Turning Kids into Avid Arizona Cyclists

By The Husband and Wife Law Team on February 7, 2014

When it comes to kids, we know that today’s culture has a lot to do with them being fatter, sicker, and slower, and that they spend more time inside than they do outside, so how can you turn your kid into an avid Arizona cyclist? It may seem like an impossible feat since most kids today would rather ride bicycles in a virtual reality simulation than out on the real road, feeling the sun on the faces and the wind whipping through their hair. But here are some ways you can encourage your child to pick up cycling and get moving once again.

• Get your child a bicycle. The first step is the most obvious one: get a bicycle for your child. Take them to the bicycle shop and let them pick out their own bicycle so that they feel like it’s really theirs.
• Let your kid pick out all of their own gear. This includes their helmet, gloves, knee pads, and any other gear you want to allow your child to have for their bicycle. This may include bicycle bells, baskets, rim lights, and the works. Make it fun so your child wants to get on their bicycle and knows that it is an expression of their individuality, not what their parents think of their personality.
• Go out riding with your child regularly. Make riding a family activity and set the expectation that your family will go riding together at least one time, two times, three times, or more each week. Establishing regular ride times helps your child to learn boundaries and to know when they won’t have access to video games.
• Encourage your child to make use of their bicycle to get around. If they want to go to a friend’s house to play, they should ride their bicycle. If they want to go to the movies, they should use their bicycle. If they need a lift to school, they should rely on their bicycle.

All you have to do to instill cycling in your child’s mind as a priority is to make it a priority of your own.