S/O Bikes and 2 year olds, help

[dancermommy1]

DS has a tricycle with a push handle. I REALLY want the kid to learn how to peddle the thing so we can go up to the cul-de-sac and let him work off some energy. He loves to see other people on bikes, and he talks about bikes... but for some reason when he gets on his tricycle, even though he can *FINALLY* reach the peddles to push them all the way, he shows less than zero interest in actually learning how to ride it and doing it himself.

I'm at a loss, really. I feel like if he realized the freedom it would give him, that he would love it....but he won't even TRY it!! He can actually peddle one or two times and make it move forward, then he just gets out and pushes it with the handle or asks to go home.

I'd love to get him a balance bike, but even the shortest ones are too tall for him. He inherited my long torso and short legs. He tries to ride "bikes" in the toy store, too, and acts excited by them. But, not his tricycle. It's very frustrating!

Any tips or suggestions for getting him interested and getting him going on it? FWIW, he really doesn't play much on ride-on toys, either.

[stevensmom]

A tricycle puts your legs at a different angle than a bike. Making it hard for some kids to pedal like that.

You could try taking the pedals off and have him "flinstone" it.

**I do know how to spell...my iPod on the other hand does not**

[doodah]

If he really doesnt like peddling, there is nothing you can do to get him going. My oldest did a bike with training wheels and a scooter at age 2. But the middle one is still not doing well on a tricycle and she is turning 3 this week. If they dont like it or they dont get, not much you can do about that.

if you are up to trying something new, maybe a big wheel would be an option for him?

[Done at 3]

My son loves his strider prebike balance bike, he flies on that thing. He is very short and fits it well. He just turned 3 and his legs are just shy of 14" at his inseam.

[blackbirdmama*3]

My dd didn't start peddling until she was closer to 3 and then it was backwards for like 6 months lol

[mommycass]

My DS wasn't interested in bikes much. It broke DHs heart(he had no training wheels at 3, competed in BMX and motorcross). We got DS a mongoose with training wheels, 12" I think, when he was 3. He got it down pretty good but didn't like going far. On walks I would usually end up with it under the stroller. He was 7 when he learned to ride with no training wheels. But now hes 8 and enjoys riding Sometimes its takes awhile to find an interest in it I guess?!

[EmilytheStrange]

DD is almost 22 months and pedals. Sorta. If I'm pushing the tricycle, she keeps her feet on the pedals and they go round and round. If I stop, she's not really pushing, so her feet stop as well. Although someone had a tricycle in the grass at the park today and she got on and tried to pedal. It was in grass, so it didn't go anywhere.

I have heard a lot of people say that their children never pedalled their tricycle, but took really easily to a bike. So, I'd say that you should try a bike.

On the flip side, you could try a 3-wheeled scooter. I have been considering buying DD one. They can't fall over (as easily) and the action to get them going is pretty easy.

[Liadan23]

i don't feel like pedaling is necessarily something you can teach, eventually they just get it. ds got a tricycle for his 2nd birthday, and he used his feet to scoot himself around for the next 6 months. we tried repeatedly to show him how to use the pedals, but he just....didnt' get it and didn't want to try. and then, i dunno, one day, he just did. for whatever reason, he just put his feet up on the pedals and started pedaling. now he's tricycling fiend. he rides that trike everywhere, and he's remarkably good at it, he can easily do a 3-point turn if he gets stuck in a corner, maneuvers around cars in the driveway (there is not much space to get out, but he's never hit a car) and is just all around really good at it. he'd spend most of his day riding circles and figure-8s in our driveway if we let him. it looks like your ds is just barely 2, he make just not be quite ready to pedal yet. give it a few months, let him keep playing on the trike, eventually, he'll get the idea.