Parents pay to have bike riding lessons for their kids

Category: Achieve Published on Tuesday, 04 September 2012 12:59 Written by WDIV

DETROIT -

Remember when your mom or dad taught you how to ride a bike? First, the training wheels, then just two wheels, a couple of spills and pretty soon you were bike a rider. Now, more parents are letting someone else do the training when it comes to this childhood milestone.

Nick Pavlakis from Canadian-based Pedalheads told NBC's TODAY Moms,  the bicycle instruction business is booming because parents don’t have time and they lack skills.

“A lot of parents come to us and they’ve tried on their own and found it to be quite a struggle," he said.

Some parents just don't want to see their children fall or don't have the time in their hectic schedules.

“At the end of the day, she knows how to ride a bike. End of story,” Canadian writer Rebecca Eckler told TODAY Moms. But her post sparked mommy judgment. Why?

“I think its just because a lot of people don’t know something like this is available,” she said.

Outsourcing Debate

Parents who like the idea of someone else teaching their children to ride, argue they already let the experts teach their kids how to swim, play soccer or play the piano.

Others like the feeling of accomplishment that comes from passing on that skill.

Diane Mizota told TODAY Moms she might have hired out if she’d known she had the option, but is happy that she didn’t. Though she was worried she wasn't up to the task she remembers, “I'm still claiming a major mommy victory. I overcame my mental block and earned the bragging rights and discovery that there is no feeling in the world like watching your kid ride a bike for the first time.”

By the way, you don't have to pay for those lessons. Some communities have free programs to show your child the ropes.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/lifestyle/family/Parents-pay-to-have-bike-riding-lessons-for-their-kids/-/2300348/16474540/-/p21km6/-/index.html