How do I teach my child to ride a bike?

The time has come: the child is ready for the roles that mean the world. Or maybe not yet? When exactly is the right age to start cycling? And as a parent, what is the best way to make it easier for your children to get started without causing a lot of frustration?
We give tips and tricks on how your child can get off to a good start in their cycling career.

The right time
The perfect age to start cycling? It depends on.
There is no general guideline for this; it depends on factors such as height, personal level of development and especially your child's motivation. There are kids who would love to race around on their bike all day at the age of three, while others don't get excited about it until they're four or five.
As a rough guide, most children are between three and four years old when they make their first attempts at cycling.
Basically, your child should be able to safely maintain their balance while doing several things at the same time, such as pedaling, steering, braking and cornering.

Off on the bike – but how?
On your marks, get set, go! But how best to approach it? Our recommendation: preparation is everything!
A balance bike can provide good preparatory work to make it easier for aspiring riders to get started on their cycling career. In fact, kids who have previously ridden balance bikes regularly find it much easier when they get on the bike for the first time. Why? The balance bike trains balance, coordination and motor skills in a playful way - all important factors that are also useful for cycling. The best thing about it: This all happens without the child noticing anything about the “secret” training sessions!

We would advise against the classic training wheels with which many of the older generation probably learned to cycle. They give a false sense of balance; the child essentially has to start from scratch after removing the training wheels.
Of course, there are also natural talents who simply get on the bike and, with a little help, start pedaling almost immediately. It is important not to exert any pressure, even if it takes longer. In most cases, this only causes frustration and you risk that your child will lose the fun of it.
The following applies: Your child leads the way and the pace!

A little tip from our own experience: Parents often get a stiff back when practicing. 😊 Here we have had good experiences with a towel or scarf under the child's armpits. This way you can support the child in a straight position.

Our conclusion
Ready to bike? This depends less on age than on your child's individual level of development, size and desire. In this sense, there is no “right” age to get started. In most cases, however, the average age is between three and four years. To make it easier for your child to get started, we recommend using a balance bike beforehand. This allows you to playfully practice balance and motor skills, which are important for later cycling. We advise against the use of training wheels as they give beginner drivers a false sense of balance. In any case, try to approach the matter casually and not put any pressure on yourself.
This way, your child will be happy to stay on task and not lose the fun even if there are minor setbacks.