Teaching a child to ride a bike can be fun or it can be frustrating. If your child gets the hang of it quickly, then it can be a great bonding experience for you both. However, if it takes a bit longer for your child to master the skills involved in cycling, both of you can become frustrated very quickly. 

If you are ready to take on the challenge of teaching your child to cycle, then you might want to consider a balance bike rather than a traditional pedal bike, especially if your child is still a toddler. The earlier a child learns to cycle, the easier it is to pick it up. Moreover, according to those at Woom, balance bikes are ideal for toddlers. 

The Benefits of Balance Bikes

As the name suggests, a balance bike focuses on teaching a child how to balance the bike first and foremost. Unlike traditional pedal bikes that put the focus on pedaling and steering before balancing, balance bikes do not have any pedals. This means children learn how to balance the bike while steering, which is often the hardest skill to master. 

Since balance bikes don’t have pedals or chains, they are easy for small children to understand and get the hang of. They simply have to sit on the saddle, hold the handlebars, and use their feet to push themselves along. As they get used to the bike, they can lift their feet up to glide, which is where they will naturally learn to balance the bike. To stop, they simply put their feet back on the ground. 

Without these extra moving parts, balance bikes are generally quite light, meaning they are easier for toddlers to handle. They can pick them up easily and if they fall, parents don’t have to worry about them being pinned under a heavy bike. 

Another great thing about balance bikes, especially when compared to traditional pedal bikes with training wheels, is that they are easier to turn and maneuver. The balance bike can traverse various surfaces, including grass, with ease. This makes it simpler for children to handle and control. 

Balance bikes help toddlers build up their confidence so that when they do transition to a pedal bike, they are already comfortable using a bike, including how to stop and start as well as steer. 

What to Consider When Buying a Balance Bike

There are many different options when it comes to balance bikes, and the wonderful thing is that they are rarely expensive. However, before you rush out to buy the first one you see, it is important that you choose the right size. Your child should be able to put their feet firmly on the ground when they are sitting on the saddle. It is never a good idea to buy any bike that is too big for a child, with the intention for them to ‘grow into it’. A bike that is too big will be hard to control and could end up being dangerous. 

Conclusion

Balance bikes are a fantastic choice for toddlers, for many reasons. These small yet sturdy and lightweight bikes do not have pedals or chains and are instead designed to be propelled with the feet. Furthermore, young children find it easier to steer balance bikes because of the absence of training wheels that are often used when learning to ride pedal bikes. 

The important thing to bear in mind when buying a balance bike for your child is that it should be the right size, allowing for the feet to sit flat on the ground when sitting on the bike.