We Teach Your Child How to Ride a Bike
A 5 session balance bike program designed to help preschool children master balance first so riding feels natural, safe, and empowering.
$199 • Equipment Provided
Ages 3–5
Why Parents Choose TopStep Development’s Balance Bike Program
Riding a Bike Used to Be Simple
Someone ran beside you.
The road felt quiet.
Time felt long.
Learning to ride was a moment. A rite of passage.
Today looks different.
Parents are busy.
Neighborhoods move faster.
Schedules are full from morning to night.
Screens fill the quiet spaces in between.
Screens Can Teach Information, But They Cannot Teach Motor Skills
Balance, coordination, and confidence are built through movement.And movement has to be experienced to be learned.
Riding a bike is still an important milestone.
But in real life, it often gets pushed aside.
Between getting everyone out the door in the morning, working all day, pickup, afterschool activities, dinner, homework, bath time, and trying to carve out a little time for themselves, parents are pulled in a hundred directions.
Parents tell us:
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“We’ll get to it” turns into months passing
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“They’d rather grab the tablet than practice.”
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“By the end of the day, I just don’t have the energy.”
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“I don’t want it to turn into a battle.”
The Balance Bike Program brings riding back the way it should feel.
Structured. Supportive. Empowering.
You don’t have to manage the struggle.
You get to celebrate the success.
What Is a Balance Bike and Why It Works
A balance bike is a pedal-free bike that teaches balance first.
Instead of pedaling right away, children keep their feet on the ground while they learn to stabilize and control the bike.
They begin by:
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Walking the bike
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Pushing with their feet
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Gliding
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Steering and stopping
As confidence grows, their feet naturally lift, and balance becomes instinctive.
Unlike training wheels, balance bikes do not prop children upright.
They teach children how to balance their own bodies, the skill that makes riding truly independent.
Children who start on balance bikes often:
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Ride sooner
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Fall less
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Feel more confident
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Skip training wheels entirely
Balance is the foundation. When balance comes first, pedaling becomes simple.
Why Bike Riding Still Matters
Riding a bike is not an official developmental milestone.
But it reflects something deeper.
It integrates:
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Dynamic balance
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Bilateral coordination
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Core strength
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Motor planning
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Visual motor integration
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Confidence and risk assessment
These systems cannot be built through a screen.
When they sync, confidence shows up everywhere.
On the playground. In the classroom. At home.
Movement builds confidence.
Confidence supports learning.
More Than Just Riding
Children are not only learning to balance.
They are practicing:
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Listening and following directions
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Taking turns and sharing space
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Staying within boundaries
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Managing frustration
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Building independence
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Skills that carry into everyday life.
Skills Children Build Through the Program
Research Behind the Program
Balance bike programs have been shown to:
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Improve motor competence in preschool children
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Support earlier independent riding
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Strengthen balance and coordination systems
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Enhance confidence through movement mastery
Earlier Independent Riding
A retrospective study published through the National Institutes of Health found that children who learned to ride using balance bikes achieved independent riding significantly earlier than children who learned using training wheels. On average, balance bike learners began riding independently almost two years earlier, because they mastered balance first rather than pedaling before balance.
Source:
Stronger Balance and Postural Control
Research examining motor development in young children shows that balance bikes actively challenge postural control and dynamic balance. Children using balance bikes develop better balance strategies because they must continuously adjust their body position, rather than relying on external stabilization.
Source:
NIH – Postural Control and Motor Development in Balance Bike Learning
More Efficient Motor Learning
Studies in sports science and motor learning show that balance bikes promote more efficient skill acquisition by allowing children to experience manageable instability. This variability helps the brain adapt more effectively, resulting in faster learning and smoother transitions to pedal bikes.
Source:
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Benefits Beyond Riding
Research on structured balance bike programs in preschool-aged children has shown improvements not only in balance, but also in:
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Gross motor competence
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Coordination
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Overall motor skill development
These improvements are linked to better movement confidence and participation in group activities.
Source:
Sports (MDPI) – Effects of Balance Bike Interventions in Early Childhood
Investment
5 Structured Sessions: $199
Payment is handled directly through your school.
This often replaces:
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Buying a training wheel bike
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Upgrading bikes later
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Frustrating weekend attempts
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Hours of trial and error
One program. One skill.
A lifetime return.
My School Signed Up
I Need to Register
If your school is hosting the Balance Bike Program, please complete the required registration and waiver prior to the first session.
Safety You Can Feel Good About
Your Child's Safety is Always the Priority
Program standards include:
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CPR and First Aid certified instructors
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Background-checked staff
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SafeSport compliance
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Program insurance coverage
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Cycling and instructional affiliations, including USA Cycling (USAC)
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Instruction is structured, supervised, and developmentally appropriate for preschool-aged children.
Additional Safety Procedures
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Sanitized helmet provided
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Age-appropruate size balance bike
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Parent-signed waiver and photo/video consent required
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Medical notes and allergy disclosures collected in advance
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Incident report protocol coordinated with school administration
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Weather make-up sessions provided if outdoor class is canceled
Full liability documentation is available upon request.
Bring This Program To My Child's School
Your Child Is About to Build a Skill That Lasts a Lifetime
Learning to ride should feel empowering, not overwhelming.
Your child will learn to ride.
The only question is when.
If your school is not yet participating, we would love to connect with them.
You can help by introducing us to your school’s director or administrator. We will handle the details from there.
A demo allows leadership to see how the program fits their space, schedule, and students.
They’ll observe:
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How children progress from big steps to gliding
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How sessions are structured and safely managed
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How movement supports focus, listening, and classroom behavior
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There is no obligation.