Computer games 'more important' than learning to cycle says Kellog's survey

PzychotropicMac- if and when you do have kids, make sure they bypass the stabiliser stage. I've seen a few kids having highsides using them and they're more trouble than they're worth. it's much better for the kids to start with a push along as then they'll be able to skip using stabilisers altogether. Our eldest had the push-along from when he was just under three and the youngest had it when he was two. They were both able to take a tour round the park near our house on that within a week or so of having it. When it came to riding a bike with pedals, having the balance skills already meant they learned to ride in just a few hundred metres and it took 10-15 minutes only before they were zooming around by themselves.

I remember havign a tiny red bike with stabilisers are racing around my grans garden when parents were at work. I would always get shouted at because she thought I was going to smash into her greenhouse...I didnt. I got bikes that were too big for me as I would 'grow into them'. All these memories are great.

My kids (when I have some!) are going to ride from a young age, its a very useful skill to know especially with the rapidly increasing cost of public transport and driving not to mention how cool it would be to have an elite rider child!

It is sad how many people cant ride, sitting in front of the playstation makes life easier for overweight, under enthused people who happen to have kids but cant really be called parents.

This is such a sad story.
My parents weren't avid cyclists (in fact I can't remember them having bikes when we were kids) but they taught us to ride bikes from a wee age. We lived on an estate in Manchester where roads were unsafe but they took us to the park or limited the places they thought safe for us to go. They even had a trike adapted to fit my disabled sister who was as keen to be playing out as the rest of us. When I was seven and my sister had learnt to walk properly they treated us to some raleigh shoppers and we spent years riding around the culdesac and heading off down the park. When dad lost his job and times got tough my brother took to making our bikes from bits and pieces of old ones we found or neighbours left lying about in the garden (with permission of course!).
My parents weren't health freaks or addicted cyclists but recognised the important right of passage to growing up. It gave us freedom to get out and about even in a busy, not always safe city. My brother (and his son) and I are now addicted cyclists! My sister less so but likes to head out for a pootle in the sunshine and uses her bike to get to the shop.
Didn't plan to write all that but am shocked that so few kids get the opportunity to cycle. There are safe places within everyones reach just lazy parents looking for excuses, every kid should have a bike!

I taught my kids to ride a bike when they were four and three respectively. I also taught one of their friends when he was four. My kids never had stabilisers as they went straight from a push-along to a proper pedal bike, as did their friend.
We had a 7th birthday party for the elder son at the local BMX track last year. I was shocked at how poor his classmates were at riding bikes - only one kid in his class could complete the track without falling off. My eldest and his mate from the BMX club left all the others standing and my younger son was way ahead of all of the kids who were two years older in terms of riding ability.