How to Help Your Child Learn to Ride a Bicycle

If your child is bored with training wheels and wants to learn to ride an adult bike, you likely have a number of concerns. However, as long as you keep safety and comfort in mind, teaching your kid to ride a bicycle can be a quick, painless process. Follow these helpful tips to best instruct your child how to push off, pedal, and cruise on his or her new "big kid" bike.

  1. Safety first. Before you do anything else, get your child properly fitted for the right bicycle helmet. Even if he or she already has a helmet, it’s very important to have one that fits properly and provides the adequate amount of protection for learning to ride a bike. You can do this at just about any bicycle supply shop or sporting goods store.
  2. Scout locations. When it comes to riding a bike for the first time, location is key. You want to find a flat, paved street or parking lot with no traffic or a low, gently sloping, grassy hill, depending on your child’s preference. Show him or her both areas and see which feels more comfortable.
  3. Prepare the bike. You can’t just remove your child’s training wheels and expect him or her to speed away. Take off the training wheels and then begin by removing the pedals and lower the seat. Begin by showing your child how to balance, brake, and turn on the bike with no pedals, and then put the pedals back on. This is the final stage, so get the camera ready!

How To: Ride a Bike [Real Simple]
How to Teach a Child to Ride a Bike [REI]
How to Lean to Ride a Bike in 15 Minutes [Better Homes & Gardens]
Teaching a Kid (and Adult) to Ride a Bicycle [iBike]
Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike [Disney Family]

Stealthy Meets Healthy: How to Sneak More Fruits and Veggies Into Your Child’s Diet

Many parents worry about whether or not their child is getting the proper vitamins and nutrients. Until your picky eaters are old enough to fully understand the benefits of healthy eating, you may need to adopt a tactical approach to their meal prep — one that involves sneaking in some fruits and veggies! These recipes are so tasty, they’ll be none the wiser!

  1. Make your own ice pops. Instead of giving your kids sugar-laden, store-bought ice pops, replace them with homemade versions that are just as delicious. Make your own using 100 percent fruit juice and frozen berries in an ice pop mold.
  2. Stir spinach into your pasta. If you make a family-sized pot of pasta for a weeknight dinner, stir spinach into the sauce for a full serving of veggies that the kids likely won’t even notice. You can even add the mild tasting green to macaroni and cheese!
  3. Make a cauliflower pizza crust. If your kids refuse to eat pizza topped with vegetables, cut calories and incorporate a sneaky serving of veggies by using a recipe for cauliflower crust.
  4. Top burgers with fresh veggies. For children who are less squeamish about veggies, make treat meals like cheeseburgers a bit healthier by topping with fresh vegetables. Add fresh spinach, sliced tomatoes, and even onions in addition to the burger patty and melted cheese.

Cooking Tips [Fruits & Veggies More Matters]
5 Ways to Sneak Veggies into Family Meals [Eating Well]
Sneak Vegetables Into Your Kids' Food With These Tasty Recipes [All You]

Pin It on Pinterest