Sending kids to classes to learn how to ride a bike

[Anonymous]

Is this an indicator of our effed up workplace and society? Parents being so busy at work (to afford a home, college tuition) that they don’t have time to teach their kids to ride a bike? I mean, it used to be the quintessential parent-child activity!

[Anonymous]

I think some parents need the extra help. My dd was super anxious and it took a long time to teach her. I did consider having her go to a class, but we got there on our own in the end.. I would say don't judge people for this, you don't know their circumstances.

[Anonymous]

I’ve thought about it for dd. She has a different personality than us. We are like- go on, it’s okay if you fall. And she wants us to basically run after her holding on for hours. It’s just not working and we’re tired. It’s not about how much time we have.

Also- I mean other parents pay someone to teach their kid how to read. I worked with Dh an hour a day for months and taught her myself n

[Anonymous]

Some things come from another adult better. I know she’s able to lose the training wheels. But she believes her uncle when he tells her.

[Anonymous]

It’s so quick and easy for most kids. I’ll never understand outsourcing so much parenting. Teaching our kids to ride a two-wheeler was so much fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some parents need the extra help. My dd was super anxious and it took a long time to teach her. I did consider having her go to a class, but we got there on our own in the end.. I would say don't judge people for this, you don't know their circumstances.

I am not judging people, I am judging society. If there are organized classes, clearly this is a widespread phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

I’ve thought about it because I’m not sure *I* can ride a bike well enough to teach them. My mother taught me by getting frustrated and telling me I couldn’t come back in the house until I got it…which I did, but pretty much just biked around our cul-de-sac until I quit riding. Hard to pass along a skill you don’t really have!

[Anonymous]

Yup. Saw that listed a few years ago in the Parktakes schedule. Very sad comment on our society. I know it's true because I had a few neighbors with 7-year-old sons who didn't know how to ride a bike. Their parents didn't want to take the time to show them. These boys would just run on foot after the kids on bikes.

Sad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so quick and easy for most kids. I’ll never understand outsourcing so much parenting. Teaching our kids to ride a two-wheeler was so much fun!

For my dd learning was a breeze, but for my DS it was complete torture. He didn’t have the confidence although we spent hours with him and we’re about to sign him up for the REI class when it clicked. Same parents, but kids with different personalities.

[Anonymous]

See also: skateboarding classes and School of Rock.

[Anonymous]

Of all the things to feel superior about! We tried to teach our child for a year and it went nowhere. She went to a class and learned in an hour. Why would you possibly feel the need to judge that?

[Anonymous]

PPs are a jerk. I don’t “outsource” parenting- coach my kid in soccer, teach Sunday school, am troop leader in Girl Scouts. We spend all weekend with our kids. We did the WABA classes bc our kids were getting frustrated with us. They both learned to ride after that 1 hour class. It was great- and free. No judgments please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve thought about it because I’m not sure *I* can ride a bike well enough to teach them. My mother taught me by getting frustrated and telling me I couldn’t come back in the house until I got it…which I did, but pretty much just biked around our cul-de-sac until I quit riding. Hard to pass along a skill you don’t really have!

It’ll come back to you. It’s just like… wait for it… riding a bike!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of all the things to feel superior about! We tried to teach our child for a year and it went nowhere. She went to a class and learned in an hour. Why would you possibly feel the need to judge that?

Did you sit in on the class by chance to find out what their magic is? Because a year vs. an hour is pretty significant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s so quick and easy for most kids. I’ll never understand outsourcing so much parenting. Teaching our kids to ride a two-wheeler was so much fun!

It's not quick and easy for ALL kids FYI. A class can be helpful because they have experience and ideas to make it work. By the way-I don't 'outsource' my parenting, but my 7yo is not yet riding a bike and I would sign them up if I was local, and my dc would be happy about it.