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Bike Riding

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: Parneting Room (ARCHIVES): Bike Riding users admin

Author Message
Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 1:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
First,

Let me warn you the first part of this will be a venting session. I am so freakin' frustrated at the minute I'd like to spit nails.

I have a TEN year old son who does not know how to ride a bicycle. We have attempted to teach him every summer since he was 5. We live on a dirt road and have a dirt driveway, so any "teaching" must take place at the school parking lot (and requires packing up bike, etc.) FINALLY, we live in a house that has at least a minimal area of concrete driveway (probably 50 feet long) that allows him to try at home.

Today, after FIVE -- count them FIVE - minutes of attempting to just coast w/out putting feet on pedals, he was crying and wanting to quit. I tried helping him learn to steer, showed him how slight changes in steering can affect bike -- but he just doesn't get it. He went out alone to try first, but was in the house in two minutes flat saying, "I can't do it." I went out to try to be the cheerleader and help, and he was STILL wanting to quit after 2 minutes -- I just refused to let him come in that quickly.

Physically, I know it's not his ears / balance issue because 1) he has tubes in and has been "liquid" free in inner ear for 3 months. 2) he can walk a balance beam.

The thing that drives me nuts the most is his quitter attitude. It shows up in piano, too. When something is the least bit challenging or difficult, he quits saying, "I'll never be able to do this!" (and that is a direct quote!)

We've tried talking calmly about having the right attitude, not giving up, accomplishments, etc. but I will admit that today degenerated into both of us yelling. Nothing horrible or nasty was said -- mainly frustration on both our parts, but I don't know what to do.

His class of fourth graders takes a biking trip every spring. If he doesn't know how to ride a bike, I don't know what he'll do. Frankly, I don't care whether he goes or not, but I do worry about the teasing that may occur if he admits he doesn't ride. He says he wants to go on the trip, but he's unwilling to spend any time trying to learn.

We've tried having him go down a grassy hill (so it won't hurt if he falls), we've tried running behind w/ him pedaling, we've tried this coasting idea (which is how people learn to balance a motorcycly). I don't know what else to do! We had training wheels on up until he was 7, but even then he would tip over! AAACCCKKKKK!!! Expert advice needed (and a few calming yoga breaths which I'm working on as I type! :-) )

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 1:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Teach, first woooooooooo saiiiiiii and exhale. 2nd I've found that my kids learned bike riding, and so did I as a child, from other kids. Are there any other kids in your neighborhood that can help you out? Also I'm sure you've tried this already, but what about training wheels?

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 1:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
teach, go to a local bike store. see what they advise. maybe your training wheels were wrong for the kind of bike he had. maybe he needs encouragement from someone other than his parent. i couldn't do it for years. i had no other kids to show me. same thing would happen as what is happening with your son. my folks moved to a neighborhood with lots of kids with bikes. they bought me one. little by little i learned by watching and doing. nothing like other kids saying "hey, wanna go ride bikes?" to gather up that encouragment.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 2:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
We live in the country -- his closest friend is over 5 miles away. Training wheels didn't work either -- he just kept tipping over. I'm beginning to wonder if there's such a thing as being physically incapable of riding a bike!

WOOOOOOOO SAIIIIIII. :-) It's working. Much more clear-headed and calm now -- I should never type in the heat of the moment! LOL

Ddr
Member

08-19-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 3:29 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Teach, is the bike the right size for him? Maybe going with a smaller bike might give him more control over coordination.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 3:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I was wondering that too D.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yup -- we had that checked at the bike shop to make sure the seat was at the right height, too. He can touch the ground while sitting on the seat, which was what we were told he should be able to do. When we thought maybe he needed a bigger bike (easier to pedal?) the bike guy said, Nope -- not til he learns with the height as it is. We were at a reputable Schwinn dealer where we bought the bike, so I think that part is ok.

