Pushing And Pedalling: Toddler Development - BabyCentre UK

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1. Toddler /
2. Toddler development

Pushing and pedalling: toddler developmentMedically reviewed by Jill Irving RN (Adult) RN (Child) RM (Lapsed), Health visitorWritten by The BabyCentre UK Editorial TeamPhoto credit: BabyCenterOnce your toddler learns that her legs are the key to getting moving, she'll love using them to get around on her own set of wheels.

When will my toddler be able to use a ride-on toy?

Your toddler will need to be a confident walker before she can use this sort of toy. When she's ready, start her off with a toy that's low enough to the ground for her to push it along with her feet. A ride-on toy usually has four wheels and handles that are easy to grip. Once your toddler's got the hang of using both her feet to push the toy forward, she will move on to alternating feet. She'll soon learn that this can make her go faster! Advertisement | page continues below Once she's confident on a four-wheeler, she can progress to a balance bike. This has just two wheels, and no stabilisers. It's low enough for your toddler to plant her feet firmly on the ground. Your toddler can push the bike forward with her feet or you can push her along from behind. As she gains confidence, she'll get the hang of how to balance on the bike (DH nd). When she's about three years old, your toddler may be ready to try pedalling on a three-wheeler, or tricycle (Sheridan 2008: 39). A tricycle is great for your child's coordination and muscle strength. And, of course, she'll love the extra speed she can get from pedalling. Choose a tricycle with a wide base and a stable design. If your child's weight is low to the ground when she's sitting on the trike, it's much less likely to tip over.

How can I help my toddler learn to use a ride-on toy?

To help your toddler get her balance on a ride-on toy, find a safe, flat area. Perhaps your local park has wide paths, or a play area, where your toddler can try out her skills. Make sure she wears a well-fitting helmet and a long-sleeved top and trousers in case of any scrapes (DH nd). When you've found a safe spot, and your toddler is happy to have a go with her toy, stand in front of her, no more than 10m away. This will give her some ground to cover to try to reach you. Ask her to stand with one leg either side of the toy and, pushing with her feet, to steer towards you (DH nd). Tell her to keep pushing and look at you instead of the ground. This will help her to go in a straight line. When your toddler can use a ride-on toy, she can move on to a tricycle or bike with pedals. Practice makes perfect, and your toddler will grow in confidence, strength, and coordination as she plays on her trike or bike. Advertisement | page continues below It may not be long before she learns that she can coast along some of the way, instead of always pushing with her feet. As she gets better at this, she'll need to use her feet to push along less often. When your toddler can coast with her feet on the pedals, she can start learning to pedal (DH nd).Was this article helpful?YesNo

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Sources

BabyCentre's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organisations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

DH. Nd. Bike 4Life - Change4Life. www.nhs.ukOpens a new window [pdf file, accessed December 2012] Sheridan M. 2008. From birth to five years: children's developmental progress. London: Routledge. The BabyCentre UK Editorial TeamBabyCentre UK’s talented team of editors and writers has decades of experience creating inspiring content Opens a new window Opens a new window Opens a new window

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