Pushing pedals on a bike - what is normal for a nearly 5 year old?

DD got a BYK bike before Christmas - she was very keen on having one and not having a balance bike. It is about as light as you can get for a kids bike with training wheels, but she really seems to struggle to pedal it at all - she can't get herself going ever, and doesn't seem to keep going much either.

She had hip dysplasia as a baby, and I have this nagging worry that there is something wrong that is causing this. She runs, jumps etc fine, she isn't very adept at climbing though and I have always thought she is quite weak at pushing up with her legs.

I also think her legs don't look quite right on her bike, we have tried various seat heights to try improve the ability to push down to know avail.

We try to keep practicing on the bike, but there doesn't seem to be any improvement. Today went to traffic school and see all these kids rushing round on bikes - I have never seen another child seem to struggle as much with the pedals as she does.

What do you think? Has anyone else had a child who just seems unable to pedal properly.

I have a 4.5 year old that won't even attempt it and a 2.5 year old that rides a bike easily. Talking to my cousins, a couple of their kids were still having issues with peddles approaching 5 so I don't think it is crazily out of the norm.

Did you have her fitted for the bike? It could be that it's the wrong size for her.

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Did you have her fitted for the bike? It could be that it's the wrong size for her.

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Yes we did have her fitted for it (very reputable bike shop by a BB members other half :-))

Is she generally a bit uncoordinated?

DS can pedal now, we got him a 30cm bike at age 3, but it took him a good month or two before he worked out the pedalling himself with ease, he was a bit hit and miss for a while, we'd have to push him off for ages, then he finally worked out how to start the motion himself.

is the bike a bit stiff being new? can you turn the pedals yourself easily?

Has she learnt to pedal using a trike? My boys all learnt how to pedal that way, they handled moving to a 2 wheeler with no worries.

My DS will be 4 on Sunday and he flatly refuses to pedal on a bike. I really wanted to get him a tricycle for his birthday but he says he can't pedal, and says he'll wait till Christmas. He is very tall for his age so I know he can touch the ground with his feet, with the seat on the lowest setting on a 40 cm bike, but he just can't be bothered pushing on the pedals. He's quite happy to push himself long with his feet on the ground or for me to push him, but then he says it's 'too scary'. He is a very active boy but I don't think he's got enough strength in his legs. I'll let him tell me when he's ready I guess......

Is this the first pedal bike she's had? If so I think it's quite normal that it's taking a while to get it. I have seen children quite a bit older that have never had a pedal bike struggle to get it too. Give her time and she'll get it.

DD took several months to find confidence, coordination and strength for her bike - she was keen for a few seconds, and then just wanted back on the scooter or other ride ons that she could just use her feet on the ground. then one day it just clicked and she can zoom all over the place now.

but i'd say it was a good six months or more before she was confident enough to give it a fair crack herself

DD1 is the same as your DD wysiwyg. It takes so much effort for her to pedal. We're pretty slack on practice for her, but it's sort of hard to make her get on the bike when we know how hard she finds it. She's had a growth spurt so I should try again.

Have you tried her on something different? We have an antique trike here, all rusted up - DD1 can pedal that without a worry because she leans back more, where bikes are quite upright.

DS1 is 5.5 and DS2 is 4 both got bikes Christmas 2012 and still can't ride them and not interested!!!!!! Neither can pedal and my back was killing pushing there legs around for them!!! They both would far rather scoot!! Have a balance bike as well and not interested in that either!

my 3.5yo has just got the hang of pedaling (but she cant swing herself on the swings) at the same time as my 7.5yo niece. (though her twin could ride without training wheels at 5, so all very different children)

How is she at stair climbing? That uses similar muscles. The hip dysphasia makes sense so if you still see someone about that it may be worth asking about strength issues in the legs caused by dysphasia.

Dp suggests finding a nice gentle slope that moves into a flat to help get her started and gain momentum and then build her up to longer distances.

We also used a trailgator with our girls and they just pedalled behind us for long distances which helped them with the motion.

Feeb, nothing wrong with not pedalling, just drop the seat down, remove the pedals and let them keep balance biking until they are ready - our next door dd is nearly 7 and only just started being able to pedal or ride.

Nai have a balance bike as well and not interested at all!!!!

Both of my older children had pedal bikes with training wheels by the time they were about 3. It took around 6-ish months of practicing most days, for them to figure out the way they need to move their body to get the bike going and how to steer and move it. They both were able to ride without their training wheels by the time they were about 4.5.
My DS2, on the other hand, only just turned 3 in Jan, but has no interest in a pedal bike at all, won't even sit on one, and won't ride his balance bike or tricycle. He does love his scooter and is getting better at scoot-ering.

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How is she at stair climbing? That uses similar muscles. The hip dysphasia makes sense so if you still see someone about that it may be worth asking about strength issues in the legs caused by dysphasia.

Dp suggests finding a nice gentle slope that moves into a flat to help get her started and gain momentum and then build her up to longer distances.

We also used a trailgator with our girls and they just pedalled behind us for long distances which helped them with the motion.

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Stairs she is ok, but larger height than normal stairs she seems to struggle with - compared to DS. I am sure she needs a follow up this year about her hips so I will ask at that if no improvement. She doesn't seem averse to wanting to practice when she gets chance (and we use the carpark in the doctors across the road on weekends which has a little slope) but so far still seems like such an effort for her, but she at least seems willing to persevere.

