4 Ways To Bring Your Younger Kids Biking
Getting your kids out of the house for a bike ride is a good idea for a few reasons. First, it’ll teach them to develop a good habit of enjoying their time outside to get some fresh air and exercise, which is important to their health. Second, it’ll keep them away from all the distractions that are keeping them inside the house, like their cool little gadgets. Lastly, it’s good bonding time for the family. The methods I’m pointing out in this article aren’t for your standard bike rides with traditional bikes. Rather, these methods are more for kids who either haven’t learned how to ride a bike yet or kids who are just starting to learn.
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1) Bike Trailers
These are more for the toddlers of your family. It’s a great way to get them out of the house to stimulate their senses. I often read a lot about how parents will take their child on a smooth and quiet ride because they know they’ll fall asleep riding in the trailer. Parents are often reluctant to start using these because it’s difficult to trust something that you can’t constantly watch. However, the quality trailers are pretty sturdy and handle bumps and turns really well! Some trailers offer enough space for two kids, but these are a little tougher to maneuver.
2) Bakfiets
These bikes are hilarious, but extremely useful. They are extremely popular in Denmark and Amsterdam and are just starting to make their way in the states. It’s basically a bike with a giant metal basket in the front. They were traditionally used for cargo purposes. However, instead of using a bike trailer for your kids, you can always decide to use a front-loaded option instead. I’d probably use it for your older children (with some helmets), though.
3) Balance Bikes
Training wheels are a thing of the past, they don’t allow kids to figure out their balance. Balance bikes are basically a bike with no chain or pedals. When you’re first starting to learn how to ride a bike, the hardest thing to figure out is balance. They use their feet to balance and push themselves along. Once they have the confidence of balance and that they can handle turning at some higher speeds, it’s all up hill from there. Kids can actually move pretty fast on these things, it’s pretty fun to watch.
4) Trail-A-Bike
With these, you can transform your normal traditional bike, into a tandem bike! The Trail-A-Bike’s are detachable extensions that connect to the neck of your bicycle seat. They come with a chain, pedals, and a sprocket so the trailer can help peddle. This can be good for kids who are making their transition from balance bikes to traditional bikes so that they can improve their confidence with peddling.
You’re going to have to put some research in to figure out which method will work for you and your family. Hopefully I gave you a nice kick start with some ideas that you can use to get your kids out of the house and enjoying being outside!
Cristina Butler is an active enthusiast on parenting topics. She also writes her own reviews on bike trailers that she thinks are quality. Follow her on Twitter at (@WatchKidsGrow) for parenting articles and tips!
