Starting a Toddler on a Balance Bike – Tips and Tricks

Byraj smiths

When you start your toddler on a balance bike, here are some tips and tricks to help them become successful:

  1. Help your child get used to the feeling of balancing on the bike by having them try it out in a small space first. Once they feel comfortable balancing on the bike, begin teaching them how to ride it by having them pedal backwards and forwards.
  2. Make sure that your child’s wooden balance bike seat is at the right height and that your child’s feet are forward enough to meet their pedals. You may need to try out smaller bikes with different styles of seats before finding one that works well as a starting point with your toddler.
  3. Children tend to want off-road balance bike wheels (motorcycle style). This can make pedalling difficult so be sure once you start them using these tires, they are able not to ride off-road, or at the very least make sure their bike has a trainer wheel.
  4. Use an individualized balance bike trainer to help work on posture and proper pedalling form and technique before you start having them pedal alone by themselves with no assistance from you; this is also useful when they are learning how to walk up hills in preparation for changing out of training wheels later on: Mini Kickbike Balance Bike Trainer. Make sure to click on the link above and scroll down to see all the great features this trainer has!
  5. Stick with your child’s training bike for a little while once you start teaching them how to ride it; doing so will help teach your young pedal pushers how their body needs to react and respond when riding a bicycle. Anytime they are pacing, leaning forwards or backwards as far into their seat as possible, give yourself some moment off, shift into low gear (in case they need to stop and you have trouble finding the right speed) and help them out at a slower pace. 
  6. When they can pedal on their own while holding hands with another child or even giving each other verbal encouragement along the way, it’s time for your children to get an age-appropriate training bike such as one of these or any others that work with a kickstand: Yedoo Tonky Verge Balance Bike (by Yedoo), or other similar balance bikes that come with workshops and instructors. These training equipment pieces will help them learn to use their skills, but more importantly, they can have fun practicing what it takes to become an on-road motorcycle rider when older.

 When your child feels familiar enough going up hills without needing assistance from you with either working alone or with a friend, it’s time to work on ways that they can help themselves.