PLAY ON PEDALS HELPS PARENTS LEARN HOW TO FIX THEIR KIDS BIKES 

A group from Elba Lane Nursery, in Parkhead rolled up their sleeves and learned new skills in bike repair and maintenance at the end of September. The group of parents, nursery staff and volunteers received the training from Cole Cohen from the Glasgow Bike Station, a partner in Play on Pedals, to learn to fix children’s bikes.

The day focused primarily on parents hoping to gain more practical skills, after a request was put in from parents at Elba Lane nursery, following the success of Play on Pedals with their children. Parents were really keen to learn how to fix and maintain their kids’ bikes as well as support maintenance of the bikes within the nursery.

Training included fixing basic things like punctures or brake cables and pads, taking off wheels and putting them back together again.

Participants were also informed about difference between balance and pedal bikes and the benefits of removing stabilizers. They were shown how to take the stabilizers and pedals off and turn their bikes into balance bikes while children are still training.

Angela Longwell, from Glasgow, attended the training session. Her daughter Zara, 4, goes to Elba Lane Nursery. She said, “The training was so informative. I feel much more confident about sorting her bike, things like fixing a puncture, adjusting brakes and oiling the chain. She starts learning with balance bikes at nursery next week. I hope this means we can get the stabilisers off her bike soon! My other daughter didn’t get hers off until she was 7. It feels great not to have to rely on anybody else to make sure Zara’s bike is safe and right for her.”

Margaret Ann MacKinnon, Head at Elba Lane Nursery said, “We want parents to get involved in their children’s activities and learning as much as possible. Parents are learning skills they can take and use to look after their kids bikes. We found parents were struggling to repair their bikes. This is a big boost to their self-reliance.”