He went out and "coasted" for another 10 min. with NO mom, and said he thinks it's getting a "little" better. He's willing to try 10 min. at a time on his own, for the next 3 days -- pray for a miracle by Sunday! LOL

Jmm
Member

08-16-2002

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Teach, I'm sorry this has been such a frustrating endeavor for you and your son. I know when I was teaching the kids I would run behind them holding on to the bike until I "felt" them balancing. Then I'd let go but continue running with them, if they looked back I'd grab the bike again and pretend I'd never let go. Once they were riding on their own for several feet, I'd stop and they'd ride until they realized I wasn't there. Then they fell, but they got up and tried again until they could ride.

I don't know if this would work with your son, or if you've already tried it. Just my two cents, for what it's worth. LOL

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, JMM -- we tried that method the first 3 years -- but DS never would go fast enough! No running was needed at all, and that made it even harder for him to balance. If DH would try to "push" him faster, DS would freak!

We're actually considering a scooter at the minute. Thought maybe riding one of them "one footedly" would help him get the balance end of things down.

DS and I are both rational about it now - -and he seems to do well w/ limits on time (knows the frustration will end) and no mom or dad around (limits his whining and our frustration!).

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Scooters are good.

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Teach, just curious... is your son a kid who always seemed super sensitive to sound (noises) or uncomfortable clothing (the seams in his socks or the tags in his shirts)?

Yeah, I know it sounds like an off the wall question. :-)

Halfunit
Moderator

09-02-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    



Get a trike! Forget about looks, trikes are cool! DS can put sodas and chips and candy in the baskets and be the envy of his classmates.


Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Scooters are very good. Sarah has both the 4-wheeled (convertible into skateboard) type and the 2-wheeled razor scooter. Both were very inexpensive and really helped with balance. It took quite awhile (2 summers) for her to learn to ride a bike without her training wheels but she has a very determined personality when it comes to sports-type activities.

I, on the other hand had a bike that was 2 sizes too big when I was her age and still couldn't ride it when I was your son's age. So, I did what Mocha said. I learned from a friend by using her brother's smaller bike. That bike was now too small for me but it was close to the ground and I could balance better and wasn't so scared. In 10 minutes with the smaller bike I was riding like a pro. I could never accomplish that on the big bike even when it was the right size for me. Just too scared.

He'll learn. Really he will.

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 4:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
omh! Half, I want one of those!!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 5:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
How cool is that! Forgot the kids - I want one! :-)

I'm also taking some enjoyment out of Calvin and Hobbes at the minute -- Calvin struggles w/ bike riding and it's because his bike is possessed and focused on causing him physical pain. Maybe DS has one of 'those' bikes!

Nope -- he's never been super sensitive to sounds or tags, Karuuna -- he's physically as "normal" as a 10 year old can be.

Jewels
Member

09-23-2000

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 5:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Kar, can you tell me why you asked that question?

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 5:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Teach, for answering. I think the tricycle is an excellent idea. (By the way, I didn't learn to ride a bike til I was 25, mostly because of lack of opportunity!)

Jewels, supersensitivity to sensory input is a neurological issue, (nothing serious!) most commonly called sensory integration disorder. It just means that these kids sometimes have trouble focusing on the input most necessary to complete a certain task because they can't tune out all the other sensory information they are getting at the time.

Some of the signs of this are kids who can't tune out the annoying clothing tag, or bump in his sock, or who gets driven crazy by long sleeves, or wakes at the slightest noise or has balance issues or seems to have more than the usual coordination problems.

So, in the case of a child who has difficulty learning to bike ride, it's because he can't focus sufficiently on the the sensory input from his muscles and inner ear that he needs to correct his balance because that input is competing with input from other sights, sounds, touch sensations that are all coming at him at the same time. Because he can't get his brain to "tune out" that other stuff, he can't attend to the sensory input necessary to learn the skill. It can be tremendously frustrating for them.

There are exercises they can do that help their brains become more adept at focusing on necessary input and tuning out the rest.

Anxiety can also cause the inability to learn & focus too; and a couple of bad experiences build on the anxiety and so on. In that case, some relaxation work beforehand can help a lot. :-)



Jewels
Member

09-23-2000

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 5:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks, Kar. If you don't mind, I may ask you some other questions about this at another time....dinner is cooking!

