Would You "Make" You Child Learn How To Ride A Bike?

[manchurianbrownbear]

Neither of my sons has had any interest in learning how to ride a bike.

I had to drag DS13 out to learn when he was 8 or 9. He reluctantly learned, and has ridden his bike once or twice a year since then.

Last summer I was determined to teach DS8. But he was more determined to not learn! I think he was very close, but he always ended up in tears, and I didn't want to traumatize him!

When I was a kid, I had to ride a bike or my friends would have left me behind!

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[grinningghost]

Yes! My DD didn't know how to ride a bike until she was almost 9. She had no interest either. I kept telling her it would get her around the neighborhood and she could have more fun with the other kids. She didn't care. Reluctantly, she worked on it a little, and learned. But even now, at 14, she hardly ever rides her bike.

When I was kid, even when I was a teenager, I lived on my bike. Now the kids get rides everywhere. They don't know what it's like to HAVE to ride a bike to get where you wanted.

 

[snoopy]

My kids both learned how to ride a bike early, but neither is too keen on riding. They would much prefer to be carried to where they are going via car.

And in all fairness, times have changed. The days where you could get on your bike early Saturday morning and not come home until dinnertime are long gone.

 

[Griggle]

YES!!! DS8 has absolutely no interest at all. Last summer, it was torture watching DH trying to teach him....DS says he's "just not a bike ridin' kind of kid" - I guess he's just not and, while sorry that you're dealing with this, I'm actually kindof relieved that he's not the only one.

 

[disykat]

We have this issue with our oldest son about swimming - which is obviously a safety issue as well.

I suppose for the bike riding I'd let it go. My two boys have only one neighbor child to play with and he doesn't like to ride - even though he did finally learn when he was 8. He rides a scooter when they ride their bikes.

I was a late bike rider as well (I was probably 7, but in those days everyone rode!). It probably helped my boys learn when I got a bike and wobbled around while relearning!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

If it weren't for the fact that they inevitably get invited to go on a "bike hike", or asked to bring a bike to a friend's house, I probably wouldn't let it bother me. But, even if it doesn't bother the kids, I'm embarrassed if I have to tell someone that my 3rd grade son doesn't know how to ride a bike!

Also, its hard work teaching a kid to ride! I've done a lot of running while bent over holding the back of a bike without much to show for it!

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by manchurianbrownbear
If it weren't for the fact that they inevitably get invited to go on a "bike hike", or asked to bring a bike to a friend's house, I probably wouldn't let it bother me. But, even if it doesn't bother the kids, I'm embarrassed if I have to tell someone that my 3rd grade son doesn't know how to ride a bike!

Also, its hard work teaching a kid to ride! I've done a lot of running while bent over holding the back of a bike without much to show for it!

Don't worry too much about it my DH doesn't know how to ride a bike or really swim for that matter. These are things I just took for granted as rights of passage during childhood. I know our DD is reluctant to have swimming lessons although she loves the water. Luckily I taught young children to swim at a camp during college so I think I can handle that I my own.

As far as the bike riding it's not a necessity (like knowing how to swim) so I wouldn't push it if your child isn't interested. Short of tying DD to a bike and pushing her down a hill I don't know how I'd teach her if she wasn't interested.

As far as a relatively easy way to teach a child try going to a park with a slightly hilly grassy area. Start your child at the top of the hill and run alongside as they peddle down. Once they start gaining speed let go and they should be able to ride w/o assistance. The grass will help break their fall if they do faulter. After a few tries they should be set to go on their own.

 

[newholiday]

DS11 never learned
I did try a few times but he never took to it
Guess I'll need to buy him a car?

 

[tkd lisa]

My DD was a late rider. I think she was 9 when she finally learned. She had gotten her foot caught in the first bike we had (with the training wheels still on) when she was about 4, and she absolutely refused to go anywhere near one for about 3 years. At 7, she would use a bike with training wheels, but when we took them off, she wouldn't even try. We just let it go (she also was the kid on the scooter while every one else was on a bike) until she got tired of being so far behind everyone else.

Even now (she just turned 12) she is a very cautious rider. I joke (just between my husband and myself, she doesn't hear me) that she looks like the witch in Wizard of Oz (Miss Gulch) when she rides away from the farmhouse with Toto on the back of her bike. She's perfectly upright with both hands on the handlebars and she sedately pedals down the road. But she loves to ride with her friends now.

 

[cats mom]

Originally posted by manchurianbrownbear
If it weren't for the fact that they inevitably get invited to go on a "bike hike", or asked to bring a bike to a friend's house, I probably wouldn't let it bother me. But, even if it doesn't bother the kids, I'm embarrassed if I have to tell someone that my 3rd grade son doesn't know how to ride a bike!

My son's cub scout group had a 'bike derby' just last week. He has been on a bike exactly once - I thought it would motivate him to want to really learn to ride - it didn't. I told his den mother he does not know how to ride and is not really interested in the whole bike thing. He just skipped the meeting that week. (he is 8)

I was like you - on my bike all the time!

