The first and most important thing you can do to get your kids excited about cycling is to introduce them to it when they are young. If you want to start introducing your child to cycling, then you need to be persistent. Cycling can be a fun way for parents to get their kids active and healthy, but if you’re trying to convince a child this is the case, it’s not always easy. The good news is that there are plenty of techniques you can use to get kids excited about cycling. Here are ways you can do just that.
How To Get Kids Excited About Cycling
How about setting the scene for them before you go? Let them get excited about the adventure they are about to have.
You could choose easy bike rides where you know you can stop along the way for breaks and let them play for a bit. So, if you set the scene before you leave, they will be more likely to get excited about their upcoming bike adventure.
For example, stopping by a forest to build a den or find a stick that looks like a sword or wand. It is sometimes these simple things that gain their interest and keep them wanting to cycle to the end.
Find friends to ride with
If where you live is safe and mostly traffic-free, allowing your kids outside on their bikes with their friends is a great way for them to enjoy cycling. As they will be cycling slower, they can learn new skills. If they have the correct bike, they could set up ramps and courses to practice their new skills with their friends.
Inviting their friends along for a bike ride with you will also mean your kids will be much more enthusiastic about going out on their bikes as their friends will be along for the ride with them.
Taking your kids to bike events like races will get them excited about the sport
There are lots of different bike events up and down the country. From road bike races to cyclocross or even heading to see a cycling event at a Velodrome. Children will love the thrill of the riders racing past them and seeing a bike event in person could spark their enthusiasm for the sport.
Tell your children cycling is good for their health and the environment
Cycling is a good way to keep your kids healthy and it’s also good for the environment. It’s better for your children to cycle to school than to take the car, and it’s better for the environment too.
If you can’t or don’t want to buy a bike now, consider what kids actually do anyway. You could start by getting your kids to scoot to school or go on a skateboard and work your way up to cycling there.
Once they learn more about the benefits of exercise, they will be more likely to seek it out as a successful way to change themselves.
Ride with your children for charity to teach them about helping others
If you set an example, then kids usually learn by what they see and hear. Ride with your children for charity and you can teach them about helping others in need while keeping active at the same time. The sense of achievement your child will have from participating in such an event may just spark their inner joy for cycling.
Cycling has lots of benefits for a young child, from improved cognitive skills to reducing the risk of obesity and asthma. Sharing the experience with your child can increase their enthusiasm. And once they have had a taste of it, they can get hooked on the fun more easily. Make it as fun as you can and see the smiles on their faces.
What other ways do you know which could get kids to enjoy cycling? Let us know in the comments below.
Really helpful information for all parents. Thanks!
I think that biking for kids is usually a social activity, so biking with friends is probably one of the biggest. Some kids may find it discouraging if they can’t ride their bike as well as others though, so giving them many chances to practice their skills is important. Maybe in a low-structure environment with a regular frequency or structured bicycle classes (usually free, offered by local bike coalitions)
We’ve stumbled across a bike race before, and it was really fun to watch. So in our experience that has helped as well.