Learning to ride a bike is an exciting time for a toddler – but also a scary one! I remember as a kid getting on my bike with my training wheels and thinking I was the coolest kid ever. But then the training wheels came off and I was not so cool anymore when I kept falling over because I could not get the bike to balance!
This is why a Balance Bike is a wonderful idea. It is a toddler bike especially made for those that are learning to ride – the first step that teaches balance and control. Balance Bikes can also be called Walking Bikes, Running Bikes or Toddler Bikes – this is important when you do your shopping!
The balance bike is easy to use and has been proven to teach important motor skills like balance and coordination. They can learn to use the bike in several steps with the ultimate goal being full balance and coasting.
Balance Bike Training Steps:
1) Many kids like to stand over the seat and simply walk the bike as their first step.
2) Once more comfortable with how the bike feels, they can sit down and then use their feet to push the bike ahead and backwards.
3) The third stage is where the fun begins, the can walk their bike in short spurts and pick up their feet to let it coast a bit
4) The final stage is where they can coast down small hills and things so they can work on their balancing while coasting with their feet up and working on their steering.
There are many sizes, shapes and designs available in the Balance Bike world and to help you choose the right one, you may want to check out our Selecting A Balance Bike page.