Training wheels on or off?

Question

My four and a half year old son asked for the training wheels off his bike, and then learned that it's not as easy as it looks. Before taking them off, we told him they don't go back on. Now he wants them back. Do I make him keep them off and risk him hating the bike or put them back on, which means going back on what I said?

Answer 1

I would leave them off. For one, you need to stick to your word and two...it will be good for him to see that failure is a must before he suceeds. But encourage him to try hard and eventually he'll give it a go and learn to ride and then feel totally proud of himself.

He won't hate the bike, he'll just become frustrated but just try to explaine that failing is okay and there he must be persistant if he ever wants to be successful at anything (in kid terms of course when you explain it :o)

Answer 2

I wouldn't make too big a deal about it. We just went through this with my daughter who is five. She started requesting I take off the trainning wheels last summer and we had the same result you did. So I would put them back and then a little time would pass and we would try it with them off again.

When the nice weather came back this year we did the same thing once or twice. Then she saw a friend that was only four ride her bike without the wheels... and that was it! She said "Daddy take these off... I'm learning to ride without them!". We worked on it a little bit every evening and by the third day she did it! She's riding like a champ now.

But we never pushed it with her. They usually make the decision on their own eventually. I think they need at least one season of riding the bike with the wheels on it (age four maybe). Then the next year they are really ready to go without them. Also it helps if the bike is a little on the small side for them. They can handle it easier. Also keep the seat lower than you normally would so they can easily touch the ground with their feet. This gives them a sense of added security.

Good Luck! There's nothing in the world like that feeling when you let go of that bike seat and they ride off on their own! It seems like it may be a small milestone in their development. But I don't think I've ever been more proud.

Answer 3

I was a nanny for three years, however, I do not claim to be a pro. Your son is 4 1/2. He probably had no idea what was in store for him once they were off. How many times did he try the bike without the training wheels? It takes a lot of practice for a child to do this, so you may just need to spend more time with him on this. The kid that I used to nanny for was bound and determined to ride bike with his older siblings. Each day I'd go out with him and practice on the driveway. After he was able to do the driveway alone, we moved to the road. Of course, I had to chase after him and eventually he had to learn how to turn, but it worked.

If you are determined to keep to your word, be determined to help your son learn to ride without the training wheels. It is possible...with your help and patience.

Otherwise, your son is four and a half. Maybe he needs another chance to get back to his comfort zone with the training wheels. Raise the trainers so he can practice balancing a little more and in a week, take them off again, and practice without the training wheels.

I don't know if this helps, but good luck!

Answer 4

Usually there is an adjustment for how far the training wheels are off the ground. Tell him you'll put the training wheels back on, but adjust them a little further off the ground (only a little further than he had them before - maybe and inch at the most). This way he'll be using more balance skills than before. Be careful to help him NOT lean only in one direction -- get him to try leaning left when he wants to go left, right when he wants to go right. This way he'll be spending time learning about center of gravity, momentum, and balance.

Maybe make a deal with him (kids love deals): You'll put the training wheels back on for a particular time period -- 1 week, 2 weeks -- if he promises to try to learn to go without them.

Good luck -- ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET!

Answer 5

Never ever go back on what you say to a child,but if when he sits on the seat and if his feet does not touch the ground then you will need to explain you was wrong and put the training wheels back on.My son cried something terrible about wanting his training wheels off.I told him the same as you told your son.Then he cried its too hard.I kept the training wheels off.His bike sat in the yard a week before he would even try again.Then he got on his bike and practiced by his self and learn how to ride the bike in 2 days.

Answer 6

Put them back on, he is only 4. Just make sure that you let him know that you have changed your mind because you want to keep him safe not because he wants them back.

Then, gradually raise them up. My daughter actually rode her bike for almost a month when her training wheels never touched the ground.

Answer 7

well think of it this way: i have never heard of a child actually learning from training wheels. generally they just use these for balance and then you take them off for the child to learn. so i'd leave them off and just teach him to ride.

Answer 8

let him keep them off but make sure he wears his helmet and everything. He will learn i know it is hard as a parent but kids grow up.