Growing up as a teenager, my dad bought a bike. According to him, the bike was for everyone at home. I cannot forget the day I got hold of it; it was my first bike ride.
Luckily, a family friend was around, and he volunteered to teach me to ride the bike. As it happened, while he held it from behind, I tried to master the use of the pedal. Not too long afterwards, we were moving around and around; I became happy and excited that I was making progress.
Suddenly, I found myself on the floor with a noticeably big cut on my left thigh and blood gushing out. My family friend had let go of the bike (unknowing to me) to see if I had gained mastery of it. I was on the floor with the bike on me. The pain left me with a fear of bike rides. This experience left an everlasting scar on my left thigh.
When my daughter turned one, we got her a three-in-one kids tricycle. This was a protective one and my over-parenting stopped me from allowing her to practice on her own nor even try to teach her: I did the pushing and control while she just enjoyed the ride.
Fast-forward to 2021, I went to study childcare and early years in education. This course opened my eyes to the three prime areas of learning in Early Years, one of which is physical development. Having this knowledge coupled with my insight into parenting, I realized how important biking is for a child’s physical development.
Last week, my daughter was gifted a bike by her aunty; they both went to the shop to get it. I was reluctant; this was coming from a place of fear based on my experience. I had to think back to the progress I had made in intentionally parenting–I wanted to ensure holistic development of my child. This gave me the courage to go outdoor with her and teach her; consequently, she adores her bike.
Why should children bike? Well, biking is a great activity for kids that keeps them outdoors. Based on a child’s age, parents can go with them, or a child can go with a couple of friends. Bike riding keeps children fit: a fit child is a healthy child. You want your child to be independent, to multitask, to have safety awareness, focus and attention skills, right?
Then teach them how to ride a bike. You will agree that some children overindulge in screen time, and this does not teach them awareness of their surroundings: cars on the road, people around, other bikes and motorcycles. So, bike riding supports your child in acquiring these skills. Eye coordination, patience, social skills, and many more are gained apart from building leg muscle. In the end, when a child masters riding a bike: their self- confidence is boosted.
Dear intentional parents, you will agree that bike riding enhances the overall wellbeing of a child. It is also important to start early and start with a balanced bike then make progress. Remember to get your child a perfect sized helmet. Every child is not the same, some children may not show interest, but I encourage you to be patient with them then think of ways that will encourage them to see bike riding as an exciting activity. We all want our children to have fun. Doing this will be a part of creating joyful childhood memories. A happy childhood inspires a joyful adulthood.
