Learning to Ride a Bike - Valparaiso,IN

Try http://www.biketraffic.org/. They've had information in the past on how to work with kiddos on how to learn to ride bikes.

When we taught my son, we kept the training wheels on, but gradually set them up higher so that they only touched the ground if the bike was really tipping over. When we did take them off, he already knew how to balance & ride and just took off!
Maybe that will work.

All our neighborhood kids learned to ride this way. Remove the pedals and training wheels. Let your son use the bike as a scooter, pushing himself along with his feet. Eventually he will start to find that center point of balance and feel a bit more confident (give it time). When he spends more time with that balance put the pedals back on and then train him the way you probably did with your daughter. By then he should trained his body to find that center point and he'll figure it out. Good luck, bikes are so important to a kid's sense of freedom.

I ran across a similar problem last summer. I have two boys and neither one could ride a bike. I never pushed it before now because we didn't have a safe place to learn and my youngest is autistic and palsyed on one side. He struggled to get his feet to go the right way to pedal a bike. So, after many weeks of frustrating practice, my oldest was begining to get the hang of it (he was 10). I decided enough was enough. They wanted to see a movie and I wanted them to ride a bike so the only way we were going to the movie was if we rode our bikes to the theatre in our small town. It worked. They both spent more time and effort learning. Now, a year later, they both ride well. But i did spend the entire summer coaching, pushing, and yelling encouragement at my youngest to get here. Be patient and give your son some incentive to ride toward. Pick a spot close by to ride to and make him get there by bike. It will come together in time.

Maybe trying a Glider Bike would help him before putting him on a bike without training wheels.

It's a "balance bike" and has no pedals -- designed to be the easiest and safest way for kids to learn how to ride a bike. A child starts by walking and pushing while seated, trusting his/her own abilities, while quickly graduating to running and gliding on two wheels. After mastering the Glider, the child can move directly to a bike without training wheels. Which means no "trauma" from removing training wheels on which the child has grown dependent.

Glider bikes are not sold many places (that we were able to find), so you'll probably have to do some internet research. We have a Mini Glider (which would be much too small for your son!), but I'm adding a link to the Mini-Glider so that you can see what it looks like. We researched several brands and were most impressed with this one. This company also makes a larger version of the bike.

http://www.amazon.com/Glider-Mini-Glider-12-Inch-Balance-...

I did not read the other responses, so sorry if I repeat. My husband read an article a couple of years ago that said to take off the pedals and let your child use their feet to get going and lift them up, but when they feel unstable just to put the feet down and keep doing this until they are stable and comfortable enough to go long distances. We did this with our now 6 yo last year and our two neighbors friends kids did it as well and all 3 learned within 2 days! We all allowed them to do this on a smaller bike to get comfortable then we moved them to their bigger bikes. Good Luck and just keep reinforcing the positive!

I am not sure what you mean by a brain disorder but my son has touretes and along with that many issues and behind in his age as well- but I would suggest taking your son to an empty parking lot- perhaps at a business on the weekend- that way he has a lot of room or what my neighbors did was take their son to a field so when he fell he felt better falling on grass then the concrete. Good luck!

Call Easter Seals in Villa Park and get on the list to receive an announcement about "Lose the Training Wheels" http://losethetrainingwheels.org/. The contact info is on the LTTW website. My son's PT told us about this program and is hoping we can get in. From what I understand, registration starts the first week in April and slots are limited. The program has a huge success rate. Basically, using a series of cylinders that a U of I professor developed, your child learns how to ride a bike in a week. Good luck!

