any advice to help child learn to ride?

[bike4ever]

kie_fujo -

Kids will ride when their friends are riding. Unfortunately it's the beginning of peer pressure. I

s there a small grassy hill near you? A small hill is a nice place to practice the balance. I also am a fan of using a baseball field. You can push them (but remember to release, do not hold them) and let them glide easily on the dirt. A baseball field is also a nice place for them to learn to pedal since it is actually easier to pedal through than a yard.

[Biciclista]

When she's ready she will ride. At 7, I was hysterical, terrified of the bike, the training, the training wheels, everything. At 9, my father gave me a 2 wheeled bike; rode it in a circle, gave it to me, and I rode it in a circle. Just like that.
Be patient.
It will come.

[GLC1968]

I agree with the peer pressure thing. I remember being terrified of riding a 'two wheeler'. (I had a tricycle, but felt I was too old for it). I remember talking to one of the older kids in the neighborhood one afternoon about my fear. She said she could teach me but I said no. Then one of the kids a little closer to my age went tearing by on a BMX type bike and jumped the curb in front of us. She leaned over and said "I taught him to ride". Two days later, I asked her to help me. Based on where we were living (and when we moved), I couldn't have been older than 7.

[kie_fujo]

i was actually hoping that the peer pressure would wear on her!! haha. the one and only time. unfortunately she doesn't care. she just says that she wants training wheels. i know she'll get it eventually. i just want us to be able to ride together!

[Irulan]

What about just "disappearing" the training wheels.

I"m sorry honey, I don't know what happened to them.

[Biciclista]

Wait, she LIKES the training wheels? Why can't she keep them?
She'll get tired of them eventually.

[Becky]

Are these the height-adjustable training wheels? What about raising them a hair at a time until she's balancing on her own?

Just a thought....I don't have kids, so I dunno.

[Grits]

Been there. My youngest son is extremely cautious and did not learn to ride without training wheels until he was at least 8. What did the trick for us was taking the bike on a beach vacation where it was nice and flat. We were in an area with paved paths right in front of our house, and it was easy for him to hop on the bike and try to ride it.

I don't know how practical that is for you. You probably can't pick up and go to the beach right now, but the key was flat and paved. If you can find a place that is convenient (a school track?) and let her go at her own pace, maybe that would help.

In our case, peer pressure was making him motivated get rid of the training wheels.