tips on teaching dd to ride a bike?

[MoniqueU]

My daughter also did it late. What finally worked for her was a tiny like 12 inch bike and just letting her do it. I would give her a push to start and then just let her go. If she fell she just got back up and tried again.
My oldest kids just got it from either the neighbors or I just followed them along the sidewalk.

 

[minkydog]

We had the same thing. We thought DD never would learn to ride her bike. She was 8 before she finally did (she'd had a bike with training wheels since she was 4 but just never could get it when we took them off to try). She did finally get it though.

P.S. She can ride any horse you want to put her on, but we laugh and say that she's wheel challenged - after the bike, she didn't learn to drive until past 16.

funny My DS19 was just like this. He didn't learn to ride a bike until he was over 8 and he didn't get his license until he was almost 19. Kids mature at their own rates.

 

[txaggiemomof3]

I couldn't tell from your post - has she ever had training wheels? If she has never had them, perhaps it would build her confidence to use them for just a little while. Then try practicing without them in a vacant area/parking lot as suggested above. My 6 yr. old just figured out how to ride without his training wheels a few weeks ago. We took him up to the elementary school parking lot on a weekend and he and his Dad just rode around and around there to reinforce what he had just learned and build his confidence with no worry of traffic, slopes, sharp turns, etc... He now won't stay off the bike! DD(8) learned the same way.

For what it's worth, I'm 33 and can't ride a bike. I got my first bike for my 8th birthday but my parents never got me training wheels. I tried and tried to ride it but I eventually gave up. For me, I think I would have had a lot more confidence had I been able to feel what riding was like with training wheels before I tried balancing on my own. My only memories are of going a few feet and falling over. That's why I asked if your dd had ever had training wheels. BTW, I'm taking note of what's being said in this post for my own use!!!

Good luck! Hopefully it will just click with her and she will be riding like a pro soon!

 

[LaLa]

Sounds like you've already gotten lots of good advice, so I will just say good luck. She will do it when she is ready. DS picked it up pretty quickly, within just a few tries once I LET GO. The hardest part of his getting the hang of it wasn't with him, it was with me. I didn't want to let him go.

Wonder if that will be a metaphor for his life.

 

[luvmyfam444]

NOpe - in my case the letting go is NOT the problem - I'd just assume push her down a hill & see if she can do it - you know the old throw them in & see if they can swim kinda thinking - but of course I'm NOT THAT mean - most of the time - only when I'm frustrated with her....HAHA

I'm definitely gonna check out some of these ideas. Either take off the pedals or get the training wheels or the other thingy that attachs to the bike - since I have 2 more that will be able to use whatever we buy it'll be worth it - but I am concerned about her age & training wheels that if friends see her - but she can just get over it....

 

[swanmom]

For what it's worth, my DD was 11 before she got over her fears and was willing to keep trying until she got it. Now, she rides like a pro.

 

[SueM in MN]

With DS6 we used a slight hill with grass on it to keep him going to fast. With DS4 we went to a dirt bike trail and let him ride. It was wide and did not hurt as much when he fell.

My sister and I learned how to ride by going down a hill (actually a pretty big hill) with grass on it. That kept us from going too fast and gravity made the bike go so all we had to worry about was the balance part. After doing that for a while, we had the balance down and were able to pedal.
My brother got training wheels and he had the most trouble learning to ride. Even after they were removed, he still had problems. And then, he was scared that he couldn't ride without them.

Here's a link to another type of product.

When we taught oldest DD to ride, we used the "Raising the training wheels" idea from this website that someone else posted. (DH was of the "you need training wheels" opinion).

 

[petrymom]

my vote is for the grassy hill!!!!!!

My mom pushed me down a hill in a hay field. Couple of trips and I was riding.

I taught both of my kids this way. I don't think it took either one longer than a half hour to be riding on their own. I think the momentum of the hill gives them the security to know that they can balance without having to try to push the petals much.

DD - who is the bigger baby of the two - was on the pavement riding up and down the road the very same day...

Good luck!!!!!!

 

[KarenAylwood]

I'll never forget learning how to ride a bike because it was such a production!!! My parents just couldn't make me do it right.

I had a small bike- like others said- the best way to learn. Have her be able to plant her feet on the ground.

The way I learned- my friend taught me! A kid that just learned is much better at teaching another kid (IMO) because they just went through it and know what they did. My parents just couldn't figure it out for weeks and little Megan taught me in one afternoon

 

[KelNottAt]

I vote for the grassy hill, too. That's how my kids learned.

But, I think the real secret to their success was the fact that not a single parent or grown-up was around. Older kids showed them how (only about 1 or 2 years older). I think doing it among kids made it more fun and natural, without the pressure of trying to please us.

 

[MAKmom]

I taught all the kids in the neiborhood how to ride. The scooter idea is the same method I use. We had a small Little Mermaid bike. I just have the kids sit on it & walk around the grass for awhile to get the feel of it. No pedals for awhile. Use DD bike from when she was 5.Then as they get the balance down they start scooting faster. Then its time to bring the pedal part in. If they fall on the grass it's not so bad.