4.5 yr old and riding bikes

[Minnie824]

Does anyone have a 4.5 yr old who is not that good at riding a bike? We bought DD one last year, and she did good in the summer a little, but never wanted to ride it much. Now, its gotten warmer, she's gone out a couple times, but never wants to ride her bike much. She gets the pedals stuck in the up/down position, cuz she's going so slow, then can't get started again and gets frustrated. We've tried to help her, but she's not that willing to try it on her own. I feel bad, cuz all these kids in our neighborhood are zipping around on their bikes and I want to help her learn. Any suggestions?

 

[famofsix]

We had a similiar problem back when dd8 was 5. We ended up using a really really small two wheeler where she could get the motion of the bike going and then once she figured out how the pedals worked we graduated to the big bike for her age. She did not mind the little bike because we said it was for training for the big bike. The other kids in the neighborhood did not tease her for being on a little bike since she said she was just practicing. The other kids were pretty supportive actually so they cheered her on. It only took about a week of that and off she went on the big bike.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

I am having the same problem. My 4 1/2 refuses to ride a bike! It's like he's not coordinated enough. Even the bike with training wheels. He won't do it!!! Not sure why...we will try again with him this year. I hope it gets easier...

 

[WDWNicole]

We just bought my DS a bike for his 5th birthday. Prior to that he had a tricycle and he was terrible at pedaling it. He seems to be doing okay on the bike, but definitely needs more parctice.

 

[janejakelibbyemma]

yep same here, jake is 5 1/2 and we have had a bike for him since he was 3 1/2, but he totally refused to ride it then, we tried again last summer, but fell of even with the stablisers on, and then totally refused to get on it, got it out again a few months back and honestly its pathetic, he just doesn't want to ride it, his 3 year old sister is better, so we have given up, and got him a 2 batman scooter, the 2 wheel kind, and hey presto he is a whizz at that, my dh hated his bike until he was 7, we are not pushing it now, just letting him have fun on the scooter.

 

[new_mouser]

I would try and lower the seat as much as possible. My DD has this problem because her bike is just a wee bit big for her and she has trouble reaching the pedal when it's close to the pavement. (Santa thought her legs would grow enough so that it wouldn't be a problem when it got warm. Santa was wrong.) Also, it's a little late for this now in your case, but for those thinking about buying a bike it helps to have handle brakes rather than pedal brakes. That way when the pedal is pushed back, it just goes around rather than putting on the brake.

 

[sara74]

Same problem here! DD just turned 4 and is no good at pedaling any of the two trikes and one bike that we have! I thought we were the only ones! I guess it is not that uncommon!

 

[abcboys]

Ha Ha I thought we were the only ones, too. My oldest at 4.5 was riding at bike with no training wheels.
Second son comes along is now 4 and cannot pedal any kind of bike. I try to help him but it wears me out trying to actually take his feet to help him pedal. He really doesn't have a lot of interest in trying either. He'd rather swing or play in the sandbox.

 

[dismom9761]

My oldest was three when he got on a bike w/o training wheels and rode off.My second son could pedal at a little over three with training wheels and learned w/o on his fifth birthday.My DD7 was six before she could pedal at all.She got a new bike for Christmas and learned to ride w/o training wheels right after her seventh birthday.It all depends on the kid,they are soo different.

 

[jessica52877]

My son got a playskool 123 bike last year right after turning 2, took me forever to find one. He wasn't that great the first week or so, I would have to nudge him to get started, but he was excited. He wanted to ride his bike with 12" wheels, well the pedals were just too hard so I hung it back up.

This year, being a bit over 3, got the regular bike out and he loved it. Had a hard time at first as the training wheels were used, so we went and bought new. Did great and loved it. All of a sudden he hated it. I know it was because we have lots of hills and the training wheels crept up so he went fast down the hill all of a sudden.

He has refused to ride it since but went back to his playskool bike he is too big for. He ride it with just the two wheels and not side training ones. He loves it. He specifies everytime he wants his little bike.

So I think something to try is definately make sure it is smaller! I think it helps so much!

 

[ENSOCK]

My second DS would not ride his bike either. We got him a scooter and he would zip everywhere. The other kids in the neighborhood would ride bikes and he would follow with the scooter. He rode so much, kicking off his shoes when mom was not looking that he would get blisters on the heels of his feet. Once he got older he switched to the bike and put the scooter aside. Just give him time.

 

[brettgirl]

My 5.5 PDD-NOS son will not ride his new orange bike with training wheels too. He hates change, he would rather stick to his safe and secure tricycle. We even got him an orange helmet (totally obsessed with home depot) and brought it to physical therapy to have his therapist help us. He still does not want to ride it, but he does not like to do new things. I guess I am going to have to force the issue, after he does things he usually then sees it is not all that bad.