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Wednesday, April 06, 2005 - 5:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sure, Jewels, just put a note in my folder. :-) Enjoy your dinner!

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 4:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have a suggestion. My daughter had a really hard time learning and had a quit if it isn't easy personality. This worked for her.

Take a beach towel or small blanket. Run it across his chest and under each arm with the ends coming out behind him. You stand sort of behind and to the side and hold the ends of the towel/blanket. (think of it as a body sling). The towel allows him to have the swaying motion of trying to balance, but you are there to keep him from falling.
also, a next size down, not just the right sized bike works wonders.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 5:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Teach, I have a question, when you used training wheels-what happened? They didn't work?

I have a very ungraceful 5 year old with some sensory integration issues (he gets occupational therapy and has since he was 2). I really worry he'll never learn a two wheeler. Even last summer (he was 5 then) he would not ride a two wheeler with training wheels--he just wanted his tricycle. So I am curious how your son did with the training wheels.
Thanks.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, April 07, 2005 - 10:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
With training wheels he would stay upright IF he was going in a straight line. Any type of turn, and he'd tip over. The wheels were on the ground like the should be, but instead of turning the handle of the bike, he'd lean as well (no matter how many times we said not to), and over he'd go.

My SIL had some luck with raising the training wheels about an inch or so UP -- they'd hit the wheels before tipping over but if they couldn't hear the wheels, it meant they were balancing. Tried that too -- DS tipped over! LOL Maybe I just have a tipsy kid.

We're giving it 3 days of the "try it yourself" -- and if that doesn't work, we'll get out a towel. I think if the bike were smaller, he'd be bumping his chin w/ his knees. His bike is small, we have seat raised up almost as high as it can go and he can still touch the ground, so I think it's a manageable size.

If at this time next week, no progress has been made, we'll be buying a scooter.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 6:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hey Teach--Look at this...
http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=688361

Combine the style of a scooter with the propulsion of a bike and you have the hybrid BoardRunner from Step Cycles.
It looks like the scooter, but you pedal it like a bicycle. What better way is there for a youngster to get around?


Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 7:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That looks REALLY hard to do! LOL

DS has made some progress -- he can coast down most of the driveway and has pedaled a bit, too. We think he's ready for a full size parking lot to really get the hang of it. He does seem to be doing better w/ the "do it yourself" method. :-)

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 7:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That's great news, Teach!!

Wapland
Member

08-01-2000

Monday, April 18, 2005 - 8:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Good morning Teach....for what its worth, my youngest son did not learn to drive a bicycle untill he was 11. It drove me crazy, parental expectations and all! When I just backed off, I guess it took the pressure off him, because in his own way, and own time frame he learned. Sounds like your son is following the same path. Good luck to both of you.

Fondly
Wappy

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Monday, April 18, 2005 - 1:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Wap :-) The frustration that started this whole thing truly wasn't the bike riding -- it was the "I quit because this is hard" attitude. Once he was willing to work on it for short bursts of time(alone or otherwise), my issue was over. He hasn't been on for a few days, so we may be back to square one, but I think he's finally realizing that some things don't just come easily. They have to be worked on. (Now -- think he'll remember that when he's a teenager! LOL)

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 5:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Could you all send good vibes to my DS? He has been actually "riding" a bike for about 1 1/2 weeks. This Friday, his class takes a 22 mile bike ride!! It's 11 miles on a trail to a nearby town; they stop on the way for a break & snack, eat pizza at a park in the town, then ride the 11 miles back to their school. So far, he's never ridden more than 3 miles. His principal and teacher are aware of his inexperience (and they all carry cell phones "just in case" a kid can't make it), so I'm not too worried about his physical safety. However, I'd really like to see him be able to make the entire trip -- it would be a huge accomplishment since he couldn't even stay upright less than a month ago. Anyway-- vibes, prayers, fortune cookies, whatever would be greatly appreciated. :-) Thanks!

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 5:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
YAY and good luck!!! I'l be thinking of him!!!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Monday, May 16, 2005 - 7:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You can do it! Enjoy yourself, LittleTeach!!! We are rooting for ya!