What age can your child ride a balance bike? The general rule of thumb is 18-month to 2 years but every child is different. Here are some guidelines to help you know when your child is ready.
How to know when my child is ready for a Balance Bike?
Age is a efficient way to provide some guidelines and boundaries to the use of a balance bike. Most manufacturers of balance bikes provide this guide – generally suggesting from 18months of age. This is definitely not every child, in fact most will more likely be around 2 years. All children are different, so let’s help you understand your child and when you think they might be ready to have a go at this fun activity that allows them to explore, gives them independence confidence.and grows their motor skills.
Ways to Identify when my child is ready
There are a number of factors that can influence when you child is ready to experiment using a balance bike under parent facilitation;
Their motor development. Being able to do the following motor skills.
- walk reasonable balanced that is less wide and clumsy (like you see in early walkers)
- walk up and down stairs with support
- starting to show signs of being able to run
Their size
- Balance bikes come with a minimum seat height. Your child will need to be a certain size to be able to sit on the balance bike seat and propel themselves with their legs. See balance bike sizing guide.
Their strength
- This is not as important as a lot of the strength requirements can be overcome with parent facilitation in the early stages of learning to ride a balance bike. As they start to do these tasks with your help they will start to develop the required strength and become more independent. Strength that allows them to walk with the balance bike, pick the bike up and make it upright, able to lift their leg over the bike frame so they can sit on the seat and straddle the bike, put the bike down. The weight of a balance bike will be important if you are wanting to use the bike at 18 month to 2 years – as a guide – the bike should not weigh more that 30% of your child’s weight. See balance bike sizing guide.
Their personality
- How do they approach new activities? Do they take a timid or no fear approach to new activities? Those children unsure of new activities are going to be a little more hesitant to give riding a balance bike a go compared to the no fear child. Your approach to these types of personalities will be different. Ranging from a slow introduction to riding a balance bike – focusing on support, encouragement and belief compared to the no fear child where the focus will be on safety and ensuring that they don’t crash and develop a dislike to their bike because of repetitive incidents that may keep occurring. Most children will lie somewhere in between.
Role models
- Being exposed to role models – older brothers and sisters or cousins and friends that have a balance bike or ride a bike certainly help with desire and an understanding of what to do and how to ride a balance bike
Bike Helmet
- A balance bike is a bike so they need to wear a bike helmet. If they are not keen on wearing a helmet it is a simple rule. No helmet no riding. They will need a helmet that fits their head and will remain on and over their head in an impact. Kids Bike Helmet – Buying Guide
These are some simple guidelines so you can make a judgement, a decision on when your child might be ready to start riding a balance bike. All these points aside don’t be afraid to purchase a balance bike early and give them time to slowly become familiar with the bike. As long as you have made sure that you have a balance bike that will grow with them this is a good way to approach learning to ride a balance bike.
Kids Learning to Ride
Home or playground based Kids Learn to Ride Programme using a balance bike.
Develop kids motor skills with fun & challenging activities on a balance bike. This is a great learning resource for confidence on a bike.
Improve their Biking Confidence
Give your child an amazing foundation for movement.
Prepare them for an easy transition to a pedal bike.
Hours of fun structured play suitable for 18 months to 5/6 year olds.
Your bike riding success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.
Balance Bike Buying Guide
What is the best balance bike for your child? There are many factors to consider in your decision. Use our Buying Guide get the right Balance Bike solution.
The Right Balance Bike
Learn about the features of a balance bike. What will be important for your child and the type of balance bike riding they will do?
Balance Bike Riding - How old should they be?
Learn when your child might be ready to start to explore using a balance bike. What skills are compatible with learning to ride a balance bike.
Balance Bike Sizing Guide
Learn about size of a balance bike. Make sure your child can comfortably ride now and as they grow and develop..
Learning to ride a Balance Bike
Understand why the balance bike…is the best way to teach kids to ride.
Safety Tips for Balance Bike Riders
Balance bikes can give your young child the ability to ride with speed. Make sure you have considered what is important to keep them safe as eraly riders.
Make Balance Bike Riding Fun
Like any skill the more you do it the better they get. Make learning to ride their balance bike fun and they will choose to ride.
First Bike Helmet
Everything we ask for in a first bike helmet. Lightweight, good head coverage, adjustable, chin pinch guard. The back of this helmet is flat so toddlers can sit in bike seats.
The Right Kids Bike Helmet
Understand what is important when considering the right bike helmet for your child.
Support and inspire other riders and families to ride
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