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DIY: Convert a Standard Kid’s Bike Into a Balance Bike

 

Not to brag, but I love teaching kids how to ride their bikes, and thankfully, most of them love learning too! One of the quickest ways to help them ride without training wheels is to first focus on balance.

👉 Tip #1: Bike Size Matters
In order to learn balance, kids need to be able to put their feet on the ground. That’s huge. Don’t buy a bike that’s too big just to “grow into.” I know it’s tempting to save a few dollars, but for comfort and safety, the right size makes all the difference.

👉 The Little Blue Bike
We have a tiny blue bicycle that has a whole story behind it. I spotted it in a garbage pile a few years ago (it was actually pink at the time and may have been from the 70’s). Even though it looked like junk, I knew it was special. It had a solid frame.

With a little help from my brother and my husband, we refurbished it. And now? I’ve taught over a dozen kids to ride without training wheels on that very bike!

Here’s how:

  • First, we remove the pedals. The kids just practice walking, scooting, and balancing with their feet on the ground.

  • Once they’re gliding smoothly and steady, we put the pedals back on and practice going down in slight incline, like the driveway.

  • And like magic, they’re ready to ride!

👉 Balance Bikes: Worth It or Not?
You’ve probably seen the balance bike craze. They’re awesome, but honestly, I think they’re overpriced. That said, we did get our youngest daughter a Strider bike, because nothing else was small enough for her and because I scored a crazy good deal (thank you Strider + Amazon!).

But just for fun, we converted our son’s old $40 Wal-Mart bike into a balance bike. It took about 15 minutes with the help of a great YouTube tutorial. Used bikes are everywhere, thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, garage sales. You don’t need to spend big to help your child learn.

👉 Final Thought
Teaching a child to ride a bike isn’t just about wheels, it’s about building confidence, courage, and joy. A little patience (and maybe something like a magic blue bike) goes a long way.

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Filed Under: All The Posts, Homemaking, Outdoor Tagged With: Amazon Love, Homemaking, Motherhood + Homemaking, Outdoor

« Choosing Patience in the Parking Lot
Homeschooling at the Grocery Store »

Comments

  1. Angela says

    July 28, 2018 at 8:08 pm

    OMG! I keep watching different DIY videos on this is yours is the FIRST one explaining how to take the baring out.. THANK YOU!!!!

    Reply
    • A Slightly Better Wife says

      July 28, 2018 at 11:53 pm

      I’m so glad this was helpful! We saved all of the parts and just put them back on a couple weeks ago. Three years after we had taken them off. The kids have had so much fun with this bike, but our 5 yr old was ready for a bigger bike and this one was the right size.

      Reply

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At A Slightly Better Wife, I share about faith, homemaking, homeschooling, and marriage—along with my passion for creating a non-toxic, intentional home. Life isn’t about perfection, but I believe in making small, meaningful choices each day to do things slightly better than before.

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