I had hoped for faster progress but had to remind myself that it takes loads of training to strengthen muscles (lower quads) that are weak. It's been slow-going, also because I had to break down the process into smaller manageable phases.
I'm still very glad though for the progress that he had made because I'm teaching him pretty much through keenly observing him, through trial and error and with loads of God's grace!
Feet on the pedal
Started off with a very simple objective of getting him to keep his feet on the pedals while the pedals go round and round. We push his bike - no effort on his part to exert energy - during the earlier sessions.
Even now, its sometimes hard for his feet to find the pedal after it slips off. But he's able to keep them on for longer periods of time and he can get his foot back on without needing us to prompt him, so I'm happy enough.
Steer
Then the next step was to get him to steer. Before we introduced his element, my helper and I would be beside him, on either side of him, with one hand holding the handle (to help steer) and with our other hand, try to keep his feet on the pedal. Imagine being in that position and walking and pushing the bike! It was hard to keep it up for just 30 seconds. Thankfully, those muscle-stretching-back-aching-days are behind us...and so are the stares and wierd looks we get from people! LOL
Getting him to steer was an easier objective, because he could already steer when he was pushed around on his tricycle at home. Its trickier for him now cos his brain has to multitask:
- steer
- keep feet on pedals without our help
- try not to get too distracted with surroundings (we do it in the park instead of at home)
- listen to mama's prompting to push down hard - left, right, left, right (I bet I sound like a drill master to strangers in the park! LOL).
Though he occasionally gets distracted and nearly runs the bike off the path, generally, he's better and we mostly let him decide which path he wants to cycle on. That part on letting him decide, lead to a power struggle yesterday evening (Wednesday) at Titiwangsa, cos he wanted to explore a lot more even after 90mins of cycling (90 mins is the longest cycling ever! but last 30mins we pushed him), but we had to head home to get dinner ready.
Pedal power
I'm currently working on strengthening those lower quads. He's progressed to needing just a little help from me in pushing him. Maybe its now 70:30 of his strength versus my strength - that's when he's already got the momentum going and when it's on a hard, smooth, horizontally level path.
When he cycles a good stretch of distance with say 90:10 effort (latest!) I get so excited!
When he's on a path sloping upwards, we've to push him a whole lot harder (100% our strength), but that's perfectly understandable.
He needs extra help from us pushing him too under these conditions:
- when it's a softer surface like the rubberised surface around the playground equipment
- those slightly bumpy/textured surfaces made to look like large cobbled-stone paths (because of these two conditions, places like Lake Garden's isnt suitable for his cycling exercises as yet)
- when the wheels get stuck in a depression, like when a floor tile has broken off
Later on, we'll add more challenges (like those above), but only as he gains strength in his lower quads. For e.g. to get him to cycle in his Neurosuit. We had done so occasionally in the past but since we're resuming after a break due to his cold, we're starting off without it.
Getting the momentum again
He's also learning to get moving from a stationary position. It's hard even for adults like me who havent been cycling for a long time. It's hard but he's learning. I help him a little so he doesnt feel it's an insurmountable task.
He loves it...I love it
Despite having to work at it, he loves cycling! He'd rather cycle (with our help) instead of playing with the playground equipment. Then as mentioned above, he wanted to continue cycling even after 90 mins on the bike (not all his effort alone).
It's a fine balance to keep him interested in cycling and yet also give bits of challenge so that he continues to progress. Then again, that applies not just to cycling but other aspects of his development too.
My 'job' is so much easier when he loves doing the activity. Of course, it helps that I find this rather interesting. Kinda like an experiment - observe, analyse the situation, test out my assumptions, modify here and there, try it out and repeat...and document it in my blog! It's good exercise for me too - physically and mentally!
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