After the training wheels: the safety reflexes

1Braking gently

• Both hands together: never grab the front brake sharply on its own — it can send them straight over the handlebars
• Slow down before stopping: brake progressively, not all at once
• Practise coming to a full stop in the garden or a car park before riding where there are people around

2Looking far ahead

• Eyes ahead, not on the wheel: at first, many kids stare at their handlebars — that's exactly when they don't see an obstacle coming
• Spot what's approaching early: a person, a bike, a bend, a kerb

3Keeping their distance

• With other riders: don't hug the wheel of the person in front, leave room to stop
• With obstacles: kerbs, low walls, gates — leave a margin, especially when turning

4Riding at their own pace

• Don't get swept along by a faster friend or older sibling
• Slow down in crowded, uncertain or unfamiliar areas
• Going fast is never the goal — riding with confidence is

5Staying aware — of themselves and others

• If they lose balance: let go of the pedals, put a foot down, don't panic or brake hard
• Call out before overtaking someone: "passing on your left!"
• Listen to instructions from an adult or instructor, even mid-action — this prevents the most accidents
• Safety is for themselves and for the people around them

No need to work on everything the same day: one reflex at a time, calmly repeated, beats one long lesson. What matters most is still the joy of riding — safety comes next, naturally, with practice.