| "Balance Bikes" are made for younger kids when | | | | strategy I have found success in keeping the stress to |
| learning how to ride 2-wheeled bikes without training | | | | a minimum and many times they will ask to go farther |
| wheels. These work great for both typical kids as well | | | | or do it again. |
| as children with special needs. Many parents find that | | | | After your child gets the hang of it a little, then you can |
| using balance bikes instead of training wheels is a | | | | start to increase the speed, within reason of course. |
| more effective way to teach kids how to ride a bike. | | | | The best way I have found to do this is on a gentle |
| In addition to the sheer joy brought about in children by | | | | sloping driveway or sidewalk. To give you an idea, the |
| learning to ride a 2-wheeler, you will also save a | | | | angle of a typical handicapped ramp going into a |
| tremendous amount of money by not having to | | | | building would be too steep at this point in the learning. |
| purchase the very expensive and cumbersome | | | | The basic idea is to progress to the point where your |
| 3-wheeled bikes made traditionally for special needs | | | | child begins to push and run along for a few steps and |
| children. | | | | then lift their feet off of the ground for a short |
| The Skuut bike is just this sort of bike and fits children | | | | distance and "coast." |
| of all abilities between the ages of about 2 and 5. The | | | | For many children with special needs the concept of |
| only issue of course is that they do not make bikes like | | | | lifting their feet off of the ground and coasting is not an |
| these for older and bigger kids, at least that I have | | | | easy one to learn. Sometimes when first practicing I |
| found. At any rate we have had great success in our | | | | will push the kids along on the bike and cue them, |
| practice by making our own balance bikes for older | | | | "Now lift your feet"while I provide the stability for them |
| children. | | | | to do so. After a few times they usually begin to get |
| How you might go about it: | | | | the idea. Of course as with most activities that we |
| Start with a bike that you don't care much about and | | | | teach children with special needs, this activity is most |
| remove the pedals. Next lower the seat down so your | | | | likely going to take a little longer to master than the |
| child can easily touch the ground and teach them how | | | | average child, don't worry about it, just have fun. |
| to walk along at a slow pace while holding the bike | | | | To give you a rough idea, if you start teaching your 10 |
| upright. I have found that in both young and older | | | | or 12 year old with Down Syndrome the balance bike |
| children, there is some degree of fear the first time or | | | | concept in April or May, they might have a good |
| two, so be as patient and understanding as possible. | | | | chance to ride a 2-wheeler by themselves by the end |
| Also in most cases the children do not enjoy hitting | | | | of the summer. The balancing and steering is really the |
| their ankle bones into the "crank" part of the bike and | | | | most difficult part, not the peddling and it comes pretty |
| those are easily removed as well from the center | | | | easily once the first two are accomplished. Generally |
| area. If this job is too much for your mechanical skill | | | | of course the earlier in your child's life you try the |
| level, the folks at any bike shop will do it for you in just | | | | easier it is for them to learn. |
| minutes and usually for free when you tell them what | | | | As time goes your child will learn to balance and steer |
| you are trying to do. | | | | for longer periods of time and the whole activity will |
| It is quite likely that your child has never experienced | | | | become great fun. It is very motivating to learn a skill |
| this degree of freedom associated with a bicycle | | | | that they have watched so many other children do. |
| before, especially if they are used to training wheels or | | | | After some time you can try adding the pedals and |
| heavier 3-wheeled bikes. I also recommend that you | | | | see how it goes. Once the pedals are returned to the |
| give them a starting point and an ending point to begin | | | | bike, there will be a learning curve as always, however, |
| with. For example you might tell them, "We're just going | | | | you will be quite amazed how quickly they will |
| to ride your bike down the driveway to mailbox and | | | | overcome it now that they can balance and steer |
| then back and we'll be finished." By employing this | | | | more effectively. |