A lot of parents learned to ride a bike with training wheels. With the training wheels on, it was a lot easier to hop on the bike and start pedalling off to the playground. But whet it was time to take the trained wheels off and ride without their extra support, things used to get difficult and a little scary. That's because learning to balance is the difficult part of learning to bike - the pedalling is easy. Nowadays, children have a new way to learn to ride, which is a lot easier, intuitive and fun - the balance bike.
Kids balance bikes are basically regular bikes without pedals. On a balance bike, children propel themselves by using their feet to push along the ground instead of moving forward by pressing on pedals to rotate a wheel. The balance bike process is pretty much similar to walking - something that young children are already used to. As the time parents want to introduce pedals, the kid already knows how to balance in motion on a bicycle. In other words, with kids balance bikes, kids learn the most difficult part first, and better, with their feet safely on the ground. Below are some of the reasons why learning on kids balance bikes is better than on training wheels.
Coordination
Even though balance bikes have not pedals or gears, they are still very efficient at improving coordination. After all, these bikes need to be maneuvered and steered just like the pedal bikes. Regular bikes with training wheels, on the other hand, lead kids to concentrate on the technical part of riding a bike, and this includes pedalling without the fear of falling down. Furthermore, training wheels can become a safety net which your child will rely on a lot longer than they have to. This can prevent and prolong their learning experience as these wheels actually prevent kids from learning how to balance the bike from the start.
Steer and Maneuver
Tradicional bikes with training wheels make a lot harder to learn into a corner. This only leads to more falls and even injuries. Although kids who ride balance bikes can fall off the bike too, their lower standpoint and smaller wheels prevent kids from seriously injuring themselves in a case of a fall. And with both feet close to the ground, kids will always be ready for a stop or support themselves in case they feel like they've lost control of the bike.
Weight
Thanks to its lightweight frame design, balance bikes make a lot easier for kids from very young ages to learn to ride a bike. Balance bikes can be made out of lightweight aluminium, wood or plastic. And because they don't have pedals, gears and chain, they are a lot lighter than pedal bikes. When your child gets tired, it's much easier to pick up a balance bike than a pedal bike. Simply said, transporting balance bikes is a lot easier thanks to the combination of reduced weight and smaller design with a simple frame.
Fun and Freedom
It is common for kids riding a pedal bike with training wheels kids to get stuck on a curb or an uneven surface. That is something that doesn't happen with a balance bike. Actually, these bikes are known to be very efficient at most terrains. Training bikes can go where pedal bikes with training wheels can't. For example, if you live somewhere where there are hills, your kid will be able to navigate them with their bike basically the same way they walk up them. Pedaling up hills is difficult and discouraging for little legs. While balance bikes require a lot more effort, putting all the effort in the initial learning process will provide much better results than relying on the training wheels.
Easier Transition to Pedal Bikes
Aside from allowing more independent learning, a balance bike also offer the ability to develop motor skills required to ride a pedal bike. Once your kid master the hardest part (how to balance a bike), learning the easier part (pedalling) won't be a problem. It might take a little longer for your children to master balance bike, but once they do, the transition to a pedal bike will be much easier. In the majority of cases, kid's don't need to use training wheels at all because keeping the bike balanced will feel a lot more natural to them. Never ignore your kid's feeling. If he/she don't feel quite ready for a transition, respect his/her decision and be patient.
Balance bikes feature smaller frames and smaller wheels that allow children to ride them from the very young age of 18 months. This helps enhance coordination and balance from a very early ager, which will be useful not only in the transition to a bigger bike but also later in life.