Learning to ride a tricycle

Why do some children find this difficult?

Balance and the ability to move both sides of the body at the same time can make it hard for some children to ride a tricycle.

Strategies and advice

• Make sure your child’s tricycle fits them properly and that their legs can touch the pedals or reach the floor.
• Some children are helped by practising on balance bikes without pedals.
• Young children can also practise getting their balance on other sit-and-ride toys such as rocking horses, little cars etc. This will give them the chance to practise getting on and off and sitting on. Make sure their feet can touch the ground.
• Practise with getting on and off the tricycle. Help them by steadying it to start with. This will mean them getting on and off balancing on one leg.
• Practise with pushing the tricycle along with both feet doing the same movement without the pedals to start with. If they need help to move the tricycle forward, think about buying one with an adult push bar.
• Once they are confident, try encouraging them to place their feet on the pedals.
• Place their feet on the pedal with one knee at the top and gently prompt them to push down to get started. You might need to push them to help them if they are not strong enough.
• Keep prompting and praising them so they keep pushing down with the top knee to keep moving the pedals and the tricycle forward.
• You will need to help your child steer as they get used to doing all the different parts of tricycle riding, gradually offering less and less support until they master it.

Last reviewed February 2026