Clever Towel Hack To Teach A Child To Ride A Bike

A clever mum has shared her ultimate hack to help kids ditch the training wheels and ride a bike. And all you need is a towel!

Caitlin shared a video on social media, showing just how easy it is to teach a child to ride a bike, using nothing more than a beach towel.

“I’m going to show you all how I taught my son to ride a bike without training wheels, with a beach towel,” Caitlin explained.

She shows how to fold the beach towel, and put it underneath the child’s arms.

“You just kinda hold him up.”

The child then starts to pedal, while you help them keep their balance by holding the beach towel up. Before long, they’re riding on their own!

“This towel trick really helped build his confidence that he was capable of doing it and just offered a little bit of extra security for him in the beginning,” Caitlin said. “He also rode a Balance Bike since he was 2 years old and had his bike with training wheels since he was 3. Which I believe helped a lot.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Caitlin B. – BSN, RN (@caitdallas)

The video attracted lots of different comments, some from parents who loved the idea.

“I just tried it today with my eight-year-old who has been lacking in the confidence and all it took was 30 minutes with the towel and she’s riding all on her own. Thank you for sharing this!” one mum commented.

But there were also comments from parents who weren’t so sure about the technique.

“This is why the world is getting soft.. let the boy ride the damn bike and fall, then have him get back up and keep going until he’s successful.. couple of scratches maybe even a broken arm.. so much more rewarding and beneficial for him,” one person commented.

“OMG, just give him a big push…he’ll figure it out,” said another.

How old was your child when they learnt to ride a bike? Let us know in the comments below.

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33 Comments

- - Mum_Em said
  - 23 Feb 2024
    9:03 pm
My hack was getting my son to use a balance bike first. He rode super easily with pedals and never had training wheels or needed any help from me!

- - mom101628 said
  - 18 Feb 2024
    12:17 am
Mine were about 3 when they decided they wanted to ride a bike. Training wheels weren’t on for long as they wanted to be as clever as their older siblings.

- - Mum2archer said
  - 18 Feb 2024
    12:03 am
This tip has come in handy as we are just trying to get my son to learn

- - MandaMags said
  - 16 Feb 2024
    1:14 pm
My son was just over 3 when he started riding without training wheels. All we did was take off the training wheels and lightly hold the back of his neck, he took off by himself within 10 min of the light hold.

- - cassy26 said
  - 16 Feb 2024
    9:25 am
This is a great idea, especially for kids who are naturally cautious. My eldest was never interested in riding a bike (she still wont) she just didnt want to…..my middle two rode quite early and my youngest is pretty good but still uses training wheels at 4.

- - MummaD said
  - 14 Feb 2024
    2:02 pm
If it works for you, yay!

- - rovermum said
  - 14 Feb 2024
    10:49 am
Great hack, thanks for the share. I can’t recall how old my son was, but this would have helped.

- - ASH&FELIX said
  - 14 Feb 2024
    10:09 am
What an idea! Great job Mumma, will be using this for our son when he is ready

- - Lovesthecuddles said
  - 13 Feb 2024
    9:09 pm
My daughter could tide no training wheels at 3 but then saw her friends bikes had trainers and now wants them

- - BellaB said
  - 13 Feb 2024
    7:09 pm
I don’t know how to ride a bike, so no idea if this is useful.

- - tessie said
  - 13 Feb 2024
    1:51 pm
Unfortunately my youngest was never able to ride a bike because he couldn’t balance. If he stands on one leg he falls over. Doctors told me it’s because he has inner ear issues.
- Ellen replied
  
  15 Feb 2024 , 8:40 am
  Yes I can imagine the inner issues cause struggles with balancing
- - meedee said
  - 13 Feb 2024
    11:30 am
The old training wheels work a treat
- Ellen replied
  
  14 Feb 2024 , 8:42 am
  yes in my opinion training wheels are easier. But when it works with a towel, why not ?
- - Ellen said
  - 13 Feb 2024
    9:05 am
My youngest -10 year old with Down syndrome- is not able to ride the bike yet. She still uses a large trke with a steering & push bar with brake at the back to support her on her trike

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 13 Feb 2024
    9:02 am
Whatever works for you as a parent. Some techniques will work for one child but not the other. My son took a while to learn.

- - mom169205 said
  - 13 Feb 2024
    6:46 am
Just a case of push off you go and spending the time with your kid in doing it no towels required. Some kids pick things up quickly too. No balance bike here training wheels at 3, she was big and ready at just turned 4 so off they came and off she went she wanted both parents helping