Now that March break is over and spring is fast approaching my phone has started ringing off the hook with families looking for information about bikes.
Biking is a very important social skill. Most of us grew up on bikes, racing around with our friends in the neighbourhood. Bikes create opportunities for both physical activity and social interaction with friends and family. There is no doubt that learning to ride a bike is an important skill for every child.
Of all the programs that I offer our bike program is the most difficult to provide. I always say that it is far easier to put everyone on horses! When teaching someone to ride a bike there are three important factors that come into play: technology (bike design and adaptations), the rider’s physical abilities, and their level of anxiety/motivation. Helping my students to ride successfully always requires balancing these three issues.
In the next few posts I will try to offer practical information to help families and professionals understand more about bikes and bike riding. If you have any questions or any experiences you would like to share I welcome your comments.
