Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hi , What worked for us was the Fisher-Price Smart Cycle --- video game/bike system that connects to the TV. The child has to pedal to make the games work. It also taught him to look ahead (at the TV), as opposed to at his feet. After a winter of these games, he hopped right on his bike in the Spring & loved it (age 4). Now he is 6 1/2. Of course, we just had to upgrade his bike to a 20 " & he still needs training wheels --- he selected a BMX trick bike & we've had to add training wheels (LOL). Best wishes, Chester > > I have a 4 yr old Aspie and he has no interest in riding a bike. We tried to get him one last year for his 3rd birthday and he could careless. We tried again this year and same thing. My husband really wants to teach him how to ride a bike, so he went ahead and bought one anyway. When our son does get on a bike he has hard time peddling. So, we're not sure what to do. Should we try to teach him anyway? Or do we wait until he seems more interested? Has anyone else had this experience? > > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hi- I was going to say the same thing! Our dear neighbors gave us their SmartCycle and what a blessing it was. He was able to focus on coordinating the pedaling. We got him a great bike for his 4th b-day and it sat in the garage for a full year almost before it got used. Last summer- at age 5, it finally clicked. We practiced a lot and I had to keep my patience in check. But it finally clicked one day. It was such a gloriously triumphant day when he finally learned to balance and ride that bike! He still has the training wheels on and this Spring we will work on getting those off. I believe he will be able to do it sooner than we think. One thing that really helped was to break down the bike riding into steps for him. So, first learn to pedal. Then- we would hold onto the bike and help him get his balance. Then we would work on steering. Our driveway has a slight incline that heads right into our garage. we would start at the top of the driveway and just let him coast down- this helped him get a feel for it. I think we must have done this about a hundred times before he attetpted to even try to do it on his own. And fof course- helmet, knee pads, elbow pads a must! Gloves are helpful too so that if he fell and used his hands to break his fall he wouldn't scrape up his hands. Good luck to you! > > > > I have a 4 yr old Aspie and he has no interest in riding a bike. We tried to get him one last year for his 3rd birthday and he could careless. We tried again this year and same thing. My husband really wants to teach him how to ride a bike, so he went ahead and bought one anyway. When our son does get on a bike he has hard time peddling. So, we're not sure what to do. Should we try to teach him anyway? Or do we wait until he seems more interested? Has anyone else had this experience? > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hi , My son didn't show interest in riding a bike until he was about 6 1/2. Up to that point he didn't want to. I have two older children and even seeing them ride didn't spark his interest. When he did finally start he would always look down at his feet, I think that helped him concentrate on peddling. We use to have to shout for him to look out where he was going. He would run into stuff all the time. He also needed training wheels for a lot longer than his older siblings. But he got it eventually and by the time he was about 8 he had no issues. ne > From: tsnoo1 <tsnoo1@...> > Subject: ( ) Re: Riding a bike > > Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 7:35 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Â > > > > > > > > > > Hi , > > > > What worked for us was the Fisher-Price Smart Cycle --- > video game/bike system that connects to the TV. The child > has to pedal to make the games work. It also taught him to > look ahead (at the TV), as opposed to at his feet. After a > winter of these games, he hopped right on his bike in the > Spring & loved it (age 4). Now he is 6 1/2. Of course, > we just had to upgrade his bike to a 20 " & he still > needs training wheels --- he selected a BMX trick bike & > we've had to add training wheels (LOL). > > > > Best wishes, > > > > Chester > > > > > > > > > > I have a 4 yr old Aspie and he has no interest in > riding a bike. We tried to get him one last year for his > 3rd birthday and he could careless. We tried again this > year and same thing. My husband really wants to teach him > how to ride a bike, so he went ahead and bought one anyway. > When our son does get on a bike he has hard time peddling. > So, we're not sure what to do. Should we try to teach > him anyway? Or do we wait until he seems more interested? > Has anyone else had this experience? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Eddie, That is such a great story! I am happy for you and your son! Happy biking! ne > > > > > > > Â > > > > > > > My 3 1/2 year old is the same way - he still > scoots on his trike and has zero interest in using the > pedals. We are nowhere near thinking about a bike. We have > worked on pedaling some in OT, but he still finds it hard > and mostly just pushes himself along. It was the same way > when he turned 1 and got a ride on scooting toy, except back > then he would not even scoot - he just ran behind it > pushing. I don't have any answers, but just wanted to > let you know that you are not alone! > > > > Bridget > > > > > > > > > > I have a 4 yr old Aspie and he has no interest in > riding a bike. We tried > > > to get him one last year for his 3rd birthday and he > could careless. We > > > tried again this year and same thing. My husband > really wants to teach him > > > how to ride a bike, so he went ahead and bought one > anyway. When our son > > > does get on a bike he has hard time peddling. So, > we're not sure what to > > > do. Should we try to teach him anyway? Or do we wait > until he seems more > > > interested? Has anyone else had this experience? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 , I agree with everyone that he will do it on his own terms in time. My son learned how to ride a bike at 4 in Occupational Therapy. He has hemispheric slowing and left brain/right brain duality activities really help. But, he did it in his own time and he learned how to better manage his vestibular issues and not rely so much on peripheral vision in the process because once the training wheels came off at 5, it was all about balance and looking up straight ahead. He's now seven and does X-sports on his bike at the skateboard park. When he's out there, the other kids don't care he has autism. To them, he's just another dude on a bike. Your son will ride, too, and the practicing is half the fun and a great way to spend time together as a family. Good luck! > > I have a 4 yr old Aspie and he has no interest in riding a bike. We tried to get him one last year for his 3rd birthday and he could careless. We tried again this year and same thing. My husband really wants to teach him how to ride a bike, so he went ahead and bought one anyway. When our son does get on a bike he has hard time peddling. So, we're not sure what to do. Should we try to teach him anyway? Or do we wait until he seems more interested? Has anyone else had this experience? > > Thanks, > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Well things seem to be getting a little better. My son was excited when he saw his new bike w/training wheels put together. My husband took him out and we gave him a lot of positive encouragement to try to pedal and he tried. My husband pushed him along and he pedaled when he could around the block. So it's a start. We know it won't happen overnight and it's gonna take some time. We'll keep at it when he wants to and we won't force it on him. He'll ride a bike when he's ready. Thank you all so much for your comments, suggestions and support. I truly truly appreciate it! It's so good to know we weren't alone on this one and that many of you have experienced the same thing. I'm so happy to have this group to turn to. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 We tried and failed at this when our DS was younger. He's just turned 12 and is still lukewarm on the idea. We finally found a used bike his size and we're trying what his psychologist recommended. There's a video on youtube about how the New York City parks and recreation people teach biking. It involves taking the pedals off and moving along using the kid's feet. It's similar to what someone else mentioned. You might want to take a look at the video. Though it probably won't be much use until your son wants to do it. Bronwyn > > > > > > I have a 4 yr old Aspie and he has no interest in riding a bike. We tried to get him one last year for his 3rd birthday and he could careless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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