How We Taught Cycling for Advaith

Cycling is a good exercise and a leisure skill for our kids. Also, outdoor activities help them to reduce anxiety and stress. In this way of teaching, we don’t want to run behind the cycle because balancing wheels are supporting, and we can easily fade the supporting wheels to make the child independent in cycling. Consistent practice is very important to achieve this skill.

Step 1 - Pedalling in forward direction

We started with exercise cycle in OT class and in Gym for teaching him pedalling. Before he used to do backward pedalling. Initially we gave physical prompt to do forward pedalling (we were slightly pushing his knees in the forward direction) and practiced it consistently. After few weeks we started with kids bicycle with balancing wheels on both sides. (this should keep cycle up-straight- all rear wheels touching the ground.). At that time, we focused only on the pedalling in right direction. You can keep the cycle stationary and ask the child to pedal forward.

Step 2 – Achieving forward pedalling

Then I was giving a little push so that the cycle moves forward and encouraged him to do forward pedalling. First few days Advaith was not getting handle-balance so we helped him steering the handle. This is because for most of our children can concentrate only on one action. So, in this stage also we were focusing only on the right way of pedalling. When he got the pedalling proper, we reduced our prompt to push the cycle

Step 3 - Handle balance

When we practiced the above steps consistently, he started cycling fast and he got the control over the handle and achieved handle-balance.

In these 3 steps he was using kids bicycle with balancing wheels on both sides. (this should keep cycle up-straight- all 3 rear wheels touching the ground.) When I was taking him once or twice in a week for cycling he was not showing any interest and he was not moving to next level. Then I decided to practice cycling with him daily. That consistency helped him to cycle fast with good handle balance and he started turning his cycle in the curves.

https://youtu.be/MdsTEiMJ-3U

To make this activity interesting, Adhithya was riding scooty along with Advaith.

Step 4 - Improving the cycle balance by fading prompts of side wheels

When Advaith was cycling fast with balance wheels, we decided to fade the help of balance wheel. So, we lifted up balancing wheels on both sides by half an inch. This helped him to attain more balance. when he was very comfortable with that, we again lifted the side wheels by another half inch. This was repeated till he achieved full cycle balance. After some time, we noticed that the side wheels are not at all touching the ground during his cycling and then we removed the balancing wheels and arrange the height of the cycle so that his leg was touching the ground properly.

When we removed the balancing wheels, it was hard for him to start cycling by himself. so, we stood behind him and gave him physical prompt by holding the cycle during starting with a light push. Within few days he was able to cycle independently then we taught him how to stop the cycle when vehicles are coming (we used to practice in our parking lot).

At this stage he was able to cycle fast independently without supporting wheels, and he started enjoying cycling.

https://youtu.be/htmpmRt9KO0

Step 5 - Shifting to Adult cycle

We again brought back the 2 supporting wheels in the new adult cycle as it is too big for him.

In the new cycle he wanted help for starting, stopping and turning. So, we gave physical prompts in the beginning and slowly fade it. Consistent practice helped him to achieve all that. Again, we repeated step 3 and 4 to get more balance with the big cycle and then we removed supporting wheels. In this video you can see how we are training him to ride big cycle.

https://youtu.be/OxqyTUGcZjg

After removing supporting wheels gave some prompts to start cycling and then fade that prompts. Now Advaith is fully independent in adult cycle too.

https://youtu.be/tFXzwl5HHOU

We are practicing in the basement parking lot and so lights are not bright in the videos. I hope you all can understand each step.

Regards

Smrithy