Cycling is one of those fun, healthy, and low impact activities. You can start cycling with your toddler when they are at least one year old. Currently, there are bikes that are designed for people who want to cycle with their babies. If you are interested in cycling with your toddler, the only thing you need to do is to get a bike seat or trailer where your child can sit while you ride.

For slightly older children, you can start to teach them how to cycle. You should know that children begin to cycle at the age of three and once they learn, they become unstoppable. In the training process, you can get them elbow pads for toddlers to protect their elbows from fractures when they fall off the bike. The pads will also protect the babies from the soreness that comes from cycling injuries that they may encounter. At around age five, you can start involving them in family cycling sessions. Even at that age, it is essential to have them wear elbow pads.

Often, children enjoy cycling because it makes them feel independent. But some children do not fancy cycling at all. So, how do you make these fearful young ones start biking? Here are tips on how to:

Tip 1: You can start by helping them balance on the bike
Tip 2: Identify an open place preferably not one with grass
Tip 3: Ensure that you set the appropriate saddle height
Tip 4: Hold the toddler from behind and let the bike move freely
Tip 5: Once they learn to place, let the pedal slowly while you hold them from behind

When you get them cycling, you can now plan those family cycling activities that you have been dying to have. But, what are the benefits of cycling? This article provides you with numerous advantages of cycling with your children:

Benefits Of Cycling For Children And Families

#1 Make them develop a fitness culture

Fitness is something that you cultivate when children are still young. When you get them cycling over the weekends and for fun around the alley, you get them interested in keeping fit. In the years to come, they will not find it difficult to keep fit because you will have instilled a fitness culture in them.

#2 Cycling keeps children active

When you do not get your kids out of the house, they end up spending a lot of time on virtual games. Gaming is an example of a sedentary activity which makes children lazy and inactive. Such behavior can make children develop medical conditions such as obesity which in turn causes diabetes complications. Cycling is one of the activities that can help your children stay active, reduce excess weight, and minimize their chances of becoming overweight.

#3 Energies them

There are numerous benefits of getting your children outdoors. For instance, they become exposed to Vitamin D which strengthens their bones preventing them from developing medical conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia. It is also a chance to get them to explore the outdoors and learn about the environment. Studies have shown that children who exercise often are active in school and perform better in academics.

#4 Promotes confidence

Emotional wellness is very important in children. Cycling is one of those activities that help boost confidence in your children. Once they learn how to cycle, they start to go out biking alone and become more independent. Confident children can motivate themselves, take on new challenges, and quickly learn from their mistakes when they fail.

#5 Strengthen the family bond

When you get your children to cycle with you, you give them a chance to create fun memories which makes them very happy. Apart from the excitement of being out with their family, they also get to develop a strong relationship with you such that they regulate stress when they encounter a difficult relationship. Additionally, they also develop mental, emotional and stability throughout their childhood.

#6 Strengthen cardiovascular muscles

Cycling helps put to work the leg muscles. Get your young one an electric bike in case he or she isn’t strong enough to peddle on their own. E-bikes are pedal assisted to eliminate all entry barriers to cycling. If you want to ultimately opt for an electric or motorized bike for your kid, make sure you are all well informed and prepared.

While biking strengthens the muscles in the lower body, the heart rate also increases as one cycles. This accelerated heart rate makes the body develop stamina. At the same time, it improves the heart muscles enabling your baby to avert cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusion

Cycling is one of the few exercises that you can get your whole family involved at. The trick to getting everyone involved in cycling is starting to train the children when they are still young. While it keeps you all fit, it also promotes health and wellness for your family.