The Right Time to Buy Your Child his First Tricycle
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A tricycle is one of the most attractive playthings for your child. But unless this is bought at the right age, it can be useless. Determining what age when a child can pedal a tricycle will help parents make an informed decision. Find out the right time to buy a tricycle.
You just can’t wait to buy a fancy tricycle for your child and watch him trundle down the lane on it. But, are you sure that your child is ready to ride one? If bought at the wrong time, your little one might not be able to enjoy it. What’s more, the child may completely loathe the idea of riding a tricycle considering the effort it requires. So, while 37-42 months of age is usually a good time for your child to enjoy this purchase, make sure you analyse the following factors.
When to Buy a Tricycle for Kids- Factors to Consider
1. What’s his Height?
Your little one should be tall enough such that he can comfortably reach the pedals. So, if the child has to stretch to reach the pedals, there is no way he is going to enjoy riding a tricycle. Also, its important that his feet touch the ground while he is seated on the tricycle. After all, the braking mechanism of a tricycle involves touching the foot to the ground. In case his feet don’t touch the ground, he might find it hard to stop the bicycle and is even prone to falls.
2. How Strong is He?
There is no doubt that riding a tricycle can be strenuous, especially if the child doesn’t have the necessary strength. A tot needs to put in a lot of effort to pedal the tricycle. Similarly, he needs considerable strength to turn the vehicle. So, to know when is a child ready for a tricycle, gauge if he has enough strength to pedal and steer it around.
3. Balance is Key
Just because a tricycle has three wheels doesn’t mean that you don’t have to worry about balance. It’s important that your tot has enough body balance to get on and off the tricycle without falling down. Also, he should be able to stay upright and stable once he sits on the vehicle. Riding in a straight line requires a sense of balance. So, unless your child can walk and run properly, it wouldn’t be a good idea to buy him a tricycle.
4. Good Coordination
Riding a tricycle isn’t as easy as it seems. Your tot needs to pedal with his foot, look out for hurdles in the way, and steer when need be. This requires a lot of coordination as well as some spatial awareness. Your little one may take some time to get acquainted with it. Thus, buying a tricycle before the child learns to coordinate his body and mind would definitely not work.
Your child is ready for a tricycle when he can get on and off it and ride it around without any assistance from you. Of course, you can opt for the push handle vehicle too. However, this is a far cry from the traditional tricycles.
