Teaching A Child to Ride A Bike

Ok... I know what you're thinking: what in Sam Hill does "teaching a kid to ride a bike" have to do with medicine? Well, we do have a pediatric obesity epidemic in the good old USA, and I figure that anything we can do to encourage kids to get outside and enjoy some fresh air must be a good thing. That's the official excuse.

Here's the real reason: I've been spending the last two weeks trying to teach my 5-year-old daughter how to ride a bike and I've been saying to myself between bouts of extreme dyspnea, "There must be an easier way!" Imagine a middle aged man profusely sweating while trying to hold up a frightened 5 year old who is wobbling like a drunk dude with meniere's disease on a bicycle!

Anyway, I failed again today! It ended when she fell off and scraped her hand on the pavement. She was frustrated and slightly tearful. So I went inside, wiped the sweat from my face, and looked for help on YouTube...

AND LO AND BEHOLD! THE SOLUTION! GENIUS!
(Especially since I don't have to run like a sweaty pig behind her)!

THE SECRET TIPS:

1. Lower the seat so that her feet can rest comfortably and flat on the ground
2. TAKE OFF THE PEDALS
3. Let her just practice scooting and balancing first!

AWESOME! I'm so excited to try this out tonight!

I always knew the best teacher are able to break down complicated skills into manageable bits. By simply lowering the seat and taking off the pedals, my daughter will be able to learn to balance first without worrying about pedaling, catch her own falls without having me always running beside her, and learn to do starts by herself. Lowering the seat and taking off the pedals! Simply genius!