Today I’m partnering with some friends in the kid blogger network to help you make sense of your holiday wishlist! There are so many big ticket items out there that you could buy; we want to help make the purchasing decisions the tiniest bit easier by sharing with you our first-hand experiences!
For my part, I decided nothing could be a better fit for my blog than highlighting my love for balance bikes and our blog partner, Yuba Bicycles.
Buying a Balance Bike
Bikes are a popular Christmas gift (even though most kids in my part of the world won’t get to ride them until spring!). But if you have a baby, toddler, or preschooler, I’d HIGHLY recommend starting your child on a balance bike.
We purchased our balance bike (as a Christmas gift) when our oldest daughter was two, and she started scooting on it when she was about 2 1/2. Now her younger sister (28 months) has started scooting! Since I know that scooting/pushing eventually leads to coasting/balancing and coasting/balancing eventually leads to riding a pedal bike without training wheels,this new development (scooting/pushing) is thrilling!
An Introduction to Balance Bikes
Balance bikes are small bikes without pedals or training wheels. The idea is that they help to isolate the skills necessary for riding a bike. Supposedly, the hardest part of learning to ride a bike is learning to balance! With a balance bike, kids learn to balance without the distraction of learning to pedal.
Based on our experience, I can’t possibly recommend a balance bike strongly enough. You can read all about how our three-year-old transitioned from a balance bike to pedal bike without training wheels in this post. It took her approximately 10 minutes to figure it out!
You can also watch this little 30-second video of our three-year-old daughter (and her daddy, the wannabe stunt guy). It’ll show you just how easy it was for her to learn to ride without training wheels!
Our blog partner, Yuba Bikes, recently released an awesome new balance bike called the Flip Flop! The unique thing about the flip flop is that it grows with your child. This is awesome if you have a preschooler who’s never been on a balance bike before because most of the balance bikes I’ve seen are too small for four, five, and six-year-olds.
And if your little one is truly little, then the smaller option on the flip flop is the perfect place to start!
For taller kiddos, flip over the frame and flop the position of the bars, rack, seat and front wheel to lengthen the Flip Flop—adding an inch and extending its use for up to a year.
And as a cargo-bike lover, I love the flip flop’s cargo rack. 🙂
So what do you think? Is a balance bike on your holiday wishlist? Feel free to email me or send me a facebook message if you have any questions!
One final note: in the past four months, the girls and I have biked over 600 miles on our Yuba! To read more about our amazing Yuba Mundo cargo bike, check out our Yuba posts in the “Biking” section of Nothing if Not Intentional!
Want more holiday wish list reviews? Visit these posts from my blogging friends:
- Royal Baby Kids Bikes Review fromLalymomNabi 2 Kid Tablet Review from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tail
Blocks Rock from P is for Preschooler
The Best Value Train Table from Craftulate
Lego and Lego Duplo Blocks Review from Chicken Babies
Haba Technics Wooden Blocks Review from Wildflower Ramblings
Samsung Galaxy 4 Review from Line Upon Line Learning
Airzone Trampoline Review from Mom Inspired Life
Zoomer Zuppies Review from Something 2 Offer
Xbox One Review from The Jenny Evolution
Caring Corners Cottage from Best Toys for Toddlers
Childcraft Light Table Review from Lemon Lime Adventures
Peg and Plum Handmade Peg Dolls Review & Giveaway from Bare Feet on the Dashboard
Magna-Tiles Review & 100 Piece Set Giveaway from And Next Comes L
KidKraft Retro Kitchen Review from Where Imagination Grows
Step 2 Skyward Summit Review from Stir the Wonder
Electronic Snap Circuits Review by My Nearest and Dearest
Melissa and Doug Standing Floor Easel from Artsy Momma
Step 2 Sand & Water Table from Mamas Like Me
Fun and Function Soft Saddle Scooter Review from B-Inspired Mama
Step2 WaterWheel Activity Play Table Review from School Time Snippets
Balance Bike Review Featuring Yuba’s “Flip Flop” Bike from Nothing if Not Intentional
KidKraft Train Table with Trundle Drawers Review from Sugar Aunts
Gifts for Kids – Engino Simple Machines from Planet Smarty Pants
Power Wheels Corvette Review from House of Burke
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes Box Set Review from Adventure in a Box
Step 2 Naturally Playful Sandbox Review by Happily Ever Mom
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