Choosing a ride on toy that offers value for money and looks like something our child would ride is normally the first starting point. Factor in the safety advice from the manufacturers and it can get very confusing. Some parents do not get any further down the decision process and go for the bright shiny one their child was clambering to get at, on the last shopping trip. I was also guilty of this - until I discovered the balance bike for my own children!
Could there be much else to consider when choosing an outdoor toy! I learnt there is...
Most of us come home with a shiny, plastic, push handled tricycle that looks great and will promise to adapt with our ever growing kids, but only to find it's the very last thing our child wants to play with long term.
Most children get very bored sitting in them as they are so difficult to pedal, whilst we struggle to get them up and down curbs without them tipping over and even going in a straight line is hard work. If you have to take a buggy for a younger child at the same time then you require two adults!
Then we reach for bikes with stabilisers in the hope that our children will be able to do something for themselves, but maybe we shouldn't be surprised that this doesn't happen as quickly as we would like. Perhaps it is due to the feeling of insecurity that the child experiences after all that rocking from one stabiliser to the other. Add the difficulty of trying to master handlebar brakes that were never really designed with little fingers in mind and you can see how this way of learning to ride a bike can actually create fear.
The hardest skill, balance, has never been learnt. This is where the balance bike enters...
Designed for a toddler and in some cases from as soon as they can walk, the balance bike promotes the child's independence from the beginning. You are actually encouraged not to assist them.
They have two wheels, no pedals or sprockets and the child simply straddles the bike and moves it by walking along. As the child's confidence improves they get faster at their own pace and it all becomes fun. There is an ever increasing range of balance bike available now in the UK, from wooden bikes through to the stronger metal lightweight bikes.
When considering a balance bike check that the bike is light and easy to control and designed for toddlers - the lightest balance bikes are 3.1 K.g so lighter than a newborn and easy for a 2 year old to lift up themselves. That the bike is strong enough and won't break and that it has puncture proof tyres - easy to maintain.
Check it has a footrest! This is important as it helps balance when coasting down hills, and the children need somewhere to rest feet going over bumps. When adults cycle over bumps we take the impact in our legs, by resting feet on pedals - if we were to leave our feet dangling...well need I say more!
Finally you want the most adjustable bike out there so that it does grow with your child and they can use it for a few years. Adjustable handlebars and seat positions in any increment are the best so it fits your child at any stage.
That it looks like a bike! Toddlers at some stage, want to imitate older children and whilst one bike looks great to a 2 year old, be-aware they might not think it is so cool when they reach 4! After all, some bikes are designed for 1- 5 years of age- lets buy them a bike that they will like for that long!
Karen Wood set up Strider Bike UK, to introduce this revolutionary new balance bike the Strider PreBike to the UK. We accept all major cards either on our site http://www.learningearly.co.uk or by calling 01926 339107. We are also recruiting dealers across the UK or in Europe.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_E_Wood
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