Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Child Limit Imposed On Muslims In Parts Of Myanmar
PHOTO: Virgin Mary Figure Appears With Child Battling Leukemia
Balance Bikes Help Kids Develop Early Skills
Filed under: Toys, Books for Kids, Books for Parents, Activities: Big Kids, Gear Guides: Big Kids
Forget the training wheels, teach your kids balance the European way. Credit: Smart Gear
Though they've been used for decades in Europe to help teach kids how to ride a bicycle, balance bikes are just starting to catch on in the United States.
These Smart Balance Bikes from Smart Gear are pedal-free and help develop a child's balance and coordination as they sit and walk or run with the bike by pushing with their feet. If the bike starts to fall, kids instinctively use their feet to regain their balance.
Once they've gained some momentum and balance control, they can lift their feet up and start cruising around.
Made from eco-friendly wood and non-toxic glues and finishes, these bikes come in a variety of styles that are sure to appeal to boys and girls.
Available at Amazon for $71.68 and up.
Related: Bicycle Safety Starts With Mom and Dad
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
How to Provide your Kid Balanced School Lunch
Help keep your child's mind sharp and ready to learn by providing a balanced lunch at school.
-
Jennifer Westfeldt on Directing Longtime Love Jon Hamm and Whether You Can Balance Babies and Love
Jennifer Westfeldt stars in Friends With Kids as a woman who has a baby with her male best friend (played by Adam Scott) and tries to keep things in control. The multitasking actress didn't just show off her talents on screen: she also wrote and directed the comedy. I sat down with Westfeldt to talk about the film, whether she really thinks couples can balance kids and romance, and her talented cast, which includes Adam Scott and Westfeldt's real-life love, Jon Hamm.
-
How to Balance Life with Kids
The Pregnancy Show Presents: A panel discussion - Learn how to Balance Life with Kids
-
Balance - Karate Kid
Increase balance skills with the Karate Kid drill.
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-22-2010 @ 7:50AM
Tilak said...Nice bike
Reply
9-22-2010 @ 9:36AM
I Still Hate Pickles said...My son has one and learned to ride it before he was two. We found one for like $30 on ebay that was a different style. It's pretty amazing and he loves it! I'd definitely recommend!
Reply
9-22-2010 @ 2:54PM
Nicole said...Balance bikes are great! We do both the balance bike and the traditional pedal bike, it makes learning to pedal a 2 wheel bike as pain free as possible! I think it's very nice that they have an opportunity to learn both skills, before being expected to combine the skills.
Reply
9-23-2010 @ 12:41AM
Steph said...Seriously??? All you have to do is take the pedals and training wheels off of a regular bike, then when the kid is ready, put the pedals back on! Then you don't have to spend the money for this bike AND a regular bike! My 4 y/o daughter learned in less than a week!
Reply
9-23-2010 @ 9:37AM
I Still Hate Pickles said...Steph, the problem is that those normal bikes are for older and larger kids. Our son is still small for two, but can ride perfectly on the balance bike, which is geared to fit younger kids. He was so young when he mastered it that we actually had to take the seat off and he just sat on the bar. So the balance offers a chance to ride when they're too small for an altered normal bike.
Reply