Balance Bike vs. Tricycle for 3-Year Olds

Watching your 3-year old learning new things every day is a delight. Children at this age are full of energy and full of questions, which is why you must find the right activities that will help them have a balanced routine.

When they’re 3, all they do is play all day and discover new ways of having fun. Curiosity is the keyword when it comes to describing children at this age.

Also, this is when they see bigger children play with their toys or ride their huge bicycles. Yes, they want one, too; what did you expect? It is natural for a 3-year old to want things here and now.

Now the decision is yours. How are you going to prepare your child for the riding experience? Experts say that balance bikes are the best option, but skeptical mouths insist that tricycles are better.

What are the differences between balance bikes and tricycles?

The main difference between the two is their design and the way they work. While balance bikes are lightweight bikes that lack pedals, tricycles have three wheels, low seats and push handles. Some of them even have footrests.

Except for the design and features, there are plenty of differences between balance bikes and tricycles.

The kid gets to do all the work when “riding” a balance bike, also known as a glide bike or run bike. On the opposite, tricycles encourage children to be passive and wait for their parents to do all the work.

Taking curves is much easier when riding a balance bike than a tricycle. Children often fall off the tricycle when taking curves, due to their lack of stability.

With balance bikes children can manage to take turns on their own, as both their feet are on the ground and all they have to do is turn to the desired direction.

Another important difference between the two is the adjustment features. Tricycles can’t really be adjusted much, while balance bikes can be ridden by children of various ages.

Why choose a balance bike over a tricycle?

If you want your child to get used to riding a real bike from a very young age, you will definitely choose a balance bike over a tricycle. They are fun, nicely designed and keep kids busy all day long.

The effort that the kid puts in maintaining its balance, running or walking on the balance bike leads to well-developed feet and legs. The leg muscles become more powerful every day.

More than that, toddlers learn how to coordinate the movement of their skeletal muscles which is extremely important at the age of 3-4.

Although some parents think that it is dangerous for a 2-3 year old to get on a balance bike by itself, they are convinced of the opposite every time a kid starts riding.

Kids find balance bikes awesome. The handlebars support them when they are tired and the brakes help them slow down whenever they need to stop. It’s easy to see your children happy when they feel confident and stronger every day!