Hi J.,
I can understand completely, my son also has a brain disorder. He has a large cyst in his brain that was drained but casued brain damage and a right side weakness, not sure if you son has problems wih weakness or balance.
With my son we noticed his foot slid off the petal so we purchased a strap to hold his foot on the petal as he pushes. The problem is that is foot is fixed to the petal so he can not ride a stand up bike in fear that if he fell over it would hold him on the bike. What we did is buy him a real cool big kid big wheel. The first time we rode it we could not keep up with him - he was off. This has worked for his frustraion level and so he can keep up with his sister on family rides. I think it would help your son to know he can ride a big wheel with the stability and then on the side work on the up-right bike, but it wont be as stressful an experience.
I forgot to mention that the NWSRA has a class on learning to ride a bike. Not sure if you are familar with the organization btu they are great. My son has had inclusion in the Park District through them and also spring camp.
Feel free to contact me if you want more details - seems like we have somethings in common.
I hope this helps,
J.

Get him a Razor scooter. They are two wheel but easy to use and fairly inexpensive. Our daughter has a seizure disorder and her balance, perception, processing was slower so it was difficult for her. Once she mastered the balance on her razor, the bike riding was much easier. He may have to spend the summer on his razor but he can go as fast as a bike if he wants

One other suggestion. There are really great OT's who have a bunch of tricks and run bike riding clinics in the summer

I have taught several differnt children, how to ride bikes and they all learn very differently. If you take both pedals off and let him glide, only put one pedal back on. I know it sound funny and difficult, but it still gives them the control. I saw this work in one afternoon for one child. The hill is a great idea if your child will know when to stop. Love the idea of classes, wow, I didn't even know they had such classes. This list is awesome.

Good luck.

I believe the Easter Seals has a class for kids learning to ride a bike. With your son's special needs, he would be a good candidate for that if you are interested in it. When one of my kids was getting OT, the therapist recommended the class. They don't have it until school is out if I remember right.

My son also is a little behind and he just didn't want to do it before he was 9. When he said he was ready I took him to a parking lot and let him try by himself. I told him if he was going to fall, it would be good to fall in the grass. Make sure he has a helmet!

M.

Try getting a bike that is too small-just one size or so. My kids still had a bike my husband got from the flea market the previous year. My son was afraid to ride his own bike so one day he got on the smaller one and he was riding within 3 days. He was easily able to put his feet down to catch himself. We suggested this to the girls next dorr for the middle girl and she road her sister's bike within a few days.

I taught my daughter in the grass. I told her to pedal hard. By being in the grass it allowed for her to put some force into it without fearing she was going too fast. This also allowed me to keep up with her.

I recall a family that started by removing one training wheel. If that does not work, maybe look into a special bike for children with special challenges? Good luck!

One of the old-timers in our neighborhood has a favorite method: take the pedals off of the bike and have your son just practice pushing with his feet then holding his feet off the ground and gliding. This teaches the essential feeling of balance needed when riding. then put the pedals back on and gradually have him use the pedals (first just doing the same thing as before:getting his balance). You need to make sure he can easily reach the ground from his bike seat. Take him to a big parking lot early in the morning or evening where he won't run into people he knows. Leave sister at home. Try not to pressure him. In my family my daughter always did physical things easily and that drove her older brother crazy. He just has to understand that we all have our unique gifts and unique challenges and a real accomplishment is one that doesn't come easily! Good luck!

How is he on a scooter? We have found for our children (13, 9 and 5 1/2) that the scooter makes all the difference in learning to balance and making the transition from training wheels to two-wheeler very easy. The scooter was the ticket for our 9-yr old when she was learning. She was so frustrated by the bike, we had to take a break from it. She was happy on the scooter and it helped her a few months later master the two-wheeler. My husband and I also find that learning in an empty parking lot is also easier than the sidewalk. Staying up and riding is more successful if the 'boundaries' of grass (like for a sidewalk) aren't there. Hope this helps. Hope your son has a great summer.

