Mar
2
2012

Riding a bicycle

Usually, Darling don’t join us during our evening playground time. He’ll always be out at work and comes home only later in the evening when it is already dark. One day, Ethan told me that he wants to learn to ride his bicycle without the training wheels. I told Darling but he was too busy to remove those wheels.

One fine day, Darling finally found the time to remove the training wheels. Ethan got extremely excited to try cycling his bicycle but Darling had to leave for work again. I told Darling, “I picture a father teaching his son to ride a bike. That’s a nice sight”. I think that got into him so he stayed back and accompanied us to the playground.

It was awkward the first time Darling tried teaching Ethan to cycle. He held onto the handle making it hard for Ethan to control his own bicycle.

The WRONG way to teach a child to ride a bicycle. Do not hold onto the handle as the child won’t be able to learn to control his bicycle.

I had to take over as I see them struggling. I hold onto the seat and guide Ethan as he cycled, encouraging him to balance himself from time to time. Once Ethan is comfortable on the bicycle, I passed him back to Darling.

Darling guiding Ethan, holding on so he won’t fall. It’s important for the kid to trust us as Ethan got really scared when he thought that he will fall.

The first time Ethan cycled without the training wheels, he held on to the handle so tightly that his wrist hurts. We encouraged him to relax his grip. After several minutes, he complained that his wrists are too tired and starting to hurt. So we stopped and just enjoyed the evening away..

Here’s Darling cycling Ethan’s bicycle, being chased by Ethan and my neighbour’s kids :D

That was two weeks ago. It often rained in the evening after that so we did not get to go to the playground much. The moment we see dry sky, we quickly go to the playground so Ethan can practice cycling again.

Today, we went to the playground again.

Darling demonstrating to Ethan again how to balance the bicycle.

As usual, he will hold onto the seat, occasionally letting go to see if Ethan can balance. But today, when he let go… Ethan went on and on and on! Watch this video:

And I happened to catch that on camera! I got super excited when I saw Ethan cycling for the very first time and I’m so glad I managed to get that recorded! I felt like crying!

Darling was speechless. The feeling of finally teaching his own son to cycle overwhelms him. I’m glad Darling chose to be part of this. We were all overjoyed! Ethan, Darling and I…

Ethan is finally cycling at 4 years 7 months.

It’s time to get 2 more bicycles for me and Darling so we can all cycle together. We can now go to Bukit Cahaya Shah Alam and cycle the day away :D

44 Comments + Add Comment

  • //

    woot, a complete guide on teaching our kids the art of cycling, merryn tan’s way. XD ..
    I find your darling riding that small bike rather cute.. lol

    • //

      Isaac, he became the neighbourhood’s fav ‘uncle’ that instant! :)

  • //

    wow..he even knows how to stop his bicycle! Bravo, Ethan!

    • //

      Pakai kaki punya. Must teach him to use the brakes now! :D

  • //

    Another milestone! It must have been a touching happy moment. :)

    • //

      It really was.. I’ve never felt happier :D

  • //

    Your dahling had a bright future…in the circus. Muahahahahaha!!!!!

    • //

      LoL! You made me spill water on my keyboard! >_<

  • //

    aww! happy family!
    anyway, i really like the way you teach ethan.
    you know nowadays a lot of kids lack of this kind of family activities together.
    parents busy with work, and kids dont get to learn anything.
    bicycle im sure a lot of kids nowadays dont even know how to ride. especially those in the city.

    I remember i learned bicycle thru the hard way, few times of falling down, making scars on my knees, only i succeeded. haha

    • //

      I know. It’s a concrete jungle out there! One of us has to stay grounded. When William’s too busy, I’ll pull him back to Earth to remind him of Ethan and I. Same goes if I’m too tied up with blogging commitments, William will put a stop to it.

      Family comes first… no matter what :D

  • //

    Wow… this is a great achievement for your little boy and his father. It’s a great idea to have his father to participate in this. Good father-and-son bonding as well.

    • //

      Yeah Joanne,

      At least Ethan will have this priceless memory of his father teaching him to ride a bike. I’ve always have in my mind the picture of the father teaching his son to kick a ball, ride a bike and more… ya know? Things that guys do together.

      As for me, I’m only good in the education part…

  • //

    mati gua.. I sendiri don’t know how to cycle.. macam maner la my anak can learn… can send to you for tuition on cycling ah? I see William punya attire with his work shirt and roll up pants.. gua mau gelak tergoleng la… MUahahaha…..

