Adventures in parenting

[rikibeth]

I thought that a job that keeps me on my feet for a minimum of eight hours daily would get me out of run-behind-the-bike detail.

Nope. shadowflyer's plantar fasciitis and wrecked knees from years of fencing make it damned near impossible for him to run behind the bike holding the seat for long enough to get up good speed for Charlotte.

So, after nine hours at work today, I did it.

She can hold her balance great from a running start. She made it all the way across the double outfield. So we're working on staying balanced from a standing start, now.

I think she'll have it by the end of the week.

Comments

[florahart]

How to teach a kid to ride a bike, without running behind.

The part that is non-intuitive about bike-riding, and the reason kids crash when trying to learn, is that you turn the handlebars the direction you are leaning, if you start to fall. Once that is automaticized, kids just get on the bike and go. Seriously. So, what you do is stand behind the bike and tip it randomly left or right. When the kid is always, automatically turning immediately in the direction of the tip, like 50 times in a row, tell them they're ready, and give them gloves in case they sprawl.

I swear, even with my uncoordinated child, this was a two-hour learning curve, total.

[mybleubird.livejournal.com]

Another thought here, let her push herself along with her own two feet without training wheels to get a feel for coasting. She'll still feel safe because she can put her feet down at any time.

[ygrane.livejournal.com]

Teach her to kick off from the curb instead of flat ground. That's how I did it.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

I don't have any advice for teaching kids to ride bikes, but I wish you both much fun and more luck.

I think she'll have it by the end of the week.

Good on her!