Why do we love biking so much? It makes our family feel good and helps our kids develop much-needed skills!
Getting kids out on bikes from an early age has many benefits. Kids, especially in the COVID-19 and technology era where isolation has become the norm, children benefit greatly from being exposed more to the outside world. With COVID-19, we have to stay safe, but the outdoors is a great place to be! It's easy for our kids to be outside because they thrive in that environment and want to be there. They jump at any chance to hop on their bikes even if it's just riding in circles in front of our house. We've seen firsthand how their moods can change from just 5 minutes of turning the pedals.
We all go through blah days, especially as young kids who are still trying to figure life out. The one thing that changes my mood five pedal strokes in, is biking. It doesn't have to be long, just a quick ride around the block. Below I will discuss the four benefits I have seen in my kids as they have gotten more comfortable experiencing life from a bike seat. 1. Stress Reliever: A lot is expected of kids at school. As they move from class to class or from subject to subject in a room full of students needing attention, they come home to more homework and chores. No wonder why they feel anxious or stressed out. Hopping on a bike to go on a ride around the block, either alone (if they are old enough) or with family or friends, is a great way for them to turn their minds off. There have been times where my 7-year old has opened up to me on a bike ride, something he may not have done if we were home. Biking helps melt the stress away. When kids get home they may want to jump on the television to self-soothe, but that just adds to the stress and their brains don't have the time to shut down and recover. Kids need brain breaks to process the day and cleanse their minds. Biking is a great way to do that.
2. Increased Focus: Biking has been shown to help children focus. When a child moves, blood flow increases in the body and the brain. If a child has more blood flowing, they have more energy and oxygen being pumped making the brain function better. This helps kids be more alert in school and increases cognitive function. They are less cranky and make better decisions.
3. Enhanced Social Skills: Biking can be an independent or team sport. Biking is whatever you want it to be but it can teach you determination and patience and social skills that are needed as we become adults. When children are learning to bike, they are often looking for new friends to ride with. For kids,s the more friends they have to ride down the big hill, the more fun they will have. Biking has the ability to provide kids with quality family and friends time that helps develop socialization for their future.
4. Confidence Booster: By feeling more confident, focused and having less anxiety, a child will feel more at peace with their surroundings. Endorphins that are released during the activity make kids feel like they have accomplished something. It can be a simple task like riding without training wheels or something more extreme like learning to do a backflip. Whatever the successful completion of a goal is, it gives kids a boost. By practicing a new skill over and over, it teaches kids determination and patience as well. Biking can also help close the gender gap, as it empowers girls and women to feel more comfortable with their bodies, again building more confident humans. Getting out on a bike can benefit the whole family. It brings everyone closer together and allows you to explore places you've already been, but in a different way. On a bike you are more aware of your surroundings and can see things you didn't even know existed in your own neighborhood. Help your kids get on a bike. If you have any questions about biking, find us on Instagram at @alifemaspicante or message us here!