Learning To Ride A Two-Wheeler
Why Is My Child Having Difficulty Learning To Ride A Bike?
Children typically learn to ride a two wheel bike without training wheels between 6 and 8 years of age. Some children take to riding a bike easily, while others might have more difficulty and need more practice. If a child is over the age of 7 or 8 and continues to have trouble riding a two-wheeler, she or he may benefit from an evaluation by their physician. The physician might make a referral for the child to see a physical therapist.
Children may have difficulty with learning to ride a bike for many different reasons, including:
- poor balance
- difficulty with bilateral coordination activities (using right and left sides of our bodies together)
- visual-perceptual difficulties
- bad experience with previous attempts to ride a bike resulting in decreased confdence to try again
- decreased strength or endurance
- general difficulties learning gross motor activities.
If parents or caregivers are having difficulty with getting their child to successfully ride a two-wheeled bike, a pediatric physical therapist can help. Children who are motivated to learn to ride a bike may benefit from physical therapy evaluation and treatment.
Why Is My Child Being Referred For Physical Therapy?
At Kenny Kids Rehabilitation Program, our pediatric physical therapists can evaluate your child’s balance, equilibrium reactions, strength, range of motion, coordination and overall gross motor abilities. The physical therapist can determine what your child’s strengths and weaknesses are and develop an individualized program to meet your child’s needs. Your therapist will also teach you and your child exercises and activities for you to do at home to assist them in learning to ride a bike. Our program for learning to ride a two-wheel bike is broken down into five phases. If the therapist determines that your child is having difficulty in motor coordination or strength, they may recommend direct physical therapy services to assist your child in addition to home program exercises.
What Can You Do At Home?
You will be provided with a written home program. Practice with your child on a regular basis three to five times each week. Practice at home is important for the child to learn these new skills and to “ready” them for the next step. Please encourage practice at home. Try to keep your child positive about his or her bike and remind them that this is difficult, but the reward of riding independently is worth it. A motivational chart for practice sessions and recording your child’s progress will be provided.
Five Steps To Riding A Two Wheeler
Step 1:
This phase involves getting a firm foundation for balance prior to the child getting on the bike. This phase addresses proximal balance activities without a bike.
Focus: practicing activities that mimic the weight shifting (balance reactions) and the steering components of bike riding. We can do this by increasing muscle strength and improving core stability while challenging the child’s righting reactions.
Activities include:
- Exercises on the exercise balls — works on trunk and hip strength, and coordination, righting reactions and balance while sitting.
- Exercises on the t-stool — another way to work on activating the trunk muscles, improve strength and coordination, along with challenging righting reactions and balance.
- Balance — these activities help with improving bilateral coordination and balance.
- Foam stepping or walking with moon shoes, and four point exercises — these activities help to promote disassociation of the right and left sides of the child’s body. They also mimic the rhythmic up and down motion of pedaling.
Step 2:
During this phase children practice handling their bikes and make sure their bike “fits” them. Children are encouraged to bring their own helmets.
Activities include:
- Learning to get on and off the bike safely.
- Walking the bike around — the child practices pushing the bike and turning it. This allows the child to get a feel for the bike and how it handles.
- Practice stopping the bike and falling off of the bike onto soft mats.
- Fitting the bike to the child — while sitting on the bike seat, the child’s feet should be flat on the floor to safely be able to stop. This also increases the child's confidence and decreases their gravitational insecurity. The child may move on to a larger bike once they have learned to ride independently.
Step 3:
This phase is where the child learns to ride the bike outside with hands on assist of the physical therapist or parent/caregiver.
Activities include:
- Riding down a gently sloping grassy area — this alleviates the fear of falling onto tar, cement or gravel. The slope downhill makes pedaling easier.
- Select an open area — this allows the child to concentrate on balancing on the bike and not steering.
- The therapist or parent/caregiver runs along the child and provides assist at the bike seat as needed.
Step 4:
During this phase the child learns how to start and stop the bike independently.
Activities include:
- Practicing mounting the bike with and without assist. May use stool if necessary.
- Child learns to start pedaling as he or she mounts the bike.
- Practice slowing down with decreasing speed and with using brakes. The child also learns to put foot down when stopping.
Step 5:
Your child is now able to get on and off the bike independently, start and stop safely, and pedal independently. Your child needs to practice these skills in a safe place, i.e., large, open areas or bike trails. Now is when your child needs to learn bike safety. Your
therapist will go over general bike safety guidelines with you and your child.
Practice and have FUN!
Where Can I Learn More About Adaptive Trikes, Bikes And Accessories?
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Sister Kenny Rehabilitation Institute
Kenny Kids Pediatric Rehabilitation Program
3111 124th Ave. NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
763-236-7337
763-236-8966 fax
Source: Sara Rohde, OTR/L,
coordinator of the Kenny Kids program
First published: 06/27/2005
Last updated: 06/27/2005
Reviewed by: Sara Rohde, OTR/L,
coordinator of the Kenny Kids program
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