My oldest DD used to ride her bike a lot with friends - but we were in a different neighborhood then and all the kids rode.
Really the traffic is so bad in our area and on our street in particular, that even with the bike lanes, I don't think I'd be comfortable with him out on his bike much anyway.

 

[kaseyC]

Our oldest DD who is 8 is not interested in riding a bike either. From about ages 3-5 she was into her powerwheels jeep, once she grew out of that it was setting up her barbie village or playing on the playset outside. We have two bikes w/ training wheels hanging up in the garage barely used, we plan to try them on our younger dds when they are old enough. DH bought a new bike during spring break for DD-8 w/o training wheels and all the bells & whistles. He spen about a week of evenings trying to teach her and she could care less. She would rather sit up in her playhouse and read or create games with her best friend next door.
As long as I feel she is getting enough exercise in other ways. I won't worry about the bike riding.

 

[faithinkarma]

Look at it this way...if they never learn, they will never be able to ride a motor cycle. From a Mom's point of view, that has to be a good thing.

 

[clh2]

This was a thread from a couple of months ago - and one of the posters was suggesting an interesting way to teach someone how to ride a bike.



to teach someone to ride a bike

 

[missypie]

One of our friends in college didn't know how to ride a bike. He had grown up on a farm...no need to ride a bke but he could drive a tractor!

DS, my oldest, learned in 3rd grade. DD, the middle child, learned in 1st grade. DD, the youngest, having to keep up, learned at 4 years old! It was torture for her best friend who is a boy about 9 months older...he was scared to learn but he wasn't about to let my DD know how and him not know how. There were some pretty tense moments on the street until he learned...but he did!

Maybe it helps that my DH is a SAHD. When my middle child was learning, our next door neighbor was exactly her age, so they sort of learned together. One day that girl had a friend over who couldn't ride, so DH taught her, too. The girl's mom is a single mom and to this day, years later, whenever she sees us she thanks DH for teaching her daughter to ride a bike!

A couple of other points: DS was slow at anything that required physical coordination. He didn't learn to actually pedal his trike until after his sister (19 months younger) had learned. Late to ride a bike. Late to tie shoes. Turns out that he has Asperger's Syndrome and those would have been hints to a diagnosis if we had known more.

Finally: If your son is a Boy Scout, he will need to learn to ride a bike. One of the requirements for something or other is a 10 mile bike ride. I'm sure they make exceptions in the case of a physical disability, but probably don't if they just "don't know how."

 

[The Mystery Machine]

HI! Thank goodness I am not the only one!

Yes, I have tried to teach 7yodd how to ride a bike MANY times. We gave up and bought the tag-a-long that goes on our bikes. She said she doesn't want to and that's that!

Maybe one of these days...

 

[disneygals]

We should start a support group..

My 2 oldest finally learned last year at age 11 and 9!! My youngest hopefully this year (turning 8). I kept telling them that I was the biggest spaz and even I learned how to ride a bike.

I was also worried about the playdate aspect, but it never happened.

Good Luck!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

Thank you all for your replies! It definitely helps to know I'm not alone!

I've tried the method of coasting down a hill in a park and that worked pretty well; I think we were very close, but then as soon as we transitioned to an empty parking lot, DS fell once and refused to try again.

I'll try the method suggested by the bike shop guy. It will definitely be easier on my back!

 

[Towncrier]

I spent entire summers on my bicycle and was surprised when my daughter showed absolutely no interest in learning to ride. Her older brother took to the bicycle quite easily and I assumed that it would be the same with Sarah. But it was not to be. I spent an entire summer trying to get her on a bicycle to no avail. It wasn't until the following summer when Sarah told me that she wanted to buy an American Girl doll. I told her that I didn't want her spending her money on a collectible doll, but that I would buy her the doll when she learned to ride a bicycle. It only took her a week. I bought her the doll and it sits on a shelf in her room gathering dust. But Sarah took to the bicycle and often goes on rides with her friends. James is going on a bike hike with the Boy Scouts this weekend. And both of them have a license to drive our moped.

The only downside to teaching Sarah to ride was that the summer after she learned to ride, she lost control of her bike when a bug hit her arm. She flinched and tweaked the handlebars and hit the ground hard enough to break her arm. Fortunately it was not a serious break. And she was wearing her helmet.

I think that it's important for kids to learn to ride a bicycle. And for them to learn to swim. And when it's time for them to learn to drive, my kids will learn to drive a car with a manual transmission.

 

[Chrissi Pooh]

I didn't learn until I was around 9 and I was very reluctant too. On my 7th b-day I got the most beautiful Banana bike but refused to ride it so it got taken back to the store.

My daughter on the other hand learned how to ride a bike when she was around 2 1/2 or 3 years old. Guess she's not as scared as her mommy!!!!

 

[DSNY FN]

My oldest always wanted to ride her bike so we had no problem there and now her little sister and little brother both want to ride. My youngest daughter almost 3 is starting without training wheels now. She has a few scrapes and bruises but she is learning my little guy is still using his bike with the training wheels. They are also learning how to ride a motorcycle we have a little Honda CRF 50 dirt bike for them.