When our kids were learning to ride a bicycle, my husband and I decided they didn’t have time to waste on cute little bikes with training wheels. Our goal for them was to win the Tour de France; therefore, it was imperative they started training as soon as possible.  In fact, we didn’t just want them to win the Tour de France; we wanted them to win the NEXT Tour de France.  So we balanced their little bodies on their bikes, gave them a little push, and told them to race around the track as fast as they could.  Every time they fell, we helped them up, brushed them off, and set them off again, encouraging them to go faster this time.

Sound a little ridiculous and over the top?  Of course!  This isn’t a very efficient way to train a child to ride a bike. We certainly wouldn’t expect a child to win a world-renowned, champion-level race that spans over several days and crosses over an entire country.  I hope it goes without saying we have better parenting skills than this.

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