Tips for buying a balance bike and using it in the kindergarten.
On this page you will find tips on buying our balance bikes and spare parts. For example, the right saddle height, the right tyres or special equipment. If you have any questions about our products, simply use our contact form.
The correct saddle height
When the child is sitting on the bike, the feet should be on the ground and the knees should be slightly bent. This is very important so that the child does not lose control (saddle too high) or is hindered in movement (saddle too low).
As your groups consist of children of different sizes, a balance bike with a height-adjustable saddle is of course a good solution. For example, you can set the green bike at the lowest saddle height (37 cm), the red one at a medium height and the blue one at the highest position (45 cm). Using the colour signals, you can then always see which child fits best on which bike.
Another rough guide: Saddle height = crotch height minus 2-3 cm.
The right tyre
In the Kindergarten sector, the solid tyre made of EVA has rightly become established, which never needs to be inflated, so that the equipment is always available.
The handlebar: with steering stop or without?
On some balance bikes, the handlebars rotate completely around their axis. The disadvantage is that the child easily loses control and falls when the handlebars are pulled over.
Other bikes, including ours, have a reduced steering angle, which serves to prevent falls, as it is not possible to pull the handlebars over. We recommend this variant.
Handbrake yes or no?
Quite clearly: no! Firstly, the children are supposed to learn to work with their feet, secondly, the little ones do not yet understand the principle of the handbrake and therefore cannot use it properly, thirdly, a handbrake is a very sensitive part and would break within a very short time.
Special equipment yes or no?
Do without mudguards, baskets, bells etc. - these are all parts that are broken or gone in no time at kindergarten.
The handles are softly padded at the end for safety, to minimise the risk of injury in case of a fall. This inevitably makes them a wearing part: as we all know, children like to just drop their running bike after playing, so the soft rubber gets worn down over time.
If the children learn to "park" their running wheel properly, the handles will last a very long time. Otherwise they have to be replaced from time to time.
Small tip: Maybe you can explain to the children that parking (carefully putting down) is part of riding.
The concept of a balance bike - educational play value
redtoys offers the child a safe way to learn to ride a bike. The learning process is greatly simplified and thus made safer by the concept "first balance - then pedal". The children not only train their sense of balance, but also their perception and feeling for speed.
The balance bike helps children from 2-5 years to balance, coordinate movement sequences and finally ride a bike safely from the first second. The bike has the same steering and the same requirement to keep balance as a bicycle. However, it has no pedals or training wheels. It is small enough to allow the child to sit comfortably while keeping both feet firmly on the ground. The child learns to walk, ride and balance in a playful way.
When it has developed enough self-confidence, it can take both feet off the ground and ride while keeping its balance on the 2 wheels. In this way, every child can learn to balance at their own pace. When it sits on a bicycle for the first time, it will ride safely from the very first moment. This would not be possible if training wheels were used.