8 Top Reasons Why Every Kid Should Learn How To Ride A Bike
Cadel Evans believes that learning to ride a bike is an important skill that every child should learn. “Sure, there may be a few wobbles and scraped knees at first, but riding a bike is a skill that will stay with your child for life,” he says.
Bike riding is a skill that provides numerous advantages. While most of us are aware that regular cycling improves physical health, there are numerous other reasons why learning to ride a bike is more important than ever. Here are just a few examples.
It’s just plain fun
The simple things in life are sometimes the most rewarding. One of them is learning to ride a bike. Cycling is a fun and free activity that your child can enjoy with friends and family for the rest of their lives once they have a bike. “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride,” President John F. Kennedy famously said.
Keeps kids active physically
To stay healthy, the Australian Guidelines for Health recommend that children engage in at least one hour of vigorous physical activity per day. According to The Heart Foundation, up to 80% of Australian children do not meet these guidelines. Encourage your child to ride a bike while they are young to help them develop healthy exercise habits that will last a lifetime.
Improves children’s mental health and learning
Riding a bike benefits your child’s learning development and mental health in addition to physical fitness. According to studies, students who ride their bikes to school are more focused and ready to learn than those who drive. Regular physical activity has also been linked to increased happiness, as well as providing children with more opportunities to make social connections.
It is something that the entire family can enjoy together
Cycling is a sport that people of all ages can enjoy. A family bike ride can be enjoyed by mothers, fathers, children, and even grandparents. It’s a great way to spend some quality time together, and it’s also good for you. Remember that the most important aspect of family bike rides is to have fun. So start slowly and take frequent breaks to allow little riders to rest.
Environmentally friendly
Teaching your child to ride a bike has long-term environmental benefits. Cycling instead of driving reduces carbon emissions, relieves traffic congestion, and eliminates parking issues. With less pollution and traffic, our communities will become greener, healthier, and less stressful.
It’s an excellent mode of transportation
Cadel describes bicycles as “the ideal mode of transportation.” And he’s correct. Riding a bike becomes a quick and healthy way for your child to get to and from school, sporting events, and play activities as they get older. Even better, it saves you time because your child will no longer require lifts from you. That is a benefit that every parent can appreciate!
It helps in socializing
Kids want to spend time with their parents, grandparents, and other family members. Cycling with children is a great family leisure activity because they love to feel free while being with their loved ones. We simply need to find the best route for our children’s abilities and use various accessories to help them enjoy the ride, pedalling or not. There are chairs and trailers for the little ones, as well as tow ropes, tow bars, and tag along bikes for those who can pedal but are not physically or technically ready. Take baby steps: no one wants to get back on a bike if they have had difficulty riding from the start.
Builds respect and healthy competition
As a matter of fact, the vast majority of children are born with the competitive gene. It may be more or less obvious, but almost all of them enjoy competing and, of course, winning. Cycling is all about competition, a never-ending race. You can be angry if you lose and joyful if you win, but neither of these actions guarantees another victory. Cycling teaches you not only to compete, to win and lose, and to value victories and defeats, but it also encourages effort, perseverance, companionship, teamwork, and willpower.