    BRAVO! Ethan, Mummy & Daddy!!!

    • //

      Cyn, you gave me a great idea! I shall set up a ‘Ride-A-Bicycle’ Academy! Learn to cycle in 2 months or your money back. Guaranteed! Hmm…..

  • //

    Haha..

  • //

    Wow! Great job Ethan! Mummy and Daddy must be very proud of your achievement! I like your guide in teaching the art of cycling. It will be useful for me soon!

    • //

      Thank you Kitty. Another thing we got Ethan to do is to cycle faster as it is actually easier to balance the bicycle when you are cycling fast as to when you are going really slow…

  • //

    first…i laugh out loud at STP’s comment…@@lll..ahhahhahhahah.

    If hubs would have to show this to Ethel, abis la the bicycle…PENYET!

    Pandai Ethan!!….can cycle with Ethel next time.

    • //

      haha.. your hubs and william banyak different in size lor.. LoL.. yeah! Ethan and Ethel can cycle sama sama dy :D

  • //

    William on the small pity bicycle >.<

    • //

      hehe… why not? the best way to teach is by showing Ethan how to do it, right? haha..

  • //

    lol on STP’s comment. Bravo to Ethan. Can ride bicycle without training in such a short time and young age. Eversince my girls can ride bicycle, I have new worry. I scare they get scaring on their hands and legs. Girls ma! Not nice lo!

    • //

      Oh yeah, THAT! hmm.. after happy happy now have to worry about falls pulaks! sigh..

  • //

    LOL.. it was funny yet cute seeing your Darling riding such a small bicycle :P

  • //

    haha i remember when i first rode a bicycle, i fell twice and got my knees scratched up pretty bad. but i didn’t give up and manage to get the balance on that same day. ever since then, i can ride a bicycle without failing

    • //

      I don’t remember how I learnt to ride a bike but I guess more or less sama dengan you lah :)

      • //

        wow i dont think i will ever forget such a thing. it’s almost like *erhem* -ing for the first time LOL

  • //

    ohh, how sweet. A father is always important to child :D

    • //

      Yes, and I’m blessed my hubs is a hands-on father to Ethan :)

  • //

    Wow, Ethan learns fast…..
    Now can ask daddy teach him some bicylce stunts and tricks liao……he he he

    • //

      Hehe… my cousins will teach him to rempit for sure!

  • //

    Such priceless moments !
    And thanks for the “hold the seat instead of the handle” tip. :)

    psst.. your hubby not scared the small bicycle tyre puncture when he cycle, ah? he he.

    • //

      The bicycle tahan lasak one.. :)

  • //

    haha.. the bicycle no break when william sat on it?? LOL

    • //

      The bicycle mahal u know.. kalau break i go claim.. hehe.. :D

  • //

    When I saw the pix ur hubby is cycling the small bike…I can’t help to laugh and laugh…cute and funny.
    Great achievement, Ethan…Hope Ryan can cycle like Ethan one day..

    • //

      Hehe.. I know. My husband is a joker! :D

  • //

    ok lah, your darling is willing to teach ethan to cycle.. i remember i learned to cycle all by myself, and not on a kids bicycle but an adult one i simply grab from home.. after many falls and many cuts and many bruises, the best moment is the moment when everything went smooth and i really shouted in excitement!!

  • //

    Lol on stp comment….
    Did ur husband start practicing 3 ppl on d bike… Lol
    Husband in d bottom, u in middle n ur son on top…. Tah dahhhhhhh

  • //

    congras to the whole family!

  • //

    LOL!!! your darling so cute la! Now I know why u choose to marry him over those typical baba man out there (*psst….my sis already started complaining recently!)

  • //

    Wah very pandai Ethan and you Darling is really a joker lar. Funny only seeing him on the small bike. Elizabeth haven’t learn to ride without the 2 extra wheels and she’s already 5+. Aiyoh.

  • //

    Good attempt and learning. Hope i’m able to do this with my son soon, but he is just 9 months old..still far.

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MeHome is where MY heart is.
I am a mother to two boys; Ethan and Ayden and a wife to Darling William. I'm a stay at home mum who blogs to break the monotony of life and to avoid feeling jaded. Would love to get to know all the Super Mommies and Daddies and Babies or Singles out there with the hope that we can learn more from each other. Most of all, I am a happy person, and I hope YOU are too.

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