Anne Michaels

Balance Bikes and Core Strength in Children

In a more in depth look at core strength, doctors and scientists have uncovered an important link between core strength and balance.  In fact, core strength and balance seem to have a symbiotic relationship; you need to have one to have the other. So, when do balance and core strength really begin to affect our lives?

As parents we all know how beneficial core strength is. 

We rely on it to carry the laundry up the stairs, haul groceries into the house and lift our children. At the gym, trainers emphasize abdominal exercises, leg lifts and pelvic tilts to improve core strength. 

In a more in depth look at core strength, doctors and scientists have uncovered an important link between core strength and balance.  In fact, core strength and balance seem to have a symbiotic relationship; you need to have one to have the other. So, when do balance and core strength really begin to affect our lives?

When we are children.

Learning to sit, crawl, pull up on furniture and finally walk takes a great deal of muscle strength and balance for a young child.  You will see your child struggling to build her stomach muscles in order to hold a sitting position, or wobbling back and forth in her early days of walking to gain balance. 

Around the age of 3, most children have conquered most of the main milestones of toddlerhood.  Kids this age can walk, run, climb and even begin to take part in organized sports.  However, while these skills seem to come naturally, it is very important to continue to build core strength and balance.

Experienced athletic trainers have worked with adults who have core strength and balance equal to that of a 4 year old!  How can you be sure that your child grows to improve her skills?  In addition to encouraging your child to play outdoors, run around with friends and try out a sampling of sports, a great tool to engage your child's core and strength balance skills is the balance bike. 

A balance bike is a two-wheeled, pedal free bike that sits low to the ground. Children sit on the bike and stride with a running motion to move the bike along.  Just weeks after starting, children are able to lift their feet off the ground and balance as they move forward. They build core strength  through balance and vice versa, encouraging that symbiotic relationship.  Neurologists are starting to realize that if you don't “use it (balance),â€� then you will “lose it.â€�   Therefore it is even more critical that children get in the habit of practicing balance and improving core strength.  

Balance bikes are available in either metal or wood, and come in all sorts of original designs.  A balance bike will not only allow your child to grow physically by promoting core strength and balance, but will provide her with hours upon hours of recreational activity and fun.  

Article Tags: Core Strength

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