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Balance Bikes for Toddlers
ages 2 to 5 years*
(Balance bicycles, training bike, running bike, walking bicycle)
The new way, the right way, for children as young
as 2 years to learn to ride
Training wheels are now obsolete!
Turnertoys.com has had a couple of years experience with wooden
balance bikes and decided that the best of the steel or aluminum versions
are better made and a much better value.
The Sprint is the best designed and best built balance bike we have
found.
See
the new 2008 model all-steel Sprint™ Balance Bike - Precision-engineered by Kettler®
Balance Bikes make learning to ride a bicycle as
natural as crawling, walking, and running. Sitting comfortably on the
adjustable-height seat, your child is having too much fun to realize he or
she is rapidly developing superior balance, reflexes, and coordination.
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Learning to balance comes naturally at age 2˝. When your child has mastered the Balance Bike
at about age 4 to 5, just subsitute a real bike with pedals. It's as natural as that!
Turnertoys.com has decided to endorse the
Sprint™ Balance Bike
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find out why!
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Introduce a toddler to this handsome, solidly
built toy. First he or she will sit on the seat; then walk
a few steps. The Balance Bike rolls easily and smoothly along. Next, a
toddler will try running a few steps - so easy, such fun! Finally, up come
the feet, and he or she is rolling along on 2 wheels! Whenever balance feels
insecure, the feet go automatically back to the ground. Stopping is
easy - just stand up!
Kettler® Sprint™ Balance Bike
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Age recommendation: 2 to 5 years.
A child is ready as soon as he or she is
walking and running confidently with good balance and coordination, and can place his or her
heels on the ground
while sitting on the seat with knees slightly flexed. Children from
age 2 to 3 may be a little too short to do this. Seat height is adjustable from
14" to 17".
Teaching or coaching "how to
ride" will ruin this toy for most children! Introduce it, explain
it, and allow them to figure it out and progress with it entirely at their own pace! At
most, watching an older child demonstrate it may be helpful.
Just starting to learn balance at age 6 after trikes and training wheels is much harder!
A smaller bike where feet could reach the ground would have
helped, too! (1950 Photo)
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Safety: We endorse The Sprint™ as a product that is
completely safe for children as young as 2 years old. Even though The Sprint™
is made in China, every detail of this toy is manufactured with
excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail. There cannot be any concerns about
lead toxicity, since there is no paint anywhere on the toy: The finish
is polyester powder coat. The metal parts are high-strength steel, the
wheels are rubber, and the plastic is safe, non-toxic polyethylene (read
about this plastic here). None of these materials are
ever made with toxic substances such as lead.
All parts are smoothly finished, with no sharp
edges. Limited turn angle
enhances stability. The Sprint™ is a toy, not a means of
transportation, and must not be used on vehicular rights-of-way, parking
lots, or other areas used by motor vehicles. Young children must be
supervised at all times, and must wear proper certified bicycle safety
helmets. The Sprint™ is designed for use on level ground. Use on
steep inclines (over 5% grade) is unsafe; children may be unable
to stop.
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Why the Sprint™
balance bikes are best for toddlers:
With the
Sprint™, the rider learns balance first, pedaling last. In contrast, with a normal bicycle fitted with training wheels, the rider learns pedal first, balance last. Although opinions differ regarding which learning sequence is easier for most riders, it is generally agreed that a bicycle with pedals is too difficult for most very young children and that training wheels may encourage the rider to learn some
bad habits which later must be unlearned.
To function properly, a balance bicycle must be small enough that the rider can walk the bicycle while sitting comfortably in the saddle, putting both feet flat on the ground. The rider first walks the bicycle while standing over the saddle, then while sitting in the saddle. Eventually, the rider feels comfortable enough to run and "scoot" while riding the bicycle, then to lift both feet off the ground and cruise while balancing on the two wheels.
Children as young as 18 months can learn to cruise a balance bicycle
with a few hours' practice.
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