Imagup General Magazine 2024
A tricycle is an attractive play item for your toddler especially if your child is at the right age. Buy them a tricycle earlier and it could present a huge physical risk. Parents need to find out what is the right age to ride three-wheelers when they have the coordination to pedal and control.
There are different types of tricycles for toddlers and young children depending on age. At the lowest level, there are tricycles that have parent handlebars to help steer and control it while the kid sits or pedals. Experts at netparents.org recommend that toddlers as young as 12 months can ride the three-wheelers with parent handlebars. They are considered better alternatives to strollers since they help your child develop and improve their motor skills.
From the ages of 18 months, most toddlers will have adequately developed motor skills to learn how to pedal on a trike. Teaching them how to pedaling will aid in strengthening their leg muscles and in acquiring improved coordination. The ages between two and four years are considered tricycle age since a kid can now pedal on their own having developed enough muscle and good coordination.
Getting a trike at the right age will help your child enjoy it and derive benefits of regular exercise such as muscle strength and coordination. The following factors will help parents determine the recommended age for three-wheeler riding.
Height of the Child
Ensure that the kid is tall enough to comfortably sit and reach the pedals. The toddler will not enjoy riding the trike if they have to stretch and strain to reach the pedals. For them, perhaps, a baby walker is a preferable option, so make sure you check reviews here. Additionally, the child’s feet must touch the ground when seated on the tricycle. Keep in mind that braking and stopping the three-wheeler involves the feet touching the ground. If the child can’t plant their feet on the ground, they will find it hard to stop the tricycle and will be at high risk of falling and suffering injuries.
Physical Strength
Riding a tricycle is strenuous since it involves physical strength. Parents should make a good assessment of whether a kid has the necessary strength to control and pedal a bike. Physical development is closely associated with a child’s age. However, children have varying rates of growth with some reaching their milestones later. Every kid is unique and should be evaluated independently to arrive at what age can a toddler ride a trike dependent on physical ability.
Good Balance and Coordination
Riding a tricycle demands some level of balance and coordination contrary to popular belief that it is easy and straightforward. Your kid must have good body balance and coordination to allow them to get on and off the trike without having to fall. Enough balance allows them to stay upright and stable when riding.
A good point to start is the ability of the child to walk and run confidently to know the tricycle age range. Coordination between body and mind will help with spatial awareness among other skills required to ride a tricycle. Proper coordination ensures a good ability to pedal and maneuver away and around obstacles even at speed. Tricycles offer a great chance to transition to a bike since your child will have learned to pedal and minor aspects of balance.
Size and Type of Tricycle
Parents must search and find an appropriate type of tricycle and one that is well fitted to the height and age of your toddler. Select the one that has good, strong and stable frame design and that has a wide base for increased stability. The lower seating position and stability make it highly unlikely for the tricycle to tip over.
The size of the trike should correspond to the height of your kid or age to ride tricycles. A well-fitted tricycle should be one that the child comfortably reaches the pedal without straining when seated. They should also be able to comfortably grip on the handlebars without leaning forward.
Riding a Tricycle
Parents are required to assist children of the recommended age for a tricycle to learn how to ride a trike. Start by finding a safe and flat area to begin training such as a play area, a local park or another appropriate area.
Safety should always be a major consideration even as you bring to train your child how to ride a tricycle. Always ensure that the toddler wears a well-fitting helmet and long-sleeved tops and trousers to avoid scraping or minor injuries. Other safety gear includes elbow and knee pads that will protect them in case of an accidental fall.
Begin training by allowing the kid to have a go with the bike while standing about 10 meters away. Let them have their feet planted on the ground on either side of the trike and push forward using their feet. They will scoot to cover the short distance to reach you and build their confidence to try out longer distances.
Ensure that they are looking up rather than down at their feet to travel in a straight line. Once the child is comfortable covering the straight distance, introduce them to steering and cornering by standing off the straight line and later having an obstacle course.
Finally, the child can start pedaling to propel themselves once they are confident in their steering on the three-wheeler. Pushing against the pedal is not very easy for toddlers within the trike age range. Demonstrate how to pedal and how the pedals move so that the child grasps how it works.
Have them sit on the tricycle and place their feet on the pedals and use your hands to push their feet to rotate the pedals. The demonstration serves to show the kid how the trike moves. Pedaling is a skill that will serve them well in the future.
In conclusion, buying your kid their first trike once they reach the bike age is exciting for both parent and child. The tricycle will help develop motor skills and form good safety habits in your toddler as they grow up and graduate to big bikes.
