Sometimes late last year, I promised my now 6 years old daughter to get her a bicycle of her own, which she has always wanted and couldn't stop reminding me about, I see how excited she always gets when we visit her cousin who is the same age as her and already has his, and would generously let her ride with him, they usually have a bike date during the weekend when they visit my mum, my sister goes to school during the weekend and would usually leave her children with my mum as well, where they all meet to spend a good time with grandma and also have fun cycling in her big compound, taking turns of course.

_{Image edited using canva}

On our way back from church last Sunday, we spotted a newly opened store where children's toys, especially bicycles and cars were sold, it was a delight to behold as this would be my first time spotting that kind of business in my local area, we often need to travel far into the bustling city to get things like this, with excitement, we hurriedly walked into the store to find out the prices of the bicycle and also get a suitable one for her. Their price was a bit higher than expected though, which I know is also linked to the current inflation chaos we currently face in the country, the problem started when my three years old daughter wouldn't stop crying, seeing that her elder sister was getting a bicycle, she wanted hers, and I told her she was still too young to get one, only to be corrected by the owner of the store that she was right about the age to own a bicycle of hers.

And he continued, telling me about the benefits of cycling for kids beyond just being a fun exercise, and from his free consultation, I must say, there are plenty of reasons to get your child on two wheels, from about the age of 3-4 years and also knowing about the type of bike recommended for that age.

He made me aware that even kids from the ages of 18-24 months can be gotten a pedaless bicycle, one that allows them to straddle and propel themselves with their feet, as it helps them know more about balance, and it can also help them transition into pedal bicycle later on.

Since around 3 years old, most children like my second daughter must have gained sufficient physical coordination, strength and the ability to understand and follow instructions from us parents or guardian, it will be easier to give cycling lesson with training wheels. This gives them a chance to focus on pedaling, steering and building skills like coordination and control, while still having the stability of the trainer wheels. And most 3-year-olds will fit a 12" pedal bike comfortably at this stage.

What to Look for When Buying a 3-Year-Old's First Pedal Bike

After the generous consultation, I decided the time was right to get my 3-year-old her first "big girl" pedal bike with training wheels, here are some top tips, I was given.

This first most important factor when picking a bicycle for a 3-year-old is the size, of course we don't want something too big and uncomfortable for her, I've often seen little boys ride bicycles bigger than them, I guess they are already experts, but I sure don't feel comfortable seeing a child standing while riding his or her bicycle because it's a bigger sized and don't fit well, cycling is already an exercise, why put more strain when it's not a sport competition. So he recommended a 12" wheel bicycle, as we want to be sure the seat can be lowered enough so my child can comfortably get her feet flat on the ground and be able to propel herself, giving her confidence when starting, stopping, and riding.

My daughter's weight was also considered, she has a normal weight for her age, as children's bike weights can vary significantly based on materials, it's better to look for lightweight options made from aluminum or carbon that will be easier for her to maneuver and get moving, as heavy steel bikes could prove too difficult to control for them.

Brakes are another important part of the bicycle to look out for and he recommended a press backward kind of brake over hand brakes. According to him, it was simpler for children to operate them.

In addition to selecting the right bicycle from the start, another very important thing to do is ensuring proper safety gears are gotten alongside, a well-fitted, high-quality helmet should be non-negotiable anytime your child is riding their bike. Look for one that you can easily adjust for them to be comfortable with and also with good ventilation, kneel and elbow guides are also very important to minimize bruises in case of a fall.

I was glad to have met Mr. Chuks, a very passionate cyclist, and from the discussion we had and his love for children, he decided to give me a discount after convincing me to get suitable bicycles for my daughters, well, I couldn't afford them both still at the same time, so I made a deposit, to have them kept for me till next Sunday. It was an enlightening experience in which I had fun listening attentively, while my daughters chipped in their preferred colors, green and orange they said respectively.

Thank you for reading.❤❤

_{Images 2,3, and 4 are mine.}