they’re small and lightweight, they’re also easy for kids to control. ” Puhl added that balance bikes can also help children build confidence in their ability to ride a bike.
“For many kids, using training wheels can be frustrating because they can’t go as fast as they want or they might feel like they’re not progressing, ” she said. “With a balance bike, kids can learn at their own pace and build their confidence as they master the skills they need to ride. ”
Safe & Easy To Use
Balance bikes are often thought of as being safer than traditional bikes because they can only travel as fast as your child can push. Because of the low elevation of the seats, most falls are prevented from resulting in tears. However, it is still possible for a child to suffer a serious injury if they crash on a balance bike.
Fun & Convenience
A balance bike is a lot of fun for kids age 2 and up to ride around on. If your child gets tired of riding, you can simply pick them up and carry them. This makes balance bikes a great option for parents who want their children to get some exercise, but don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of a traditional bicycle.
Recommended Right Balance Bike For Child Age
It’s a fair question, and I understand why it’s typically posed in that way.
Keep in mind that every child is different and will develop at their own pace, even though chronological age is a major factor in determining what size/model of balance bike to buy.
So, think about things like height, weight, balance, coordination, special needs, and so on.
While some kids are confident cyclists by the time they’re three or four, others may need a little more time. Some kids keep using their first bikes well into their elementary school years.
While there are always going to be outliers, the age ranges I’ve used here are generally when kids are at each “learning to cycle” stage.
How Long Does it Take a Child to Learn to Ride a Balance Bike?
Because every child is different, there is no set amount of time it takes to learn a skill like biking. It can take anywhere from 45 minutes to a few weeks to teach a child how to ride a bike.
The amount of time it takes to learn depends on the child’s age, how well their coordination is already coming along, and if they have ever played with ride-on toys or toys that make them balance.
The most important part of teaching is to be patient. Don’t force or push your child to learn when they are not ready.
Instead, let them learn at their own pace. If there is too much pressure, the experience won’t be as fun as it should be. Instead, it will be stressful.
How Does a Child Stop On a Balance Bike?
Stopping with Your Feet
It is critical to learn how to stop a bike that is moving quickly during the final two stages of balance bike riding. Children understand that they must use their feet to stop. They usually stop by using their heels and the entire foot, with their feet in front of them.
However, some children wish to stop by dragging their toes (with their feet behind them).
A child can stop by dragging their toes, but this usually results in shoe damage. They will be able to stop faster and their shoes will last longer if you instruct them to stop with their feet flat on the ground.
As a result, you should avoid wearing shoes with open toes!
Stopping with Hand Brakes
After learning how to balance a bike, most children can use a hand brake. This allows them to stop faster and puts less strain on their shoes. Children do not have the hand-eye coordination to use a hand brake until they are 2.5 or 3 years old.
Even though not all balance bikes have hand brakes, getting one is a good idea if you live in a hilly area or have a child who likes to go fast.
Another advantage of using a hand brake on a balance bike is that a child will be better prepared to stop safely when they progress to a pedal bike.
Do You Need Brakes For a Balance Bike?
For the most part, children can safely stop their balance bikes with their feet, eliminating the need for hand brakes. However, a hand brake is an absolute must-have for any bicycle.
Why? Protecting a child’s feet and shoes from being trampled on while riding a bike is just one of the many benefits of installing hand brakes.
Most pre-schoolers have the necessary hand-eye coordination to operate a hand brake between the ages of 2.5 and 3.5. Children can learn to stop quickly and safely by using both the foot and hand brakes.
They won’t have to relearn how to use a brake for a regular bike if they already know how to use it on a balance bike.
If a child is riding a bike with a standard reach brake lever, they may not be able to apply the brakes safely because their hand is too far from the lever.
These brakes are typically more difficult to operate, which can discourage a child from using it.
In order to simulate the strength of a child’s hand, try applying the brake with your pinky finger when testing a bike in person. For example, if you can easily compress something with your pinky, then so can they.
FAQs
What is the point of a balance bike?
A balance bike is a training bike that helps teach children how to balance on two wheels. It is designed for children who are too small to ride a regular bicycle.
What age is best for a balance bike?
The best age for children to start learning for a balance bike is between 18 months and 2.5 years
Do balance bikes really work?
Yes. Teaching a child to ride a bike with either a balance bike or training wheels is a great and safe option. No matter what you decide, you and your kid will be fine.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to teach your toddler or preschooler to ride a bike, a balance bike is a great option. With a little practice, they’ll be zooming around on two wheels in no time!
So there you have it. Following BSXInsight to get more acknowledge for improving your health and daily life. Thanks for reading!
