With so many digital distractions these days, it can be tricky to ensure that our kids get the exercise they need on a daily (or even weekly) basis. Working cycling into the school run is a sure-fire way of introducing regular exercise into your children’s routine and setting them up for a healthier lifestyle. With the new school year on the horizon, now is the perfect time to prepare your child for a ride to school, ready for when they return.
In this article we’ll discuss the main benefits of turning the school run into a two-wheeled adventure and what you should look out for when you’re choosing a bike for your child.
Benefits of cycling to school
There are a wide range of benefits when it comes to cycling to school – here are some of the highlights:
It’ll encourage them to be more active
Experts say that in order to stay fit and healthy, children should do moderate physical exercise for at least one hour each day. While sports classes at school can help kids achieve this, a report by Sport England found that one in three kids does less than half the recommended physical exercise per day.
Cycling to school is a great way to help your kids meet that one-hour-a-day target. In fact, according to research by Cycling UK, kids aged 10-16 who regularly cycle to school are 70% (girls) and 30% (boys) more likely to meet their recommended fitness levels.
It’s good for their health
Research has shown that being active from a young age right through into adulthood can really improve the chances of your children living longer, healthier (and hopefully happier!) lives. The main cause of heart disease in later life is physical inactivity, so staying active is definitely a smart idea.
There are plenty of immediate health benefits, too, including improved bone strength, healthier joints and improved performance in school – perfect for your little learners!
It’s a convenient way to exercise – and fun!
Nowadays, kids have so many gadgets and gizmos for entertainment that exercise isn’t always a top priority. The school run is the perfect opportunity to work some exercise into their daily routine, as it’s something they’re going to be doing each day anyway.
Cycling to school is also a fun way of getting to know the local area and, for many kids, can be more exciting than travelling by car. They might even find that cycling to school makes the journey quicker, thanks to the lack of congestion, which means a precious few more minutes in bed each morning!
It can help save the planet
Cycling is great for the environment, too. By taking a bike instead of the car, you and your kids can help to reduce local traffic congestion and pollution, which is great for the local area (and the polar bears!).
It helps to build confidence
Cycling empowers children to explore their local area and get out into nature, rather than staring at a screen. It offers them the freedom to choose a particular route or destination and helps encourage their independence to blossom. Plus, every bike riding milestone, whether it’s taking off the stabilisers or tackling a mountain trail, installs a sense of confidence and pride within your child. It can also help to develop their social skills as they meet with friends and practice teamwork.
… And it can help you save some money!
After the initial investment in bikes and some basic bike accessories, cycling becomes a really cost-effective way of getting your kids to and from school. It’ll help to reduce your petrol or public transport costs, and also save you some precious time stuck in the rush hour crawl.
Choosing the right bike for your child
Feeling inspired to get a new bike for your child? Then it’s important to get exactly the right size to help make sure that your child will be able to ride comfortably and safely. Check out our bike size guide if you’d like to learn more about getting the right size bike for your child.
You’ll find plenty of kids’ bike options on our website to suit every style, including popular brands such as Carrera and Apollo. We’ve even got junior mountain bikes and BMX bikes for little adventurers! If your kid needs some encouragement, surprise them this autumn (or Christmas) with a personalised bike. Across much of our range, name stickers are available for purchase as well as accessories like streamers and baskets.
Setting off for school
When your child sets off on their next adventure (to the school gates), it’s important that they are protected and safe.
Our kids’ cycling helmets come in a wide range of styles and sizes, so it’s important to know what to look out for. Helmets that are too big (or too small) will be uncomfortable for your child to wear, and won’t protect your child’s head properly. For more information, have a read of our guide to choosing a child’s bike helmet.
Additional protection is available including knee and elbow pads and padded gloves. Plus, with the darker nights steadily rolling in, ensure that your child is visible when they’re cycling on the road. We carry many exciting bike accessories that boost visibility including spoke lights, horns, and front and rear lights and reflectors.
Getting to school almost always requires riding on or near the road, which is why teaching road safety is so vitally important.
Children under the age of 10 are below the age of criminal responsibility. Therefore, they cannot be prosecuted or issued with a fixed penalty notice. This means that, while police officers can theoretically stop young children (under age 10) from cycling on the pavement, they have no powers to fine or even caution them. This is sensible, as young children shouldn’t be expected to cycle on the road.
However, from the age of 10 onwards, they should ride on the left-hand side of the road and in the same direction as the traffic. Teach them that when crossing the road, it’s crucial to come to a full stop, check both ways (multiple times if required) and move predictably and steadily.
Discourage them from using any distractions like their phone, headphones or eating, while cycling.
Finally, going through some simple hand signals can be very useful for safety and building their confidence.
- Raise the left arm straight and horizontal whilst remaining in line with the shoulder to indicate turning left.
- Likewise, raise the right arm out and horizontal to indicate turning right.
- Hold the right arm out and bend 90° at the elbow, with the palm facing forwards and up to show that you’re stopping.
Good luck on your two-wheeled school runs and have a look at our range of kids’ bikes and accessories to get your little ones kitted out safely and securely!
