How truly thrilling it is be a me, a proud-parent, when you start running along beside your child who is on their own bike learning to ride, to balance and steer the bicycle by themselves.
It might be a little tough on you, to exert energy running along, and to teach the basics but, it is so much fun and equally ecstatic for both parents and to kids alike.
While it is true that each child is unique and teaching methods could vary from person to person, a few tips and tricks in this teaching process will help you in enjoying the process, and avoid the unnecessary frustrations that might result, when the child has no interest or totally refuses to learn.
You should set a good example, by riding your own bike, with ease and comfort, not showing off too many stunts thus giving confidence to the child.
Safety and caution should be introduced at the very beginning, like wearing a helmet and following road signs, even if the child is learning in a playground.
There are training wheels or stabilizers that could be fixed to the bike, that help the kids learn how to pedal without worrying about falling off.
But, these should be used only on flat surfaces and just when the kids start riding, so that the parents and be always nearby to help the child in turning the corners.
After the initial help of placing the child on the seat of the bike and pushing the bike around, with one hand on the handle-bar and the other behind the kids' seat, you should be telling them about balancing the bike.
If there are training wheels attached, the process will be a bit slow, as they will be protecting the child from falling off due to imbalance.
The focus of the child should be on the road ahead, and not anywhere else.
This should be continuously corrected, if the child looks either at the pedals, or at you, you will need to remind them.
When the child has learnt sufficiently to pedal and weigh the balance of the bike, the parent should allow the child to try it alone, by pushing the bike forward, and letting it go.
The child could be able to just manage a few pedals, and by the time the bike starts faltering due to imbalance, the parent would be ready to ease the fall of the kid.
Reassuring the child that they have done fine and that falling is a part of learning helps in boosting the confidence of the child.
This also prepares the kid for the inevitable fall, when learning to ride the bicycle.
It would also remind them to learn how to brake appropriately.
Turning into the fall is a wonderful analogy that the kid will learn through you when riding the bike.
When learning to balance the bike, one should always turn into the fall, and steer the handle to the side they are leaning.
It also teaches them to face their problems, instead of turning away from them, as they travel life journey..
Whatever method you use, it is to enjoy the joint-process of teaching and learning for the parents and the kids.
One should be able to relish the memories of the time-spent in the process,and you should try to avoid pushing them too hard, they will get it in the end.