Daughter terrified of biking

[Dave L]

My daughter 3 is now terrified of biking. She got a new bike that she picked out for her birthday and has successfully ridden it a number of times and really had a lot of fun. Unfortunately our house is on a slightly hilly street and she got going to fast one day and crashed onto the grass. She was fine and not hurt at all but she is now absolutely terrified of riding the bike. She will sit on it but to put both feet on the pedals simply isn't going to happen. I took her to the park today where its dead flat and she still wouldn't even try. I reassured her, told her she wouldn't fall, told her I wouldn't let go but there was no convincing her. My wife has also tried but its no use.

She is normally a dare devil and has fun skiing or climbing but it seems that this bike "accident" really has got a hold of her. Any advice??

[Rot 911]

Just leave it alone for awhile. Trying to get her to ride now is just reminding her of the accident. You can't rationalize with a child of 3. She will eventually forget about it and want to ride the bike again.

[TerryH]

I agree with Kurt. Right now any pressure to ride will cause more trauma. Left alone it should just go away....

[nostatic]

put the bike away until she asks about it.

[Dave L]

Okay, I always thought it was best to get right back on but I will take your advice. The bike will stay in the garage untill she decides to take it out.

[HardDrive]

We had exactly the same thing happen. I found this product on E-bay, and it has been a god send. I can walk behind her and keep her speed down on hills, and give her a push up if she is feeling lazy.

The handle is very well made.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Push-me-Home-Parents-push-handle-for-childrens-bikes_W0QQitemZ150238718336QQihZ005QQcategoryZ6464 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[mikester]

Yep, same situation with my three year old. He is very good on the bike, extremely good actually but he will not ride it at our house which is on a hill due to a similar incident. His first bike had no brake and he got going down the hill and couldn't stop. He almost hit a parked car in a driveway but we stopped him in time (just).

Obviously it scared him, we got him a new bike for his birthday with a coaster brake and a hand brake. He rides the heck out of it at the park but won't even get near it at home (the hill). We just leave it alone now - no point in pushing it. The kids that are out there riding every day will eventually draw him to it.

[slodave]

I ate pavement on my Snoopy bike. Parents are on a hill. I figured I could roll down the hill, turn left into the driveway without brakes - nope! Blood all over the road, stitches in my upper lip. Wasn't long before I was back on the thing.

[svandamme]

time for a Harley

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

We had exactly the same thing happen. I found this product on E-bay, and it has been a god send. I can walk behind her and keep her speed down on hills, and give her a push up if she is feeling lazy.

The handle is very well made.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Push-me-Home-Parents-push-handle-for-childrens-bikes_W0QQitemZ150238718336QQihZ005QQcategoryZ6464 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A laziness enabler. How interesting. It should be shaped like a crutch though.

[sketchers356]

Maybe if she sees how cool it is when you ride your bike?

[Dave L]

I do ride, and I have my son who is 5 show her how he can stop on his bike. At this point she is just to affraid and I will give it some time. Hopefully she will come around and start riding again soon.

[Seahawk]

She's three, Dave...I am frankly impressed she is on two wheels.

To quote Arnold, "she'll be back".

[Dave L]

shes on training wheels, lets not get ahead of ourselves

[unimog406]

I once worked with an engineer who was teaching a class in innovation
they came out with this
http://www.thegyrobike.com/
I've seen this thing in the flesh, and it is truly incredible to watch these kids make it work on two wheels. The engineering and build quality is very impressive as well...

[unimog406]

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Dave L

shes on training wheels, lets not get ahead of ourselves

Oh, well, then: I'd throw a rope over her handlebars, tie the rope to the bumper of my truck and launch

The fact that you guys are out with the kids is great. She'll be ready when she's ready. Have fun...the early years with kids are incredible

[911pcars]

How about an Adam's Trail-A-Bike or equivalent? Youngster rides on a back half of a bike that's attached to your bike. You're in front. You pedal, she pedals or is on for the ride. You stop, she stops. All you have to do is not fall off.

Do this for awhile until she poses the question.

MHO,
Sherwood

[Porsche-O-Phile]

At least she didn't hit a coyote.

Won't someone please think of the coyotes?

[tiwebber]

My son used one of these http://www.amazon.com/Kettler-8718-000-Sprint-Balance-Bike/dp/B0006GBD0O . Great for getting balance sorted.