[blparent] Big Girl Bike

Tue Apr 10 17:10:50 UTC 2012

Those are both awesome options. If a child develops good balance they will
do better in life all around including academics. Both sides of the brain
learn to work together when a child is actively engaging both sides of the
body. 

"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is
a spark." 
- Victor Hugo 

Brandy Wojcik  Discovery Toys Educational Consultant and Team leader
(512) 689-5045
www.playtoachieve.com
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Read my new blog at www.playtoachieveballstobooks.wordpress.com

Looking forward to helping you with your educational toy needs!

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Erin Rumer
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 12:30 PM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] Big Girl Bike

I have been researching bikes a lot lately for our son Dawson because I too
want something that he can grow with and will help teach him coordination
and balance.  In looking at posts on-line and talking with lots of other
moms at play groups I am really becoming sold on the ballence bikes that
kids can start riding at 18 months and continue riding up to age 6 if you
get the right kinds.  These are two wheel bikes that have thicker tires and
a limited turn radius to prevent falling.  The whole idea behind these bikes
is to reinforce balance right away and because the kids push with their
feet, they don't have to worry about learning how to peddle right away.
Research is showing that kids that start out with balance bikes usually
never need training wheels when they move to a real bike because they've
mastered balance and coordination early on.  When we were living in Tucson
we had a neighbor who's 2.5 year old was proficient on her balance bike and
when we asked the parents how they've liked it, they said it was one of the
best purchases they've ever made.  They can come with hand breaks for when
kids get a little older but we saw this 2 year old already using hers which
was impressive.  Parents have told me that there are a few more falls at
first since it's not a tricycle, but if the kids are wearing the proper
protection gear on top of parents being right there, they'll be just fine.
My husband and I definitely want to get the most for our money so we're
really thinking this is the avenue we'll go.  The only other option we've
really considered is the Radio Flier tricycle with the push handle and
adjustable height seat.

Erin

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 9:11 AM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Big Girl Bike

Thanks.  These suggestions are helpful.  Sarah pedals the tricycle when the
ground is flat, but she tends to put her feet down and push if there are
small dips or hills.  This wouldn't be an option with the bike.  I'm leaning
toward leaving the bike in the garage for another year.  The tricycle wasn't
the best investment I ever made because it won't fit Sarah for too long,
maybe just this summer, but fortunately I got a good deal on it.

Jo Elizabeth

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of
the weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of
these."--George Washington Carver, 1864-1943, American scientist

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Melissa Ann Riccobono" <melissa at riccobono.us>
Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 9:51 AM
To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [blparent] Big Girl Bike

> Hello Jo Elizabeth and list,
> I think it totally depends on Sarah's coordination and ability to 
> handle the bike, as well as how the bike fits her height.  We actually 
> bought Austin a two wheeler with training wheels when he was almost 
> 3.5.  We did this mostly because the tricycles we saw seemed as if he 
> would outgrow them very quickly, and we didn't want to invest in 
> something he would just ride for a little while and then be too big 
> for.  The bike we got had an adjustable seat, so we knew it would last 
> him for at least a couple of years.  It was his first experience 
> pedaling a bike.  He had a truck that he just pushed with his feet, 
> and pedaling proved pretty challenging for him.  The bike we got has 
> foot brakes.  This is great because the child doesn't have to remember 
> to push the hand brake to stop, but not so great because Austin kept 
> trying to pedal backwards, and of course he wouldn't go anywhere and 
> he would get frustrated.  We tried riding the bike on and off for the 
> summer he was three, then again on and off the next summer, but it has 
> only been recently that he has really mastered the art of pedaling and 
> is really enjoying riding his bike.  If Sarah doesn't have any trouble 
> pedaling and steering her tricycle, and the bike fits her well, and it 
> has training wheels, then I'd say give it a try.  But, there is 
> probably no harm in letting it stay in the garage for another year if 
> she is happy with the tricycle she has...  Again, this is completely 
> your call.  I've all ready told Austin I'd like him to have a few 
> months really getting used to his bike the way it is before we try to 
> take the training wheels off.  He is fine with that arrangement, at 
> least for now.
> Melissa
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
> Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 11:41 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
> Subject: [blparent] Big Girl Bike
>
> Hi.  For those of you with older kids, when did they start riding a 
> two-wheeled bike with training wheels?  Sarah got a Dora tricycle for 
> her birthday, and she's happy with that for now, but we were given a 
> two-wheeler from someone at church.  Another girl in the neighborhood 
> has a two-wheeler, and she's about six months older than Sarah, but 
> she was riding it last summer.  Am I being overprotective to think I 
> should keep the two-wheeled bike in the garage for another year?
>
> Jo Elizabeth
>
> "How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, 
> compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and 
> tolerant of the weak and the strong.  Because someday in life you will 
> have been all of these."--George Washington Carver, 1864-1943, 
> American scientist _______________________________________________
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