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Free Wheeling
Bikes, Trikes, Skates and Boards Equal Family Fitness Fun!
By Krissi Danielsson
When the weather is right, thousands of families like the Drapers of Oakdale, Calif., use wheels for fun. "My husband got us involved in biking," says Traci Amor Draper. "We all enjoy it very much."
Wheels provide a number of great family activities, but it's important to pick the right activity for your child's age and to observe safety regulations.
Tricycles are the best choice for children younger than 5 or 6. Preschoolers lack the balance skills necessary for two-wheeled bikes. Choose a stable, sturdy trike from your bike shop to introduce your child to biking.
If you think kids on tricycles are too young for helmets, think again. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, even preschoolers on trikes need helmets. In a nationwide survey of bicycle injuries, children under 5 accounted for 5 percent of hospitalizations. Only 3 percent of those children were wearing helmets when the injury occurred. Wearing helmets prevents injuries and establishes a healthy habit for later progression to a two-wheeled bike. In addition to a helmet, a child using a trike should always be supervised by an adult and should not be allowed to ride near busy streets.
Most children are ready to try a bicycle somewhere between the ages of 5 and 7. When choosing your child's first bike, Trudy E. Bell, author of Bicycling With Children: A Complete How-To Guide (Mountaineers Books, 1999), advises choosing a bike shop instead of a department store.
"Some toy-store toddler bicycles are marketed as 'two-wheeled toys' to exempt them from stringent federal regulations for bicycles," she says. These bikes may not have reflectors or brakes, and they may be heavier and harder to balance – sometimes equaling 1/3 to 1/2 of a child's weight. Bike stores will have higher quality bikes that are worth the extra money.
Bell advises skipping training wheels. "Kids learn to use training wheels as though it's a tricycle," she says. "A tricycle is not a natural transition to a bike." A scooter is a better practice tool for a child learning to balance.