Balance bikes, Runna bikes, Glide bikes or pedal free bikes are all names for a bike that has no pedals. Kids use their legs to propel, move and stop the bike. They are a bike designed to teach kids balance. An essential skill for riding a pedal bike.
Learning to Ride a Balance Bike
The Balance Bike allows you to master the skill of balancing and steering a bike before introducing the more complex task of pedaling. Understand how to support your child to learn to ride a balance bike and the likely phases of development as their skills and time on the balance bike increases
Facilitation
Some simple things to remember here. Let your child guide you and do not have any expectations around their learn to ride journey. Remember all kids learn at different rates . Make it fun, be patient Lots of encouragement on their successes small or big and just love that you are sharing this learning experience together.
Straddling Phase
This phase is about your child learning to handle the balance bike. Getting used to its weight and how it feels. They will need strength to hold the balance bike upright and balance and coordination of their limbs to hold onto the handlebars and lift their leg over the tube so they are straddling the balance bike. This skill needs to be learnt and practised.
- Your child stands beside the balance bike holding onto the handlebars with both hands.
- Slightly lean the bike into them
- Lift the leg closest to the bike up and over the tube so they are stradding the balance bike
Facilitation: : Initially you may need to assist at first as they develop the necessary motor skills to complete this skill. If you are assisting try and support their balance by supporting their trunk and leave their legs and arms free to handle the bike and their leg movement.
Walking Phase
Once they have learnt to straddle the bike they can begin to effectively walk. For some children initially this may be in standing however you are trying to encourage them to walk while seated on the balance bike seat.
- (Effectively walking) Start with two feet on the ground.-lift one foot and place it in front of its previous position
- Repeat on the other side so they beginning to propel themselves on a balance bike
- As they gain in confidence their stride will lengthen and they will alternate between legs more quickly (that is they will have a quicker turn over) and will soon be progressing to the next phase.
Facilitation: as described above initially they might start walking while still standing…this is fine, give them time and just try and encourage them to sit on the balance bike seat and walk. Set up some games from our Learn to Ride Kits to help support confidence and improvement through this phase and progression to the next phase.
Running Phase
As they become more confident on the bike and their balance and coordination improves they will most likely naturally progress to the running phase.
- Effectively running while seated on the balance bike seat.
- This means your child has only one foot in contact with the ground at any point in time and they will be moving at speed.
When they transition to this phase you need to be very aware of the environment you are riding in and where your child could potentially run to Can you keep up and keep them safe. They will love their new freedom and speed so they likely be riding at speed.
Facilitation: Set up some games from our Learn to Ride Kits to help support confidence and improvement through this phase and progression to the next phase.
Gliding Phase
The final stage of learning to ride a balance bike is the ability to glide between foot contact. Gliding effectively is;Â they gain speed by running and then they have the speed, balance and coordination to lift both feet off the ground and glide on the balance bike
Again you will need to be aware of the environment they are riding in are they safe
Facilitation: Set up some games from our Learn to Ride Kits to help support confidence and improvement through this phase and working towards progression to a pedal bike.
Once they are competent at gliding they have effectively mastered the skill of balance on a bike so are ready to progress to a pedal bike. But don’t rush it. Let them love riding their balance bike. Let them explore and feel good about being really skilled on their balance bike before tacking the new skill of riding a pedal bike.
Starting & Stoping – incorporate into all of the moving phases – 2, 3 and 4Â
With each of the learning phases above comes the essential skills of starting and stopping. This is initially done on a balance bike with the feet. As little legs get stronger and confidence builds, speed will build. So safety becomes important and stopping should be practiced. Please read Balance Bike Safety Tips
Facilitation: Set up some games from our Learn to Ride Kits ( coming soon) to help support confidence and improvement of starting & stopping through each of the phases.
Brakes – Not all Balance Bike come with a hand brake but many do. The fine motor skill of using the hands to brake is one of the last things to learn before transitioning to a pedal bike Young children will learn this skill at different times and it is usually only something a 3+yr old can manage.
Facilitation: Set up some games from our Learn to Ride Kits ( coming soon) to help support confidence and improvement of braking to help make riding a balance bike at speed safer and support transition to a pedal bike..
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.
Balance Bike -Their First Bike
Understand why the balance bike…is the best way to teach kids to ride.
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..
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.
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