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Post by TerryB on Aug 21, 2004 21:42:56 GMT -5
I know that bike-riding skills can come late to a child with ADHD for a number of reasons. I felt a little bad for my daughter while camping this year. She was the only 8 year old with training wheels and she goes so slow that I can't see getting the training wheels off anytime soon. If you go too slow you can't keep the bike balanced. She is even having night-mares about going too fast. I've decided not to work on this skill except to still give her "bike-time". I'm just going to give it time but it is sad to see her not able to keep up with the kids her age at camp; she is stuck with the younger kids a lot.
We have worked hard on swimming this summer and she has made advances. She's really practicing her technique and feels positive that hard work will pay off. We've worked hard on other issues too over the summer like her frustration issue and manners.
Am I right to throw in the towel on a few delays? Life can't be all challenge. Sometimes you just have to accept weaknesses, don't you? She has so many other strengths to be proud of.
Terry
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Post by dansmommy on Aug 21, 2004 21:54:35 GMT -5
Both my ds and my non-ADHD niece learned to ride when they were nine (I guess ds was right before his ninth birthday and my niece was after her ninth birthday). Does she like bike riding? Maybe you could just put it away for a few months and do some other activities that involve balance -- I don't know, scooter riding, gymnastics, etc. A new look at it in a few months may bring more confidence. Christie
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Post by chaknine on Aug 21, 2004 23:39:59 GMT -5
I would not worry to much about it, or pressure her. I also would focus more on the accomplishment she made with the swimming and other areas. She will eventually get it down. It sounds like she has her self so worked up over it, she can't do it. I would let it go for now.
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Post by TerryB on Aug 22, 2004 8:30:04 GMT -5
She actually loves riding her bike but very slowly and with the training wheels. I haven't pressured her to go faster but seeing her set apart from her peers and me not doing anything about it makes me feel like a bad Mom. Thanks for the support. I will be keeping her active all winter as always and feel good that maybe some of the skills she learns in other areas will transfer over to bike-riding. Gymnastics has been great for her coordination. She'll never be a great at it as a competitive sport but she is learning and enjoying it. Eight is a great age for trying new things.
Terry
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Post by dansmommy on Aug 23, 2004 0:26:10 GMT -5
Terry -- I had this thought. What if you just took the training wheels off? I think learning to ride just happens. Training wheels don't really prepare them that much once they learn to maneuver the bike, and they slow them down because they have more wheels to deal with. Anyway. You'll do what's best for your kid, but our ds's training wheels experience didn't contribute to his learning to ride. Christie Edited to add: I just found this while looking for something else -- one more thing to spend money on, but I guess it teaches the child to turn in the direction they're falling and supposedly teaches kids to ride very fast: www.pedalmagic.com/ |
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Post by Shandawn on Aug 23, 2004 22:41:16 GMT -5
You know what? My ADD daughter, at 10, STILL can't ride a bike!! We kept buying bikes every year & she just would not give up the training wheels. Actually, she'd much rather run along side her bike-riding friends! I finally stopped buying bikes when the last one just sat locked to the porch railing for the entire season! I figured why push something she obviously hates doing? She taught herself to swim, so we got an above ground pool instead! Much less stress!
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Post by Brenda on Aug 24, 2004 7:24:47 GMT -5
Steph's training wheel broke yesterday.I took them both off and let her try to ride without them.She did try but kept falling over when I let go.She is only 6 so it is a bit early.I guess I will be buying more training wheels.
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Post by TerryB on Aug 25, 2004 6:40:03 GMT -5
Dannysmom,
I think that I'm going to get that video. I just realized that I taught myself to ride a bike so I really don't know how to "TEACH" it. I also see a lot of "crashes" so maybe some of my role-models aren't experts either. I can't take the training wheels off yet because she has made her stance that she won't get on the bike if I do.
Shandown,
At 11, I wouldn't push unless the child expressed the need for help just like you are doing.
Brenda,
Good luck with the little one. 6 with training wheels is still socially acceptable.
Thanks again everyone,
Terry
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Post by LurkNoMore on Aug 29, 2004 17:23:13 GMT -5
Back when my non-ADD daughter (now 12) was about 4 or 5, friends of ours saw something on the Today Show about teaching your kids to ride a bike. It worked with their athletic boys, my daughter and my ADD-er (not so coordinated) and 2 of his friends. I think he was about 7 at the time.
The theory is that to learn to ride a bike, you first need to learn how to balance. You take the pedals off the bike and lower the seat as far as it will go. Then let them just play around and coast. You'll see them getting their balance. Once you see them starting to balance, you put the pedals back on...it is amazing! All of these kids just got on the bike and pedaled away. When my ds learned, we brought him and 2 of the neighborhood kids over to the church playground for them to ride around and practice coasting. Within a few hours all 3 of them were riding their bikes!
Up until this summer, my ds (now 10) would ride very slowly and wiggly. This summer (mostly through increased practice and family bike rides), he picked up the speed a little and doesn't look so uncoordinated.
Hope this helps!
;D
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Post by d on Aug 30, 2004 8:18:34 GMT -5
TerryB, my dd was delayed in bike riding too. She was ok with it didn't seem to notice for a long time - didn't bother her at all although hubby and I knew she was behind long before she noticed. Only when became aware and frustrated with not being able to ride (finally noticed that the neighborhood kids her age were able to) that's when hubby stepped in with daily early evening lessons over and over till she got it - the old Dad breaks his back holding the back of the seat. So throw in the towel until it bothers her - pick & choose, right? The bike riding will come eventually but if it begins to bother her before then, then you can make it your mission.
