Kids at an early age love to explore and try new things. It is normal for them to learn something new and to discover new skills that will develop in their childhood days. Learning how to ride confidently on a bike is a skill that does not come easily or naturally.
What is a Balance Bike?
A balance bike is a bike intended for toddlers or kids without having any pedals. While this bike has a fork, frame, wheels, handlebars, and other parts like a normal bike, it has no drivetrain and no stabilizers or training wheels. They don’t need these training wheels or are not being supported by stabilizers because they have their feet on the ground and they can develop their coordination and balance on their own. This bike allows them to develop balancing first before moving on by using pedals. These bikes are normally for kids from 18 months up to 7 years of age. If your child can already walk, chances are they can start using a balance bike.
How Does It Work?
They usually start using this bike by walking while sitting on the saddle, then followed by running and gliding with their feet off the ground. For kids to move forward, they need to push off the ground using their feet and begin by walking than having progressed to running, gliding, and striding. Once they can master this by gliding independently and by cruising along with their feet up, they learn now how to balance and are ready to start pedaling. Baby balance bike teaches our babies how to properly by leaning on the bike towards the corner with the assurance of having their feet touches on the ground.
How to Teach Children Riding in a Balance Bike?
A balance bike doesn’t require complex instruction and rigid training. Kids normally hop on and ride the bike without much fuss. These are important reminders for your kids before they start bicycling.• Look for an open space that is free from any obstacle and does not have rough surfaces.• Use a fit decent helmet to make sure when they fall, it will not knock on their confidence and to protect themselves, especially their heads.• Set the saddle height that is appropriate for your kids so that their feet are flat on the ground with their legs almost straight and with a slight bend on their knee.• If the bike has brakes, instruct your kids on how to use them.• Give your kids a gentle push to get started when they need it.• Watch them closely while they are using the balance bike.
Best Balance Bike
This baby balance bike-dog is a baby toy ideal and uniquely designed for toddlers who have just started walking. This is one of the most favorite birthday gifts since this bike helps babies how to walk, balance, ride, and steer. Its handlebars have 135-degree steering to avoid babies from the risk of falling sideways which makes it safer than using a regular bike. It has non-vibration, non-slip, and wear resistance tires that make it perfect for babies in their first biking experience and they can use this for indoor and outdoor biking activities.
Its Benefits for Kids
Building Up Their Strength
Kid or baby balance bike builds their strength and coordination. Balancing is not the only thing they can learn from this bike. The design and purpose of this bike are to encourage kids in using their arms and lifting their legs when they move forward. This will not only help them in building their strengths but also help them to fine-tune their motor skills, agility, and coordination.
Develops Gross Motor Skills
One of the most important benefits of this bike is the ability to help your child in developing their gross motor skills. As they figure out how to balance, glide on their bike, and maneuver, their brains are developing and forming pathways to use the same skills again. Creating experiences that will develop motor skills is important for your little ones.
Increases Confidence and Independence
Learning a new skill or anything is always a confidence booster no matter how old you are and this is also the same for your babies and kids, As they work through mastering by practicing how to balance and glide on a two-wheel vehicle, they will gain and have more confidence over time as they learn on their own especially when you are present on their side as you cheer them on.
Fun Way of Exercise
Every parent knows that kids want to move around and play. Whether your little ones love to crawl, run, jump, or scoot, they always find ways to move around throughout the day until they get tired. A balance bike is a fun way to fulfill what they want to do in a day. Making exercise fun will instill more healthy habits that will last.
A Safe Way to Learn How to Ride
The seat of a balance bike is a lot closer to the ground than riding on a regular bike. In case if your little one does fall, they won’t fall too far. This kind of bike can only go as fast as your children can push which means there’s nothing for you to worry about any high-speed crashes. Once they learn how to balance, they will soon be able to move up to a regular bike without needing training wheels.
With a balance bike, kids learn to balance and steer first for them to have progressed so they can pedal on big bikes when they reach adults. Learning how to pedal is not that harder compared to learning how to balance. Using a balance bike at an early age has health benefits for our children and this way of exercise teaches them how to become independent when they grow up. This activity will give them the awareness that in life, they need to make it balance amidst all the pressures and problems they will be facing later on and they must be persistent enough that they will reach their goals and dreams in life.