How to Teach Your Child to Ride a Bike: Occupational Therapy Strategies for Success

Springtime is here, and it’s the perfect season to help kids get outside and start riding their bikes! However, if your child is struggling to learn, you’re not alone. Many children face challenges with balance, coordination, and confidence when learning to ride. As an occupational therapist, I specialize in breaking down bike riding into manageable steps, so kids can master this skill with success. If you’re wondering how to help your child ride a bike without frustration, these proven OT strategies will give you the tools you need.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Faith and Function! 

Why Some Kids Struggle with Learning to Ride a Bike

Learning to ride a bike can be an exciting but challenging milestone for many children. While some kids take off quickly, others may face difficulties due to a variety of factors. Understanding these challenges can help parents and therapists better support them.

Many children find bike riding difficult due to challenges in:

• Balance & Postural Control – Keeping the body stable while in motion
• Core & Leg Strength – Supporting the body and pushing the pedals
• Bilateral Coordination – Moving both legs and arms in sync
• Hand Strength & Grip – Controlling the handlebars and brakes
• Spatial Awareness – Navigating obstacles and steering effectively
• Anxiety & Fear of Falling – Some kids experience anxiety about losing balance, which can make them hesitant to try new movements or resist bike riding altogether

If your child struggles in any of these areas, incorporating pre-bike exercises can make a world of difference!

Step 1: Build Balance & Coordination Before Getting on the Bike

Balance Exercises:

- Walk across a balance beam or stepping stones to develop stability.
- Try standing on one foot to improve single-leg balance.
- Play “freeze” on a wobble board to challenge core stability.
➡️ Recommended product: Balance Beam for Kids – Click Here

Coordination Exercises:

• Cross-body activities like standing or lying down cross crawls help the brain connect movement patterns.
• Scooter riding through cones teaches steering and spatial awareness.
• Animal Walks like frog bear crawls improve coordination for pedaling and steering.
  ➡️ Recommended product: Kids’ Scooter with Hand Breaks– Click Here
   
  Step 2: Strengthen Muscles Needed for Biking
  
  Core & Leg Strength:
  
  
• Sit-ups on a therapy ball help with postural endurance while riding
• Frog jumps strengthen legs for pushing the pedals.
• Pedaling a stationary arm bike with feet builds endurance before transitioning to a real bike.
  ➡️ Recommended product: Therapy Ball for Kids – Click Here
  
  

  

  
  
  Hand Strength for Steering & Braking:
  
  
• Theraputty exercises help improve grip strength.
• Squeezing stress balls mimics holding the handlebars.
  ➡️ Recommended product: Theraputty for Kids – Click Here
   
  Step 3: Bike-Readiness Drills
  
  Once your child has built foundational strength and coordination, it’s time to get them comfortable on the bike. Here’s how to help:

Start with Balance First:

• If possible, use a balance bike (or remove pedals from a regular bike) to let your child glide with their feet.
• Encourage feet up, feet down drills to help them get used to lifting their legs.
  ➡️ Recommended product: Best Balance Bike for Kids – Click Here
  
  Gliding for Confidence:
  
  
• Teach your child to push off and glide for a few seconds before stopping.
• Once they master gliding, introduce short bursts of pedaling.

Visual Motor Skills: Looking Ahead, Not Down

• Encourage your child to keep their eyes forward, not on their feet or the ground.
• Coordinating vision with movement is essential for navigating obstacles, steering, and maintaining balance. When kids look ahead, their brain processes space, speed, and direction more efficiently, which improves overall control and safety.
• Developing visual motor integration helps children align what they see with how their body moves—an essential part of learning to ride.
  ➡️ Recommended product: Cones to navigate obstacles – Click Here 

Step 4: Transition to Riding Without Training Wheels
Once your child is comfortable balancing and gliding, introduce full pedaling:

• Find a Safe Practice Space: A grassy field or an empty parking lot works best.
• Use Verbal Cues: Say “Push, push, glide!” to reinforce movement patterns.
• Stay Close: Walk alongside your child, providing encouragement and slight stability as needed.
• Encourage Small Successes: Celebrate every little victory to keep confidence high!
  ➡️ Recommended product: Kids’ Helmet for Safety – Click Here 

Final Thoughts: Every Child Learns at Their Own Pace

Some children take off quickly, while others need extra time to master biking. Be patient and focus on progress over perfection!

Key Takeaway: If your child struggles with bike riding, focus on building strength, coordination, and balance first. With these occupational therapy strategies, they’ll be pedaling with confidence in no time!

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 Recommended Tools for Success! 

Want to make bike riding easier for your child? Check out these highly recommended tools:

• Best Balance Bike for Kids – Click Here
• Therapy Ball for Core Strength – Click Here
• Scooter for Spatial Awareness – Click Here
• Theraputty for Hand Strength – Click Here
• Kids’ Helmet for Safety – Click Here
• Balance Kit for stability- Click Here
• Cones to navigate obstacles – Click Here 

By incorporating these tools, you can help your child build confidence and develop the skills they need to ride successfully!

Hi, I’m Alicia Clark, a licensed pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Faith and Function. With over 18 years of experience, I’ve helped children build the motor, sensory, and developmental skills they need to succeed in everyday activities—like riding a bike. I’m passionate about supporting families through practical, movement-based strategies that improve balance, coordination, and confidence. Whether I’m working with parents, educators, or therapists, my goal is always the same: to make progress feel possible and fun 💜!