jeepmedic46
Expedition Leader
What is a good age to teach a child to ride without training wheels. I have twin 5 yr olds a boy and girl who have training wheels and I was wondering if this is a good time to take the training wheels off?
age without training wheels
- Thread starter jeepmedic46
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T.Low
Expedition Leader
First thought is yes. Of course it depends on the kids.
We were sitting aorund the BBQ celebrating my 7yr old nephew's first hat trick one day and all the sudden his 4 yr old sister came ripping around the corner on two wheels. She didn't like him getting all the attention so she herself somehow ripped off the training wheels and started riding without them!
It took the parents a minute to realize that neither one of them removed the training wheels and taught her to ride. That was a halarious bit of back and forth in itself.
When we were tying to teach my 6yr old to ride her bike, my daughter had training wheels on her bike for almost a year and still wasn't achieving any balance whatsoever. My wife "stumbled" upon a site that boasted a quick and easy way to learn to ride a bike. Following the directions I removed her training wheels and her pedals and lowered her seat. The purpose was to let her walk the bike while sitting on it so she could learn to balance herself. Within 20 min. she was coasting around the neighborhood with her feet on the frame of her bike, so I put the pedals on and shes been riding ever since. My wife taught herself to ride at 6 and her sister at 4, I didn't learn to ride until I was 10. Some kids just take to it earlier.
James86004
Expedition Leader
My daughter is 8 and is only now just getting to where she can ride without training wheels. She has two things going against her. She is not athletic, and she has an eye problem. Her eyes don't work together, which means she has no depth perception. We are working real hard to address that, and have made some real progress, but we still have a way to go. The ophthalmologist thinks we will have it under control by the time she is 10.
My wife got a bike for Christmas when she was 6 that did not have training wheels, and she fell off the first time she tried to ride it. Her 3-year-old sister immediately grabbed it and started riding it like a pro, much to my wife's consternation and everyone else's amusement.
My wife got a bike for Christmas when she was 6 that did not have training wheels, and she fell off the first time she tried to ride it. Her 3-year-old sister immediately grabbed it and started riding it like a pro, much to my wife's consternation and everyone else's amusement.
T.Low
Expedition Leader
Thats an excllent point: don't get a bike they can "grow into" for the training bike. Learn to ride on something a little smaller and thus easier to handle.
I Leak Oil
Expedition Leader
Both my boys were 5 when we got rid of the training wheels. My oldest just picked up the neighbors bike off our lawn and rode it back to their house. That was his first ride without them. Didn't even realise what he was doing at first.
My youngest practiced with me holding the seat one saturday morning. By lunch he wanted me to put the wheels back on, of course I said no. By the end of the day he was rippin' around the yard without them.
It's all in the head by the time they're 5.:bike_rider:
My youngest practiced with me holding the seat one saturday morning. By lunch he wanted me to put the wheels back on, of course I said no. By the end of the day he was rippin' around the yard without them.
It's all in the head by the time they're 5.:bike_rider:
jeepmedic46
Expedition Leader
I raised the wheels on their bikes and now my son doesn't want anything to do with the bike and my daughter wants to ride but won't take the training wheels off.
obscurotron
Adventurer
Interesting.
I never had training wheels, period. Dad forbade it. Maybe that was harsh of him in retrospect (though I don't think so), but it sure as heck got my riding real quick. I had a few spills and bruises to be certain, but it was a good analog for life in general. So for what it's worth, my kid isn't getting training wheels. A helmet, sure.
I never had training wheels, period. Dad forbade it. Maybe that was harsh of him in retrospect (though I don't think so), but it sure as heck got my riding real quick. I had a few spills and bruises to be certain, but it was a good analog for life in general. So for what it's worth, my kid isn't getting training wheels. A helmet, sure.
emohn
Observer
Exactly. After living in Germany for the last two years, I was amazed at the *young* children riding bikes without training wheels - then I realized that pretty much from the time they can stand up on their own, they're scooting around on these:
http://store.likeabikeusa.com/
http://www.puky.net/homepage/produkte/laufraeder/index.htm
That way they learn the hardest part - balancing on two wheels - long before pedals, brakes, and high speeds get involved.
My wife and I are so convinced this is the right way to go about it, that we brought home one of the Puky bikes with us... even though we don't have children yet. A couple years from now I hope we'll see we made a smart move.
-Erik
Root Moose
Expedition Leader
It depends on the kids of course. Some develop fine motor skills and balance later than others.
Both my kids started at age 4. Just watch them with the training wheels - make sure the wheels are set "high" where they mount. If they have a training wheel or two off the ground consistently when they are going in a straight line they are ready.
Take the wheels off - set the child on the bike, give them a psuh and they should just go like a fish to water. At least that was my experience with both my boys (my 4 yr old started about two months ago, 7 year old at around the same time).
Both my kids started at age 4. Just watch them with the training wheels - make sure the wheels are set "high" where they mount. If they have a training wheel or two off the ground consistently when they are going in a straight line they are ready.
Take the wheels off - set the child on the bike, give them a psuh and they should just go like a fish to water. At least that was my experience with both my boys (my 4 yr old started about two months ago, 7 year old at around the same time).
jeepmedic46
Expedition Leader
I did this. Take the wheels off - set the child on the bike, give them a psuh and they should just go like a fish to water. At least that was my experience with both my boys (my 4 yr old started about two months ago, 7 year old at around the same time).
My daughter fell over and screamed that she wanted the training wheels put back on and when I refused and she threw a tamper tantrum we came home. I never had training wheels either. Not going to teach them how to swim the way I learned. Thrown in the deep end of the pool. Either sink or swim literally.
My daughter fell over and screamed that she wanted the training wheels put back on and when I refused and she threw a tamper tantrum we came home. I never had training wheels either. Not going to teach them how to swim the way I learned. Thrown in the deep end of the pool. Either sink or swim literally.
Root Moose
Expedition Leader
Ahh, but did you do the mental preparation for them - you know - the build up that "you're a big kid now"?
Every kid is different. If they aren't ready, they aren't ready.
Every kid is different. If they aren't ready, they aren't ready.
T.Low
Expedition Leader
Teaching kids is fun. My hockey buddy was teaching his four yr old to ice skate. tried the chair method bla bla bla. Finally he realized that the kid loves skiddles candy so he put the kid at center ice, gave him some skiddles and put the rest of the bag on the bench. The kid made his way to the bench without falling and is skating great now.