GM.F.134 STEERS A TRIKE AROUND WIDE CORNERS

This skill requires accurate control while riding the trike. It is a must, unless you are prepared to be constantly redirecting your child when she rides into obstacles.

How to Assess

Materials: A trike, and 2 or 3 obstacles, such as barrels or chairs, placed 3 metres apart.

Method: Place your child on the trike and ask her to ride it in and out of the obstacles and back to the start. If possible, ask another child to demonstrate. Score plus if your child can steer the trike around the obstacles. Do not yet expect her to turn sharp corners.

How to Teach

First show your child how to use an obstacle course, if you haven’t already used one in running activities.

Next use your rope (as in previous activities) to pull your child around the obstacles, directing her to keep her feet on the pedals and to turn the handles. Your child has many things on which to concentrate in learning this skill! Reduce your assistance gradually until your child no longer needs it.

It is not necessary to use only formal obstacle courses when teaching this skill. Any bike-riding session can include some turning – there will be no shortage of naturally occurring obstacles! When other trike riders are around, encourage games of ‘follow the leader’, or let the children take turns at directing the ‘traffic’.