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How to teach a child to ride a bike

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There are three parts to learning how to ride a bike. It can be helpful for kids to practice each piece separately before putting it all together:

BALANCE — Holding on to the child’s bike seat is the classic parental move, but it throws off the rider’s balance. Instead, get a Strider bike without pedals or simply remove the pedals from a bicycle. Kids can wheel around on pavement, or when they’re ready to really learn, take them to a slope in the grass where they can drag their feet to learn balance while the bike is moving.

PEDALING — Pedaling propels the bike and though training wheels don’t teach balance, they do help kids learn this skill.

STEERING — Again, training wheels can help teach kids how to maneuver their bike with the handlebars without having to pay attention to balance. Once kids are ready to put it all together, riding on a slight slope in the grass with pedals helps keep injuries to a minimum.

-Michelle Schmidt for Inland 360