10 Safety Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Ride
Having a child express enthusiasm about learning to ride a dirt bike provides an exciting opportunity to bond over a common interest. It also creates an opportunity for you to pass along your knowledge and skills to the next generation. Safely.
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We have curated 10 safety tips for teaching your kids to ride:
1. Practice Patience
You may be eager to get your child riding, but do you have the skills to properly teach them? Start by assessing your own skill level as a rider and an instructor. Are you able to introduce a young rider to the basic functions of the bike and riding fundamentals? Can you effectively establish if your child is making mistakes? You’ll want to make sure you have the time to dedicate to managing this process.
Or, you could be more comfortable with finding a professional school to teach your child. These classes focus on the parts of the bike and will move through each part of the process slowly. This frees you up to provide positive encouragement rather than the possibility of straining your relationship.
2. Choose the Right Bike
When shopping for a bike for your child to ride, make sure you pick one that will be a good fit for them. Height and weight are large factors when deciding which bike to get. You’ll want your child to be able to touch the ground with both feet when sitting on the bike so they can balance themselves, and ideally be able to stand it back up straight if it falls over. Other factors to consider when buying your child a bike include:
- Wheel size
- Engine size
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Starter system
For young kids, we recommend bikes with a 50cc engine. Teenagers should be able to handle something a little larger and will likely be more adept at operating a clutch. Most bikes designed for kids feature an automatic clutch, so they won’t have to worry about manually changing gears. As your child’s skills improve and they get more confident on the bike, you’ll want to upgrade them to a larger or more powerful bike.
3. Get the Safest Gear
Once your child has their bike, make sure they look the part before riding. The right gear can not only protect them from serious injury, but also get them excited to ride. They’ll feel pretty cool when they strap on their helmet and saddle up on their bike. Make sure their riding gear fits them well and is properly secured, so it is more likely to stay firmly in place in the event of an unscheduled dismount.
We recommend purchasing this gear for your child as they learn to ride:
- Helmet
- Goggles
- Chest protector
- Gloves
- Knee and elbow pads
- Boots
- Riding jersey
- Protective pants
4. Familiarize them with the Bike
Before they start to rev the engine and set off for the horizon, let your young rider get familiar with all the parts of their bike. Help them locate the starter and throttle, and get a feel of the clutch and brakes. Let them get comfortable with the weight of their bike before it’s running.
5. Start on a Flat, Straight Road
When your child is geared up and ready to ride, start them off easy. A flat, straight road can help them develop the balance they’ll need. Choose a spot without traffic. Long driveways and empty parking lots are great places to start.
As your child begins to safely maneuver, it may help to take pictures and video. This is not only a great memory of their first ride, but you can review it later and see what might need to be adjusted, such as their stance and form.
6. Learn Turns in an Open Area
Once your child has a handle on throttling and braking while going straight, practice turning (in both directions) at various speeds. Again, you’ll want an open area that doesn’t get a lot of traffic. Start with large, gentle turns before teaching your child how to navigate tighter turns that require a lean.
7. Set a Speed Limit
Speed and inexperience can be a poor combination. Small displacement dirt bikes often have the ability to govern speed by restricting throttle movement, which can be adjusted as they get more comfortable. Start off at a lower speed then gradually increase it as they become more skilled and comfortable on the bike.
8. Focus on One Skill at a Time
You might be excited to teach your young rider every trick and tip you know, but it’s important to start slowly. Learning too many techniques at once can make it difficult for your child to fully grasp and complete each one successfully. It’s better to let them get a good handle on one technique at a time before moving on to the next. Keep track of your child’s progress so you know when it’s time to learn something new.
9. Teach How to Properly Fall
It is inevitable that your child will fall as they learn how to ride. If you can’t prevent a fall or crash, make sure you know the best way to avoid serious injury. If they can, teach them to pick a safe landing spot. As they fall, it’s important for your child to not tense their body and to remain as calm as possible. Proper protective gear will help minimize the possibility of injury.
10. Take Breaks
Once your child experiences the thrill of riding, they might not want to stop. It’s best to learn new skills when you are limber and alert. Tired muscles and drowsiness increase the likelihood of making a mistake.
Teaching your child to ride can be a fun experience, but safety should be the first priority. By making sure they have the right bike and gear, teaching them in a secure area, and practicing patience, they will learn quickly and progress.
For more tips, along with stories, videos, and more, check out Cycle Trader’s YouTube Channel.
Arielle Patterson
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