It’s perfectly natural to want to instill interests of ours in our kids. When we spend our lives loving something, whether it be a sport (cycling!), an instrument, or some other hobby, we want to share that with people that we love.
Here are a few suggestions for you to help you get your kids onto a bike and enjoying the ride with you.
Get them started cycling at a young age
Include your child in basic rides with a trailer, early on. If they see how much you enjoy cycling, there’s a good chance that they’re going to want to try it too. As soon as they’re ready, introduce them to a balance bike and take them on neighborhood rides. You can also attach a trailer bike to your bike so that you can start introducing them to what actual cycling feels like.
Don’t be too protective
Safety should always be a primary concern when it comes to the health of your child, but smothering them can potentially discourage their interest in cycling. Make sure they have the proper protection, encourage them to speak up when they’re hurt, and don’t allow them to attempt trails that they aren’t ready for, but find a balance that doesn’t stifle them.
Don’t force them to ride
Forcing kids to do something is never a good idea. If they don’t want to ride, forcing them to do so will only turn them off to it. You can bring up riding and suggest it to them, but let it stop there. The goal is for them to choose to ride.
Take snacks with you for your rides
Children need more breaks from the action than adults do and snacks are a good reason to stop. It will keep them fueled (and happy).
Always be positive and helpful, but don’t be overbearing
Giving them tips and a few pointers here and there is a good thing, but if you do nothing but coach them, they will lose their interest and desire quickly. Allowing kids to make their own mistakes and figure things out themselves is far more beneficial than micromanaging their rides.
These are just a few helpful ways to approach raising your child to love cycling and stay interested. If you start them early, encourage them, and don’t force them into anything they don’t want to do, there’s an excellent chance that they’ll be joining you on rides for years to come!
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