How to teach a child to pedal a bike?

Before the child sits on a bike with pedals, it is a good idea to introduce him to the bike. The scooter is a great helper that will naturally teach the child to maintain balance, which is one of the most important skills for future cycling.

On a bicycle, the child learns how to move forward using only his own legs, which allows him to safely practice basic coordination. Once he gets used to the balance and masters the movements with the bike, the transition to a bike with pedals will be much easier and more natural for him. The child will also gain more confidence as he learns to control his body and direction of movement without major obstacles, which is crucial for future successful cycling.

Safety is always key - even if you're just learning to ride a bike. So a well-fitting helmet should be a matter of course. To start with, it's a good idea to add knee and elbow pads to make any falls less painful. Remember that the right protective equipment increases your child's confidence when riding and gives him or her confidence. Always choose a quiet, level and safe place to practise cycling where there is no risk of collision with pedestrians or vehicles.

The child has to get used to riding a bike. Coordination of movements, pedalling, maintaining balance and steering the bike at the same time will really give him a hard time at the beginning. It is therefore important to practice often, but only for a short time. Frequent and shorter rides are much more effective than long hours of training once in a while. The child will be less exhausted, so he or she will be happy to return to training.

Before a child can ride, he must first learn to pedal properly. For young children, coordinating their feet, putting pressure on the pedals and keeping their balance at the same time can be difficult.

So how to pedal?

First, explain to the child how the hookers work. Let him sit on the bike, put his feet on the pedals and slowly show him how to turn them in a smooth motion. Tell your child to draw circles with his feet to help him visualise the correct movement. The child can also lie on his back and stamp his feet in the air - this will help him practise the correct movement.

After the child understands the basic movement, you can let him pedal. Help him by lifting the bike slightly by the saddle so he can practice pedalling on the spot first. It is important that the child has sturdy shoes with non-slip soles.

Once your child understands the principle of pedalling, you can try to walk the first few metres. Let him sit on the bike, holding the saddle or shoulders to help him balance, and let him pedal the bike. You can help by pushing the bike slightly to help him feel the pedal pressure and force needed to get the bike moving.
If your back hurts during training or you can't lean over your child for long, you can try training with a towel. You roll it up, put it under your child's armpit and hold both ends, helping your child to keep their balance and focus on learning to pedal. As the child becomes more fluent and better able to balance, loosen the towel until it's finally off completely and the child can ride on their own.

Children have a big problem finding the right pedalling rhythm at first. You can help them verbally ("now, now, now") or by clapping. Every time you clap, your child will pedal, which will help them to keep up the pace and not slip into an irregularity that upsets their balance.

The child needs to get used to the coordination of movement and balance - therefore he needs regular training. Therefore, ride often, but for a short time. This way, your little biker or bikeress will soon ride like a dragon.

If your child is having trouble pedalling and still can't find the right rhythm, don't despair - this is perfectly normal. Every child learns at their own pace and coordinating movements can be challenging for young cyclists.

If they don't know how to pedal, a tricycle can be a great help . This provides stability so that the child can concentrate fully on pedalling without having to balance. It's an excellent way to train the actual movement of the legs and pressure on the pedals without having to manage balance at the same time. Thanks to the tricycle, the child will learn to pedal at a steady pace, which will make it easier for him to transition to a conventional bike where he will no longer have problems pedaling

A special pedal trainer is also a great help. At Beany, we have developed a trainer that fits on the rear wheel and allows the child to pedal in place. This way, he can practice and master the movement and gain the necessary confidence without the risk of falling off the bike.

Encourage the child, appreciate his efforts and every advance. Motivate your child by playing games (for example, counting how many times he steps, measuring how far he goes and how much longer his runway gets), or make training more fun with music. Practice often, but keep it short so that the child doesn't get too exhausted. Be positive, supportive and show your child that you are happy with his or her progress. Above all, be patient. Each child is different and each takes different amounts of time to practice.

The first independent bike ride is a moment your child will remember for a lifetime. So make the most of it together.