DD was also delayed with tying her own shoes which didn't come until she was 7. That one broke my heart b/c this is my child with perpetually untied laces - we stepped in when I discovered her friends tied her shoes for her at recess each day.
In 5th grade she has locker lock challenges - cannot do them despite *hours* of one on one tutelage. She is going into middle school where she would have been responsible for two school issued locker combinations. We got that accomodated - the school will set her combinations to zero and she can bring in a locks with keys. She is greatly relieved - I think that was her biggest anxiety about middle school - to the point she doesn't care her locker will look different from the other kids (and some really cool looking keyed locks, keys and keychains to make her feel better about the whole thing).
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Post by Mayleng on Aug 30, 2004 8:36:43 GMT -5
d, my non LDer had a hard time learning the locks too. He was getting frustrated but after an HOUR, he finally got it. You are right, this is what he was scared and excited about going to Middle school. He starts Sept 8. I would be more worred when my ADDer starts MS in 3 yrs time. I will remember this accomodation when his turn comes - lock and Key. Then Iwould be scared he would lose the key. Better give the homeroom teacher a set too.
My ADDer was also delayed tying his shoes and riding a bike too. I swear, the day I put him on meds, he got on his bike and just rode it. He also put on rollerblades (which he could never do) that same day and just did it. I was amazed. He still hates tying his shoes but he can do it. He actually got that part after meds too. Told me his mind was cleared up when I asked him why he managed to suddenly do all those things. He was 7 when he did all that (beginning of last year).
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Post by d on Aug 30, 2004 8:56:06 GMT -5
Mayleng, I shopped and shopped - got keyed locks - so she can use the same key for hall locker and gym locker. The school requested I send in four extra keys - for the principal, custodial staff, homebase teacher and gym teacher. For her own key, she painted one side with nail polish so she doesn't fumble with getting the key in (her idea). I bought several key chains - I think we are going to use a coil one that can attach to a link on the inside of her pocketbook to minimize chances of losing the key. Depending on where her highly responsible best friend's locker location is relative to hers, she may get a key copy too. I also have a bunch of extra key copies I'm storing away.
Last year we spent hours upon hours trying to teach her the combination lock. We wrote the combo inside her sneakers with sharpie pen. By Dec. hubby gave up. The gym teacher tried to teach her (she was horrified). I just couldn't see her stressing 4x+/day every day (and TWO combinations next year) about something she still cannot get. I think it's ADHD plus a dyslexia thing - she had the most awful time learning to tell time on analog clocks - that's only coming easier now.
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Post by Mayleng on Aug 30, 2004 9:01:09 GMT -5
The good thing about my son's school is that the two locks (if bought from the school) have the same combination. So he only has to learn one combo. But is the turning left, turning right 3 times, turning left etc that drove him nuts. AND this is my responsible child. Looks like you have enough keys to cover all bases.
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Post by TerryB on Aug 31, 2004 21:34:32 GMT -5
Lurk,
Great idea about the coasting. Did you bother to take off the pedals when you had your son and the 2 neighbors learning? Or, did you take all their pedals off?
Terry
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Post by Dakotah on Sept 1, 2004 9:56:58 GMT -5
The no pedals thing sounds like great idea! My ADHD (6) is not close to getting rid of his training wheels. Maybe I'll try letting him coast. Also we have tried over and over to raise his training wheels so he isn't so stable. Finally he is able to ride his bike with them raised!
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 1, 2004 14:37:55 GMT -5
Lurk, Great idea about the coasting. Did you bother to take off the pedals when you had your son and the 2 neighbors learning? Or, did you take all their pedals off? Terry Yup...took the pedals off of all 3 of the bikes. I think the pedals distract them from learning to balance. All 3 of them (and C is the only one of them w/ADHD) took off within about an hour. It was amazing! You would think once you put the pedals back on again, they would have problems but they don't! Try it and let me know how it works out (I know of at least 8 kids that have learned this way)... Good luck!  |
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Post by LurkNoMore on Sept 1, 2004 14:39:03 GMT -5
The no pedals thing sounds like great idea! My ADHD (6) is not close to getting rid of his training wheels. Maybe I'll try letting him coast. Also we have tried over and over to raise his training wheels so he isn't so stable. Finally he is able to ride his bike with them raised! try it out...it's easy to do (and free)! Let me know how it works out!! Good luck. ;D |
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Post by mrsheartbuzz on Sept 16, 2004 12:04:00 GMT -5
My son learned late to ride his bike (age 8) .After numerous attempts to teach him, he learned at the "sitter's " house. Her boys were always out riding and he HAD to learn to keep up. I also found out from his OT that he has some balance problems and sensory issues that probably hinder/ed him. He still doesn't ride much and he is 10. I lived on my bike when was his age.
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Post by Brenda on Sept 16, 2004 20:27:35 GMT -5
My son learned late to ride his bike (age 8) .After numerous attempts to teach him, he learned at the "sitter's " house. Her boys were always out riding and he HAD to learn to keep up. I also found out from his OT that he has some balance problems and sensory issues that probably hinder/ed him. He still doesn't ride much and he is 10. I lived on my bike when was his age. Steph has SI Dysfunction and balance problems too.Her OT said one of our "goals" is getting her to ride her bike without training wheels.Your post gives me hope.  |
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