What age can a child ride a tricycle? This is the most commonly asked question when it comes to tricycles with parents arguing that the baby is too young to ride one.
Generally, kids can pedal tricycles properly at the age of three. Always buy age-appropriate tricycles according to their height for best results. And a safety measure, ensure the little one wears a helmet when riding.
When shopping for the best tricycles, ensure it has a comfortable height for ease of getting on and off. The young tot should comfortably reach the ground and pedals while sitting. A tricycle is one of the most important play things for young children especially when you buy them at the right age. Fortunately, there’s a variety of tricycles on the market that cater to young tots of all ages.
What Age Can a Child Ride a Tricycle?
Most parents usually can’t wait to get their little ones a fancy tricycle and watch them ride on different terrains as they have fun. But, at what age can a child ride a tricycle? The little one won’t enjoy riding the tricycle if you buy it at the right time. Besides, the child can even hate the idea of getting on a tricycle considering the effort it requires.
A child between 37 to 42 months can enjoy a ride but ensure you put the following factors into consideration.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Tricycle for Kids
1. The Child’s Height
The child should be able to reach the pedals and the ground comfortably while seated. If the little one strains to reach the pedals, there’s no way riding will be fun. The tricycle’s braking mechanism usually involves placing the foot on the ground. Stopping the tricycle can be hard if the feet don’t touch the ground.
2. The Child’s Strength
Riding a tricycle requires some effort and it can be a bit strenuous. The little one needs considerable strength to pedal the tricycle. Before buying a tricycle for your child, gauge if they have enough strength to not only pedal but also steer it around for fun.
3. Balance
Balance is very important when it comes to tricycles even though it’s three-wheeled. Most people assume that the child doesn’t need to balance since the trike is stable. Balance helps the baby get on and off the tricycle with ease without falling down. The little one should also be able to remain stable while sitting upright on the tricycle.
4. Good Coordination
Riding a tricycle might seem easy but it’s not. The little one needs to pedal, steer and look out for hurdles especially when riding unsupervised. This needs both spatial awareness and good coordination and it might take a while before young tots get acquainted. The tricycle can be useless if the child doesn’t know how to coordinate the mind and body. It also tends to take off the joy that comes with riding a tricycle.
What age can a child ride a tricycle? When they can get on and off with ease and ride around without assistance.
