Comments on: It’s Like Learning How to Not Kill Your Child As She Learns to Ride a Bike http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/ Denver parenting, with altitude Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:29:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Lori http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8290 Lori Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:19:27 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8290 I totally feel guilty now. My son will be 7 1/2 this summer snd still does not know how to ride a bike. In my defense we live in the county and do not have sidewalks or anywhere else to learn. We have lots and lots of gravel roads though. Like 3-4 inches of gravel on all surfaces. Learning to ride a bike in gravel is TOUGH. But I will have him try again on the lawn. That is a perfect solution. Why did I not think of that earlier? I totally feel guilty now. My son will be 7 1/2 this summer snd still does not know how to ride a bike. In my defense we live in the county and do not have sidewalks or anywhere else to learn. We have lots and lots of gravel roads though. Like 3-4 inches of gravel on all surfaces. Learning to ride a bike in gravel is TOUGH. But I will have him try again on the lawn. That is a perfect solution. Why did I not think of that earlier?

]]> By: Laurie http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8289 Laurie Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:19:35 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8289 The bike riding lessons were tortuous for us! At 5 we finally started trying, at 6 he was ready to learn, lol. Eventually the big deserted schoolbus transfer station was the best place to learn and practice and now he loves bike riding. This summer, child#2 needs to be taught. And the fun starts again... The bike riding lessons were tortuous for us! At 5 we finally started trying, at 6 he was ready to learn, lol. Eventually the big deserted schoolbus transfer station was the best place to learn and practice and now he loves bike riding. This summer, child#2 needs to be taught. And the fun starts again…

]]> By: Lauren in GA http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8288 Lauren in GA Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:02:47 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8288 You make me laugh, Amber. I love it, "YOUR BEING UBSURD. YOU WON'T DIE!" That's good stuff, right there. Congrats on 1 out of 2 children knowing how to ride. I am sure Bode will catch on...once the head wound heals. You make me laugh, Amber. I love it, “YOUR BEING UBSURD. YOU WON’T DIE!” That’s good stuff, right there.

Congrats on 1 out of 2 children knowing how to ride. I am sure Bode will catch on…once the head wound heals.

]]> By: Heidi Ahrens http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8287 Heidi Ahrens Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:20:01 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8287 Amber, Amber, Amber, You know that resources are out there to help you out. Just like my site http://outdoorbaby.net. We published many articles on how to help your children to learn how to ride a bike. For your youngest, I would really suggest getting a balance bike. Don't worry to much though, all those Olympic athletes you saw have fallen many times. Heidi Ahrens Amber, Amber, Amber,

You know that resources are out there to help you out. Just like my site http://outdoorbaby.net. We published many articles on how to help your children to learn how to ride a bike.

For your youngest, I would really suggest getting a balance bike.

Don’t worry to much though, all those Olympic athletes you saw have fallen many times.

Heidi Ahrens

]]> By: Jenna Hallock http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8286 Jenna Hallock Tue, 09 Mar 2010 05:04:23 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8286 Yeah, um, our 7 year old is still terrified of falling off her bike. We've ditched the training wheels, but we have a long way to go... Bike riding is definitely NOT my favorite thing to teach! Yeah, um, our 7 year old is still terrified of falling off her bike. We’ve ditched the training wheels, but we have a long way to go… Bike riding is definitely NOT my favorite thing to teach!

]]> By: Tee aka The Diva's Thoughts http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8285 Tee aka The Diva's Thoughts Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:32:15 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8285 I love this post. It reminds me of when my father taught me how to ride my bike. I so so surprised that he didn't loose patience with me because it took FOREVER for me to learn how to ride. lol I love this post. It reminds me of when my father taught me how to ride my bike. I so so surprised that he didn’t loose patience with me because it took FOREVER for me to learn how to ride. lol

