Striders, Trikes, Bikes; oh my!

Remember the joy of hopping on your bike as a kid and fearlessly pedaling to go fast? Learning to ride a strider, trike or bike is an important milestone in every child’s life.

Our Pediatric Physical Therapists provide guidance on when to introduce specific bike riding skills for toddlers and kids.

Riding a bike can help develop skills for:  

  • Strengthening legs, arms, and core 

  • Balance 

  • Visual-motor skills 

  • Coordination 

Chatterbox Physical Therapist’s Age Recommendations for Skill Introduction

Please note, these are approximate and can be affected by many factors including a child’s size, access to equipment, your family’s familiarity with bike riding, and access to bike-friendly terrain.

Propel push toy without pedals: 18-24 months 

Tricycle: 2 - 4 years old 

Strider bike: 2 – 5 years old 

Bike with training wheels: 5 – 7 years 

Bike with no training wheels: 6+ years old 

How Can Chatterbox Help?

Our Pediatric Physical Therapists have specialized training to help support your child develop the necessary skills to be a successful bike rider—plus they have all of the kid sized equipment to practice their skills during therapy sessions. If you are worried that your child’s skills are below where they should be, chat with us about how we can help!

More Resources:

Bike Riding Benefits for Kids with Special Needs

More Benefits of Bike Riding for the Entire Family