It is her first pedal bike, she wasn't interested in a balance but now might be because a girl down the road zooms round on one. So I might take the pedals off it and let her do that for a bit. She is not fantastic on a scooter but not bad. She will walk a long way up and down hills etc without problem and I would have thought hip issues would have shown there too - but it still niggles me that might be hips.

I think I will try a trailgator, she loved the seat on the back of the bike before she got too heavy. I think her heaviness is part of the issue as she is too heavy (23kg) for the strength she has at the moment, am sure that will balance out.

My DS has hypermobility which has caused muscle weakness. Bike riding as an excellent activity for him. We are lucky, he loves to ride and has had his byk for a year now. His legs are very weak, as is his core.
To be honest, it sounds perfectly reasonable that she can't ride just yet. But if you think there is more to it than that, then get it looked into. The sooner these things are uncovered the better.

Good luck, hopefully it's nothing to be concerned with.

Where would you start to look into it - with the GP? She seems to get a lot of pins and needles too and cramp in her feet (I think she might be flat footed - DH is and when we saw a podiatrist when she was little - they said you can only really tell if flat foot when 4 to 5 - I don't think you can do much about flat feet, but maybe some types of shoes are better than others? - she often complains after a day of wearing her trainers - but not during the day).

I would see if you could get a referral to your local health centre OT - I got one for DD when she was 18mo through MCHN, so try there. I think an OT could tell you if her skill level was normal/ exercises to work on if needed. If you want to go to a Podiatrist you don't need a referral for private (but may need one for a public one - not sure)

wysiwyg - I went straight to my local children's services (physio, hearing, psych etc). A free service in my area. I asked to see a podiatrist because DS was someone who would often trip over his own feet. Other people considered him clumsy, but he was very agile too. I mean riding a bike at 3, no training wheels, and swimming lengths of the pool too. But yet he was always sporting a bruise on his head from various tumbles. I assumed that it was because he was so little and trying too hard. He would wake twice a night 3/4 times a week with cramp or sore legs.

The podiatrist immediately diagnosed joint hypermobility and low muscle tone. We were transferred to a physio. OT is actually a different area. Physio does strength and muscle etc. OT does subtly different things. I didn't know who to see, but they worked it out and got me to the right person.

I have since met other children with low muscle tone, and a couple with the low muscle tone combined with hypermobility.

As for shoes, DS can only wear completely fitting covered shoes. He has no strength in his feet to hold his shoes on, so he needs the shoes to hold themselves on. They have to be super bendy in the middle and a very firm heel counter. I used to be frustrated that he could manage to 'lose' his shoes off his feet while walking. He'd say, oh they fell off back there. I'd be bemused. Now I know why!

Anyway, not saying DD has any of this. Just might make you aware of one of the things it could be.

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wysiwyg - I went straight to my local children's services (physio, hearing, psych etc). A free service in my area. I asked to see a podiatrist because DS was someone who would often trip over his own feet. Other people considered him clumsy, but he was very agile too. I mean riding a bike at 3, no training wheels, and swimming lengths of the pool too. But yet he was always sporting a bruise on his head from various tumbles. I assumed that it was because he was so little and trying too hard. He would wake twice a night 3/4 times a week with cramp or sore legs.

The podiatrist immediately diagnosed joint hypermobility and low muscle tone. We were transferred to a physio. OT is actually a different area. Physio does strength and muscle etc. OT does subtly different things. I didn't know who to see, but they worked it out and got me to the right person.

I have since met other children with low muscle tone, and a couple with the low muscle tone combined with hypermobility.

As for shoes, DS can only wear completely fitting covered shoes. He has no strength in his feet to hold his shoes on, so he needs the shoes to hold themselves on. They have to be super bendy in the middle and a very firm heel counter. I used to be frustrated that he could manage to 'lose' his shoes off his feet while walking. He'd say, oh they fell off back there. I'd be bemused. Now I know why!

Anyway, not saying DD has any of this. Just might make you aware of one of the things it could be.

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Thanks for the info - I will look into the children's services The shoe thing is similar - but then I am like that too, and I have always thought was just lack of practice/interest in wearing other shoes. Hypermobility is often linked with hip dysplasia - but to me she is the other way - very unflexible (my mum often has commented on what a stiff child she seems). Her cramps don't tend to be at night but just sitting certain positions.

She has been late at developing most other physical things - so it could be just that - and maybe combined with my desire for her to enjoy riding a bike just because I love it so much. Need to finish this hell of a contract and then can sort it out - maybe she will have mastered it by then - or maybe it will be like the podiatrist and she started walking the day after the appointment :-)

I can't add any to what the others have said and don't really know what's 'normal' in terms of pedaling at her age. But I know several good OTs and an OT who is also a podiatrist if you need names. :)

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I can't add any to what the others have said and don't really know what's 'normal' in terms of pedaling at her age. But I know several good OTs and an OT who is also a podiatrist if you need names. :)

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I may take you up on that - what do you think San? you have seen her - she is considerably less agile than your DD (and most others her age in my opinion) - or maybe we just happen to only know others who are just more physically adept.

I would get it checked out too, I'd recommend OT, physio and a podiatrist.
My DS1 started peddling at around 4-5 years where as DS2 could do it earlier. DS2 has problems with his legs/feet, the tendons and muscles in his thigh are shorter than usual causing pigeon toes. He suffers from cramps which are worse during colder weather. He can run, jump, etc all fine he's just a bit un-coordinated at times lol.