How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike: 101

The idea of teaching my kids to ride a bike the old-fashioned way with training wheels is just not appealing to me. Maybe it’s just my own reasoning but it doesn’t make sense to put training wheels on a bike to create a false sense of balance and accomplishment. Why not start with the basics and simply learn balance first.

Of course today we have so many conveniences and new ideas are rare, so don’t let me make you think that I’ve come up with a grand technique of how to teach bicycle riding to a child all on my own. I just bought into balance bikes and it was the best thing I’ve done for my children’s outdoor activity while at the house. Balance bikes have been around and are widely available now. Teaching a child how to ride a bike can be streamlined, functional and mostly less stressful with a balance bike.

So really, here is how you teach your toddler to ride a bike:

Get a balance bike (we love the Skuut because it’s wood and holds up amazingly well and it can’t be over-steered like other balance bikes)
Put them on the balance bike
Allow play time often
Get out the elbow/knee pads for when they are going downhill even faster

Move child up to a pedal bike when you can see they are ready which won’t take long

There are two ways to get a balance bike. Buy one that is made specifically as a balance bike or make a balance bike by purchasing a regular kids bike and removing the cranks, chain guard and chain.

If you buy one i can’t tell you how much I love the Skuut. It is heirloom quality and gets lots of compliments. We bought a 10-inch bike for my daughter Jaden and removed the  cranks and chain. It will probably work fine for her in a few months but right now she can’t get her feet flat on the ground which is an important safety factor when on any bike. Jaden isn’t much into riding her bike otherwise we would get her a balance bike for the meantime just because they are pure fun.

Our 2 year old, Nathanael, can’t get his mind off his skuut balance bike. I think he might be riding in his dreams. We had originally wanted to get him the smallest size child bike we could find and remove the cranks, etc. so that we could repurpose it as a balance bike and then add the pedals later when he was ready. Unfortunately the bike was too tall so we opted for the Skuut which after seeing him ride I am glad we ended up with it because it does prevent over steering. Right now when Nathanael gets going fast he needs that guidance to learn how to steer so the skuut works perfect and keeps him up right.

Bottomline: Buying a balance bike is kind of expensive but doesn’t compromise safety for younger toddlers. Making your own balance bike by removing bike parts can be cost effective but can also have more potential mishaps.

Here are a few balance bikes to check out:

Skuut Balance Bike

Red Mini Glider

Smart Gear Smart Balance Bike – Classic Style

LIKEaBIKE Jumper – German Walking Bike

We’re a big baby wearing family and our new favorite baby carrier is the ERGO.

Having three children, one of them a baby… you have to have baby carrier. For a long time we  used simple slings or wraps. I remember carrying Jaden all around San Francisco for 4 days in a Maya Wrap when she was 27 months old.  After long, Carrie started to dislike using slings because it hurt her neck and shoulder too bad and wraps can sometimes feel overwhelming to wrap.  Once we got to Eugene, Carrie introduced me to the ERGO Baby Carrier.

The ERGO Baby Carrier is like a Baby Bjorn except the ERGO is much more versatile because it has multiple carrying positions. You can wear your baby in front of you, in a cradle position for a new born (additional Infant Insert sold separately), on your back, and on the hip. I think it is so much more comfortable to wear than a sling… especially for long periods of time.  I think what I like most is they are so versatile. They are somewhat outdoorsy looking but we also keep a hand made Mei Tai on hand for our special occasions.

We  bought our Organic Cotton ERGO Baby Carrier in Cranberry from Bambini, a local baby store here in Eugene, OR.

Wanna win some soft, organic, fair trade clothes for you little one? Nature’s Child is having a contest where you could win $250 worth of Speesee’s cute and vibrant clothing…all by sharing a tid bit of the best parenting advice you’ve received as a new parent. Just make sure to do it by the end of September 2008 or you’ll miss out.

After you enter the contest, come back here and tell us what piece of advice you shared with Nature’s Child by commenting on this post. If it’s the best advice ever, we’ll showcase it on our website with your name for all other parents to see so they can get a jump start on great parenting tactics.

Shopping local is one of the best ways to be green. But what does shopping local really mean? If the store is buying everything from China or it’s your neighborhood Wal-Mart then the level of greenness just got a little dirty.

On the other hand, if you are fortunate to have a locally owned store that is buying U.S. made products and has eco-conscious buyers then you can be a cleaner shade of green.

We happen to live in an area that hasn’t always been too savvy about the environment until recently when two friends opened Fresh & Green in Bakersfield, Ca. Sometimes all it takes is a single movement by a couple of people, like what Jennifer and Sasha at Fresh & Green are doing, to educate the many. (Don’t forget that Google started with only two guys and now the world searches them over.)

Some may find it hard to believe that everyone doesn’t want to or wouldn’t like to shop online but the fact is that a lot of people just don’t. A local store that offers sustainable products makes it easier for local residents to buy products that are healthier and safer for them and the environment. Stores that offer green products can also become a local resource for consumers to learn about the effects that we have on the environment and how we can make productive changes in our lifestyle.

If you have a local store that offers sustainable and organic products shop with them before you shop online, even if you are spending a tad bit more money. It’s worth keeping the convenience of a quick trip to your local green outlet. Chances are you will get better customer service since the people can put a face with your name. If you aren’t sure if there is a local store that supplies sustainable and organic products, keep checking online. I ended up finding Fresh & Green in Bakersfield by a fluke click on a cloth diaper site. In these days of increased environmental concern and green washing, you just never know when a green store might pop up.

Interested in shopping local in more ways than just this one? Learn where to buy local produce.

Why not head to the outdoors and support companies that give back to earth. There are lots of companies that have a green conscience but how many of them can offer you adventure at the same time? By choosing outdoor adventure for your next vacation you will be helping your family and yourself develop an appreciation for the outdoors as well as enjoying the natural beauty of our surroundings.

The companies we are showing you here all give back whether it’s river conservation, carbon offsets, green building organic food or a combination of several of these. The owners and employees have a genuine desire to change the way business is done. None of them have paid to be listed here and we know first-hand about their green efforts. Check them out for your next vacation. If none of the listed companies are near you, search or ask around for a green outdoor adventure company in your area.

All Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting or visit their fun and amusing blog.

California Mountain Report offers some good information on California adventure including skiing, snowboarding, rafting, mountain biking and more.

Green adventures in Costa Rica, Galapagos, Turkey, Idaho and more are available through Eco Family Adventures.

For whitewater rafting outfitters in the United States and abroad, check out the ultimate source for rafting.

Raft the Grand Canyon and feel good about your footprint with Outdoors Unlimited.