My daughter, Lucia, is learning to ride a bicycle this year. We practice almost every day. After dinner, she asks me if we can go outside and go for a bike ride. I tell her, “Yes, of course we can!”
Safety First
When we first started, I told her the most important thing is to always be safe by wearing a helmet. Now she knows. So, while I get her bike from the porch and bring it outside to the sidewalk in front of our house, she gets her helmet and puts it on.
It is very difficult for Lucia to ride her bike. That’s why her bicycle has training wheels on it to help her balance. Training wheels are two wheels that attach to the sides of the main rear wheel. They make the bike more like a tricycle
I hold onto the handlebars and Lucia climbs onto the bike. Next, she puts her feet on the pedals and grabs the handlebar grips. I can see that Lucia has a serious look on her face. She is focused and ready to start riding.
She starts pedaling. I walk very closely behind her. She pedals slowly and carefully, and I can tell that she is nervous. Learning to ride a bicycle is scary at first. That’s because nobody wants to fall and get hurt. Lucia loves learning to ride, but she is also very scared by it. I tell her that it’s a natural feeling to be scared; everybody gets nervous when they do something that they are not used to.
Learning to ride a bicycle: Falling
Lucia trusts me a lot. I still have never let her fall over on her bicycle. I know that she also needs to learn how to fall. However, she doesn’t have much experience with riding, and I don’t want her to have a very bad experience this early. I also don’t want her to get hurt. When she gets a little older and a little better with the bicycle, I will let her fall by herself. If you ride a bike long enough, you will eventually fall. It’s important to know how to fall so that you don’t get injured. One day, Lucia can learn to fall on the grass.
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Questions
- How often does Lucia practice riding a bicycle?
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- Why is it important to wear a helmet?
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- What are training wheels? What do they do?
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- How does Lucia feel about riding a bicycle?
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- When will I let Lucia fall off her bike?
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Fill-in-the-blank
My daughter, Lucia, is learning to ride a bicycle this year. We practice almost every day. After dinner, she asks me if we can go outside and go for a bike ride. I tell her, “Yes, of course we can!”
Safety First
When we first _____________, I told her the most important thing is to always be _____________ by wearing a _____________. Now she knows. So, while I get her bike from the _____________ and bring it outside to the _____________ in front of our house, she gets her helmet and _____________ it on.
It is very _____________ for Lucia to ride her bike. That’s why her bicycle has _____________ wheels on it to help her _____________. Training wheels are two wheels that _____________ to the sides of the main rear wheel. They make the bike more like a _____________ (three wheeled bike). This gives her more ________________.
I hold onto the _____________ and Lucia _____________ onto the bike. Next, she puts her feet on the _____________ and grabs the _____________ grips. I can see that Lucia has a serious look on her face. She is _____________ and ready to start riding.
I walk very _____________ behind her. She starts _____________. She _____________ slowly and carefully, and I can tell that she is nervous. Learning to ride a bicycle is scary at first. That’s because nobody wants to _____________ and get hurt. Lucia loves learning to ride, but she is also very scared by it. I tell her that it’s a natural _____________ to be scared; everybody gets _____________ when they do something that they are not used to.
Learning to ride a bicycle: Falling
Lucia _____________ me a lot. I still have never let her fall over on her bicycle. I know that she also needs to _____________ how to fall. However, she doesn’t have much experience with riding, and I don’t want her to have a very bad _____________ this early. I also don’t want her to get _____________. When she gets a little older and a little better with the bicycle, I will let her fall by _____________. If you ride a bike long enough, you will _____________ fall. It’s important to know how to fall so that you don’t get _____________. One day, Lucia will learn this lesson. For today, I am her _____________ net.
Writing
Do you remember the last time you tried to do something for the first time? Write about that experience:
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