From balance bike to regular bike: When is your child ready?

Learning to ride a bike doesn't happen all at once. It happens in two steps, and most children struggle if those steps come too quickly one after the other.

First, balance; then, pedaling

On a balance bike, a child learns to steer and maintain balance without having to think about pedaling. That’s the hardest skill. Once a child has mastered that, they can usually learn to pedal within a few afternoons.

The signs that the time has come

Keep an eye out for these three things: your child pushes off and glides for longer distances without putting their feet down, they steer through turns without stopping, and they look ahead instead of at the ground. That last one is the clearest sign.

Why Training Wheels Often Backfire

Training wheels keep a child upright, but they don’t actually teach the child what they need to learn. When you remove them, the child has to start learning to balance all over again. A 3-in-1 bike gets around that by letting it grow with the child, from a balance bike to a pedal bike.

Choose based on seat height, not age

Your child should be able to stand with both feet flat on the ground while sitting on the saddle. This builds confidence and prevents most falls.

You can find more ideas for physical activities in “Playing Outside with a Toddler ” and “Stimulating Motor Skills Without a Mountain of Toys.”