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Four-year-old August was perfectly content riding his tricycle to school when he started kindergarten, but his parents worried he?d get teased for being on three wheels. So they bought him a two-wheeler in advance of his birthday, which falls on Halloween. ?He refused to try riding it without the training wheels,? recalls his mom, Shalini Roy. So they remained on until the following summer, when he agreed to give two wheels a go after much prodding from Mom. ?He just zoomed off as soon as we let go,? says Roy, who lives in Toronto. ?He didn?t falter once.?
As young as age four, many kids have the balance, dexterity, leg strength and understanding of basic instructions to ride a bike, says Nick Pavlakis, an instructor at Pedalheads, a company that offers bike-riding lessons throughout Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Washington state. But not all kids have the physical components in place, or feel emotionally prepared to ride a two-wheeler until age six or older. If parents put the pressure on, or show frustration while teaching bike-riding skills, it could further delay the process.  When your child is ready to give it a whirl, it helps to take a step-by-step approach to teaching this life skill.
1. Shop smart

Buy the right-sized set of wheels?likely 14 or 16 inches. Your child?s feet should touch the ground with straight legs when he?s sitting on the seat. If you can, spend a bit more to get a lighter bike, as they take less leg power to propel,...