Riding riding riding

At Christmas time Eliza started to learn to ride her bike. She did really well with James learning to ride on her own but wasn't so confident with stopping and with starting on her own. Then because of holidays then preschool starting up again and weekends being busy, we didn't make it to the park again for ages for her to keep practicing. After a few months we managed to head to the park again but she was quite nervous about riding on her own. James had her try and ride on the path and she was able to do it but her confidence wasn't there and she got upset as she rode and when she tried to stop. She decided that each time she went riding she wanted to ride the bike with training wheels on it. I made the call that she wasn't to ride that bike anymore. She either had the option of scootering or riding her wobbly bike (that's what she calls it). We left it for a few more weeks and then I took her to the oval to practice stopping on her wobbly bike.

We started by riding down the oval and stopping on each of the marked lines on the football field. She started to get the idea of stopping first and then putting her foot down. She grew in confidence and in her joy of riding. (Ignore the sideways video)

The giggle is a sign of the fun that she was having and the fact that she was able to stop on her own.

We wanted to show Daddy her riding so sent him this video. Again there were giggles of pride.

As her confidence grew we started to ride the full length of the field. So proud of her riding all the way on her own. The highlight though was that she said 'That was fun. I was to do it again!' Total change in attitude to when we arrived.

We then started to ride around the goal posts to work on steering instead of just riding in a straight line. Again she was nervous at the start but gave it a go and grew in confidence. I'm so proud of her! She only once ran into the posts but happily got back onto the bike and had another ride.

 I asked her if she wanted to ride on the path but she got nervous again. We rode a few more times around the oval, through the posts, stopping and having me help her start. She was doing great! We then headed back to the car and I asked her to ride to the car on the path. Surprisingly she said yes. She did it! I then asked her if she wanted to ride to the playground. She said that she didn't want to ride down the hill so instead we turned around and rode back along the path in a straight line. She did so well!

She only once stopped by trying to hold onto the fence instead of using the breaks. But still, so proud of her for giving it a go! And multiple times too.

A week later Eliza wanted to head back to the park to ride her bike again. I had Alexander with me too so I offered her the option of riding on the road. She decided that she wanted to scooter on the road instead. I decided that I wasn't going to push her to do it so instead let her scoot and at times asked if she wanted to have a go on her bike. Eventually she decided that she would give the bike a go on the road. We spoke through what to do to stop and broke it up again. Riding to the power pole, riding to the next driveway, riding to the car. She was doing it! Clever girl! Again we had to show Daddy.

She mostly remembered to stop properly. But did forget at times. She did then get up again and have another go which I was very proud about.

Then on my birthday my clever girl started to ride her bike at Ruddock Park, again something that she was so hesitant about doing. But she did an amazing job at riding around the park, overcoming her fears and persisting when she thought she couldn't do it.

She even had a pretty impressive fall off her bike but after a big cuddle with Daddy, she then hopped back on and had another go. She even rode most of the way home.


Eliza, I am so very proud of you for persisting when you were convinced you couldn't ride your bike. For changing your thoughts to believe in yourself like I believe in you. For overcoming your fears of falling. I am so proud of you listening and doing your best on the bike. I am really proud of you getting back onto the bike after falling off and hurting your knee. I thought that would break you and that you would avoid the bike but you did the opposite. Keep at it Lizey. You're doing great!