It's all in the progression of things. You must start on a tricycle, then 4 wheels then remove the trainers when he's solid on corners, stops, starts, etc. Progression is important so the child learns good balance before moving ahead. When you remove the trainers you must be willing to hold the back of his seat for balance and his sense of security. Be ready to walk it, speed walk, and then run. Don't push, just balance him. you can let go a couple of times without him knowing cause you'll be right with him, encouraging and telling him good boy. If he flops the steering side to side, grab hol of the seat right away and tell him to keep going straight. You'll be winded but the achievement he'll feel will be having concured his fear. Awesome.

My daughter was doing the same thing, giving up, and I was getting frustrated. So one day, I just had her straddled her bike w/o the training wheels, and let her get used to it, pushing off herself, having a couple of seconds to balance. Then, I took her to a newer parking lot, that had a slight incline in it. Within a minute, she was riding, since the slight hill was doing all the pedal work for her, she just needed to concentrate on the balancing part! She was riding before I had the chance to get the camcorder rolling! Good Luck!

My son kind of learned by accident. One of his training wheels popped up while we were on a bike ride, so he could only use one of the training wheels to balance himself. I encouraged him to try and keep the bike straight. He tried it several times and before I knew it he was doing it. I'm going to take one of the training wheels off my 4 year olds bike and have him do the same thing. Hope this helps. Good luck.

I tried to teach my daughter by running behind her, but that was not working for either of us. Then I found a great way to teach them. Find a small hill in the grass (preferably one that does not end at the street or in water). First have him just go down the hill with his feet skimming the ground. This will teach him balance. Once he has the balance down have him put his feet up on the pedals and glide down the hill. Once he has that, add the brakes at the end of the hill. Once he has all that, then have him pedal once he gets started down the hill. Once he has all that down you may need to help him get started a few times on flat ground.
Good luck!

I have taught several children, probably more than 7 children how to ride their bike without training wheels. Find a small grassy hill. Have your child ride down their bike, without training wheels, down the hill. They only need to concentrate on balance, because the hill provides the movement. IF they fall, it is on nice soft grass. Once they can ride down the hill, now try to have them pedal while riding down the hill. It usually only takes a few tries and then they can try it out on the pavement. This is wonderful!!! Plus quite a back saver - you don't have to run behind them hunching over the bike.

Just so you know. You are not alone. we are trying to teach our 8 year old. We had her going a little bit late last summer but she seems to have lost the balance trick so we are starting agin. Good Luck. He will get it.

It may take your son longer and I would emphasize that everyone has talents in different areas. Point out some that your husband has, some that you have, your son and your daughter. I do not know how sever the brain damage is but assuming he will be able to learn to ride the bike...I would keep practicing with him in an area that is more private. I would also put the training wheels on and as he gets comfortable, start pulling them up a bit so he gets the feel of riding but if it tips he still is caught.
Maybe this will help?

I recently took the training wheels off my 5 year olds bike. He naturally tried to push and glide across the pavement while working on balance.

I looked up a few youtube videos where they recommend taking the pedals off and teaching them to push and glide as they try to keep balance. Once they've mastered this, it's usually easier for them to pedal.

I can't wait to try it. :) Hope it works for you.

I have a 9-year-old daughter that could not learn to ride a bike. We tried training wheels, dad holding on and running along side her and a grab bar behind the bike and she always ended up frustrated and crying-dad too. Last summer we tried taking the pedals off and it was incredible. Within a few minutes-yes minutes-she was coasting with her feet picked up and by the next morning she was actually riding her bike with the pedals back on - no training wheels just riding her back and by that afternoon we went for a family bike ride. She was so excited!!! We could not believe how well this worked for her. I would recommend this method to everyone. I wish we would have tried this from the very beginning!!!!

I haven't read any of the posts because I just got back in town and have a ton of e-mails to read...
I got this suggestion from a friend and it was great for my two kids, they learned very quickly...
Get a VERY small two wheeler with no training wheels (MUST be small enough for their feet to touch the ground flat or close to flat). This will give them the support they need when they topple over, they can put their feet down to catch themselves.

Good luck!

Some interesting suggestions.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/teachride.html

I think this might work,
Good luck