Bike Week is an annual celebration to showcase cycling.
Riding a bike can easily be a part of everyday life and Bike Week’s aim is to inspire people all over the UK to give cycling a try. Physical activity strengthens developing muscles and bones in children. It improves and
enhances coordination, motor skills, social skills, and self-confidence.
Children who have been active in childhood are more likely to be active later in life and live
healthier lifestyles
Creating opportunities for physical activity in young children is fundamental to developing
active lifestyles for children and their families. To that end, local authorities require us as
nurseries to encourage families and children to journey to school or nursery by scooter,
walking or bicycle instead of using their cars. Similar schemes exist for parents in their
workplaces, such as the Bike2Work scheme and next month we will all celebrate Bike Week.
Making cycling accessible to young children is relatively easy today with a huge range of
differing custom-made children’s bikes. With today’s new bike seats, parents can safely take
children as young as 12-month-old babies with them on rides. Then as they grow older,
children can use their own scooter, tricycle or bike with stabilisers to travel to nursery or
pre-school.
What are the benefits of cycling?
It has been reported by many educators, and we see it ourselves, that children who regularly
walk or cycle to school are more alert and ready to learn than those who arrive by car. That’s
one of the many reasons we encourage cycling, scooting or walking to nursery as often as
possible.
Cycling also helps children get to know their local area and feel part of it. It’s also an activity
that can span the generations when grandchildren cycle with their grandparents.
We make sure children go outside every day and plan outside activities in a way that
maximises the opportunity for physical activity. As educators, we are increasingly vigilant in
the face of “screen inflation.” At Keren’s, we create and plan as many opportunities as
possible for children to be active.
For more information, visit www.cyclinguk.org/bikeweek
