Safety First

The most important cycling safety rule is always wearing a helmet, and it's the first thing about bicycling to teach your child. Get them in the habit of putting on their helmet before riding so that the act is as natural as using the seatbelt in the car. Be sure to show them how to put the helmet on so that it sits squarely and snugly on their head. And, let them know how good it looks. If you're riding with them, put your helmet on, too, to reinforce the message that all cyclists wear helmets.

It's best to teach kids to ride where it's completely safe (no traffic) and where there are few distractions. A sidewalk with grass on both sides, such as you'll often find in a park or housing development, works nicely. Go there early before the crowds arrive, though, so you're not dealing with skaters, dogs and other hazards. The good thing about a path like this is that if your child weaves off the cement, she'll quickly stop on the soft grass. And, if she happens to fall, there's a good chance that it'll be a soft landing. Pick a section that's fairly straight and flat. While a little downward slope can help kids learn to pedal and balance, you definitely don't want anything too steep because it'll cause the bike to roll on its own, which is scary.

Check The Adjustment

When you picked out the bike, you got a model that fit your child. Now it's time to make sure that the seat and handlebars are adjusted to fit correctly.
The seat height should allow the child to rest both feet comfortably on the ground. This lets them use their feet for control and confidence. So, don't raise the seat too far. If the bike is equipped with training wheels, the seat can be slightly higher because the trainers will hold the bike upright. But, listen to your child if they tell you that it feels too high, and lower it until they're comfortable.

The handlebars should be close enough to the child so that they can easily be reached. Otherwise, the action of steering the bike will pull them forward and off the seat, which could cause a loss of control. On most bikes, the bars can be raised and rotated to improve the fit. It's important to get these adjustments right so that your child feels comfortable and safe when learning to ride. If the seat's too high or the bars are too far away, your child could lose control and fall over, which could give them a scare and slow the learning process. If you're not sure how to adjust things, bring the bicycle and your child back to the shop where you purchased the bike and ask for help.