The boss of

The boss of balance

Strider offers help and advice on how to get your kids moving on their first balance bike.

At Strider, we love riding bikes and we love inspiring kids to ride. Our mission is to build lightweight, efficient, all-terrain bikes that develop two-wheeled balance, coordination and confidence in children.

We believe:

Life is better when riding a bike Balance leads to confidence, courage and happiness Any child that can walk can learn to ride easily and safely Your life as a parent gets better when your child is mobile Kids are awesome Failure is OK Kids learn best through play.

The importance of balance

A balance bike is a bike with no pedals. Balance is the key to physical sports and activities. Kids need to be active daily and balance plays a big role in development for children. Using a balance bike can build core strength and balance at a young age for a strong developmental foundation.

Balance strengthens these developmental building blocks:

Attention and concentration Body awareness Bilateral integration Crossing mid-line Hand-eye coordination Hand dominance Muscular strength Muscular endurance Self regulation Postural control Sensory processing Isolated movements Riding a balance bike gives children a taste of success and freedom at a very young age. They begin to learn to trust their ability and take calculated risks. They learn to deal with failure and are motivated to try again. As children grow, riding a bike continues to help them build fortitude and belief in themselves.

Technology is ever-advancing and the current generations are the pioneers in raising children in the fast-paced digital world. It is important to go back to the root of children learning, playing and riding bikes outdoors. Research has shown that a child’s stress level can decrease within minutes of being outside. Playtime for children also helps to protect their emotional development and lets them be children again. A four-week study conducted at the University of South Dakota’s Division of Kinesiology and Sport Science concluded that using a Strider Bike showed significant improvement in the Limit of Stability (LoS) scores.

Step 1: Adjust the bike to properly fit the child

Adjust the seat of the bike so both feet are flat on the ground and there is a slight bend in the knee. Children grow quickly, be sure to adjust the bike every few months.

Step 2: Support the child, not the bike

We usually want to help the child by holding onto the bike to keep it from falling. Do not do this! Learning to support the weight of the bike on their own is their first lesson in balance.

Step 3: Let your child set the pace

Some kids may not sit on the seat at first. This is OK! Their security is in their feet at this point, and we want them to feel secure. As they become comfortable walking with the bike between their legs and using the handlebar, they will soon use the seat. Let them transition at their own pace… they will be striding before you know it.

Step 4: Support your child, don’t direct them

Some children only want to spend the first minute or two walking their bike around. Praise them for any amount of time they spend on the bike. If your child’s bike has handlebar brakes ignore them for now. It’s going to be tempting for the little one to want to reach for the brakes, but we want them to be confident first. Their confidence comes from striding and stopping with their feet.

For more information on Strider balance bikes, visit: striderbikes.co.uk

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