My cousin has a mild case of CP in her legs. She is 8 years old and wants to learn how to ride without training wheels(she can ride with training wheels). My cousin does have a small balance problem but so does any kid when theyre just learning how to ride without training wheels. I think that i can teach her how and i asked her parents and they said that she would never be able to ride a bike without wheels. I was furious! I think she can and i am determined to teach her. I did try once and for 3 seconds she was able to ride. I think thats normal for any child for their first time to be able to ride on a bike for a good 3 seconds. I think baby steps will lead her on a good path to being able to reach this goal. Heres my question:Is it impossible to teach a child with CP how to ride a bike with no wheels?

NO, it is not impossible!!!
My older child (no CP) learned how to ride without training wheels around 6 years old, and had a HARD time at first. It took about 2 months to learn, and then another 2 months to feel completely confident and not to fall, etc. SO, yes, its hard for every child, CP or no CP!!

My younger one (with mild CP) learned how to ride a two wheeler with traning wheels before turning 3, and I will do everything possible to teach him how to ride without training wheels in a year or so when he is around 5.


I think it awesome for you to teach your little cousin to ride without traning wheels. It will give her the much needed exercise and train her balance, not to mention confidence and self esteem to be able to do things that other 8 year olds are doing.

Let us know how it goes!! I will cheer you on :bouncing:

I, myself, never learned how to ride a bike because NO ONE TOOK THE TIME TO TEACH me how so I COMMEND YOU!

You keep trying to teach your cousin to ride if you really think you can do it. It's really nice to know that you faith in your cousin the way you do. It is not impossible and with some time and a lot of patience you can make a bike rider out of your cousin.

Keep it up

It is not impossible for your cousin to learn to ride a bike. I have cp on my left side. It took me until age 12 to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. I was determined. I did it. I am now 38 years old still riding a mountain bike and driving a car.

I think what you want to do for your cousin is outstanding!!! Keep up the good work, and in no time at all your cousin will learn!!!!

I agree with everyone else, I think it's great you want to teach her! I see no harm in it, other than the fact she could fall...but then, able-bodied kids do that too!

I think it's possible, but it's really hard to know if your cousin can or cannot do it. And being determined to do it and challenging your cousin's parents might be unwise. Does your cousin see a physical therapist? I hope so. If she does, encourage her parents to discuss the matter with her PT and maybe let the PT get her started on the bike. We all hope this can happen for your cousin, but we simply don't know her well enough to know if it's possible or not. And her parents may be aware of some issue you aren't. And if they're concerned but don't know if it's possible, then talking to a therapist about it can only benefit everyone.