If you have or had a child with a disability at what age did you take off the training wheels?

Question

If you have or had a child with a disability at what age did you take off the training wheels?

Answer 1

when you think you and the child is ready  

Answer 2

when you feel they are ready

Answer 3

I'm blind, and my parents and I took off my training wheels when I was about seven.

Answer 4

It highly depends on your child's motor skills.

I worked with a child with PPD-NOS who was given time on a child-size exercise bike (video game thing that he pedals to 'catch' letters and numbers on the tv screen). He was given it at 2, and at that point he had no clue how to do it. He would just play around with pushing the pedals with his hands, pushing buttons...normal 2 year-old stuff. Then he started sitting on it, and learned to put his feet on the pedals with a little encouragement, then learned how to pedal, and now he pedals on his stationary bike a mile a minute (ok, not literally).

Because he learned on a stationary bike, he never had to worry about falling over. When we got him on a real bike, he needed training wheels for all of two weeks, then he was off like a shot all over the driveway (and beyond, unfortunately!). The only problem we have now is keeping up with him, and he's 3 1/2, no training wheels.

He is very bright for his age, though (intelligence test put  him on level with children 2-3 years older than him), and he has no trouble with motor skills, just with communication and hyper-senses.

Some children, because of motor skill problems, may never be ready to ride without training wheels. Some may never get beyond a tandem bike or tricycle.

You should really talk to your child's physical therapist, see if they think your child's body is strong enough to hold the bike up on his/her own (this is important, b/c if they can't do it physically, they just won't be able to do it at all). If they are capable physically, then start with taking the training wheels off and walking beside the bike, with your hands on the bars. If s/he doesn't get overly worried, seems to be doing well, then as you're walking, release the bars, but hover your hands right over the bars in case your child is not really ready. Gradually release for longer periods of time, and watch your child learn to balance themselves!

Once your child gets the general idea of balance, let them go. Be there to comfort them if they 'crash' but don't be over-protective...little 'crashes' help children learn from their mistakes.

Most importantly, enjoy the bonding time with your child that learning to ride a bike is!

Answer 5

I actually found the training wheels made it harder for my son to ride a bike. I think he had training wheels on about 2 weeks and then I pushed them up so he saw them and thought they were helping - but really didn't do a thing.

But each kid is individual. Some may always need training wheels and some may need them for a very short time.

Answer 6

When the child demostrates that they are ready.