Cubby House Toy Library
September Toy of the Month
Bike, Trikes & Scooters!
Children love to play, explore and expand their mobility. It is a natural drive that takes them from sitting to crawling, to walking, to running. Riding a bike represents the next natural step in the pursuit of these experiences. It’s why “riding a bike” is such a childhood milestone. Children can generally learn to ride between 3-6 years; younger for a child on a balance bike. As with all skills, children’s ability to ride bikes are very varied, some pick it up quickly and some take much longer. Additionally, some children have extra needs that may increase the challenge.
Skills required to ride a bike
- Leg strength
- Bilateral co-ordination
- Balance
- Core Strength
- Body awareness
How to select the most suitable bike/scooter/trike for your child
Typical steps in learning to ride –
Ride on toys – these are usually small in size and lightweight for young riders from 9 months of age. They promote motor planning and development of reciprocal leg movements which are essential for future bike riding. Children normally grow out of these by 2 years of age.
Tricycles – teach children about momentum, cause and effect, spatial awareness, coordinating leg movements to pedal and gives them the strength to start to move onto a bicycle. They do not however require balance which is essential to mastering riding on two wheels.
Balance Bikes – They are lightweight and simple, yet focus on the fundamental skill development of balancing on two wheels. They are often adjustable as children grow from 18months -4years. They teach proper steering technique for a seamless transition to a pedal bike, they are easily portable, and they offer mobility on all types of terrain. These typically work best for kids who already have stable balance and coordination and only need to transition those skills to a bike.
Training Wheel Bikes are often a predecessor to a regular bike and are great for learning the unnatural skill of pedalling. Children who benefit more from training wheels are those who need to concentrate more on the strength, pedalling, and steering aspects of biking, and then progress to concentrating on balance once the training wheels are taken off.
Scooters – are great for kids to learn, have fun and develop balance and co-ordination skills. More modern scooters with straddle seats allow children to start developing these skills from an earlier age.
Come and Try Day!
Come and join EarlyEd’s team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists who are experienced in supporting children with delays in learning to ride a bike. The team can help you select the most suitable bike/trike /scooter and provide advice to support your child’s development.
For children that need a custom bike to help them access a bicycle, Freedom Wheels believes that all children should be able to ride, and will be present to answer all your questions.
Come and Try Day will take place during NSW Bike Week at Pendle Hill and Forestville.