]]> By: Cliff http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8284 Cliff Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:41:35 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8284 We learned a neat trick to help teach kids to ride a two wheeler, usually about 20 minutes. Maybe a couple times/sessions. Well worth it, and bu.ds their confidence. Definately need to video tape the process...helps control mommies temper...someone is watching. It's a balance-while, stationary, and turning the handle bars into the direction of the fall. Example.: WHILE HOLDING YOUR PRECIOUS CARGO, she will balance on the bike staying still, as you gently keep your hand on the bike & handlebars. Naturally she will lean to one side on the other...WHEN THIS HAPPENS, you help her turn the handle bars in the same direction..(If she fall right, then turn the handle bars right...etc...) BAck & forth it goes...left right, right left...etc...quick little adjustments, with MOM barely holding on. Do this for only about five minutes...then go on a very small decline and incorporate the balancing as described, while slowly moving...the moving makes it easier. Mom is actually in toward the from of the bike, helping with the steering, versus the back/seat and "push and go..." as you say "fly little birdie"... ..instead you are helping with the wings. I takes a little bit of time, and they get the concept that they are in control of the bike. I can show you, ...it works, ...Must teach braking too...I know...duh! We learned a neat trick to help teach kids to ride a two wheeler, usually about 20 minutes. Maybe a couple times/sessions. Well worth it, and bu.ds their confidence. Definately need to video tape the process…helps control mommies temper…someone is watching.

It’s a balance-while, stationary, and turning the handle bars into the direction of the fall.

Example.: WHILE HOLDING YOUR PRECIOUS CARGO, she will balance on the bike staying still, as you gently keep your hand on the bike & handlebars. Naturally she will lean to one side on the other…WHEN THIS HAPPENS, you help her turn the handle bars in the same direction..(If she fall right, then turn the handle bars right…etc…) BAck & forth it goes…left right, right left…etc…quick little adjustments, with MOM barely holding on.

Do this for only about five minutes…then go on a very small decline and incorporate the balancing as described, while slowly moving…the moving makes it easier. Mom is actually in toward the from of the bike, helping with the steering, versus the back/seat and “push and go…” as you say “fly little birdie”…
..instead you are helping with the wings.

I takes a little bit of time, and they get the concept that they are in control of the bike. I can show you, …it works,

…Must teach braking too…I know…duh!

]]> By: Stacey http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8283 Stacey Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:14:15 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8283 That's too bad about the reunion. Please do let me know when you'll be in the country - maybe we can meet for lunch in Red Deer - I'm willing to be your kids have never had lunch at Gasoline Alley in Red Deer! It is bizarre the things I remember - no rhyme nor reason to it! That’s too bad about the reunion. Please do let me know when you’ll be in the country – maybe we can meet for lunch in Red Deer – I’m willing to be your kids have never had lunch at Gasoline Alley in Red Deer!

It is bizarre the things I remember – no rhyme nor reason to it!

]]> By: Amber Johnson http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8282 Amber Johnson Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:08:28 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8282 How funny that you remember when I learned to ride. I'm definitely getting old. :) How funny that you remember when I learned to ride. I’m definitely getting old. :)

]]> By: Stacey http://www.milehighmamas.com/2010/03/08/its-like-learning-how-to-not-kill-your-child-as-they-learn-to-ride-a-bike/#comment-8281 Stacey Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:57:29 +0000 http://www.milehighmamas.com/?p=10814#comment-8281 I remember being taught to ride a bike - I had Steve's old bike with the gold sparkly banana seat (God bless the 70's!). Dad took the training wheels off and threw them in the garbage. Then he told me I HAD to learn, because the training wheels were gone. Wearing shorts and riding in our back alley - I think I still have gravel embedded in me from that day 30-something years ago!! I remember when you learned a two-wheeler; I don't think I was there that day though. I remember being taught to ride a bike – I had Steve’s old bike with the gold sparkly banana seat (God bless the 70′s!). Dad took the training wheels off and threw them in the garbage. Then he told me I HAD to learn, because the training wheels were gone. Wearing shorts and riding in our back alley – I think I still have gravel embedded in me from that day 30-something years ago!! I remember when you learned a two-wheeler; I don’t think I was there that day though.

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