Strider Bikes proving their worth as part of the PE curriculum at HMS Elementary
It’s not just about learning how to ride a bike. A particular type of equipment utilized by the TK-Kindergarten Physical Education students at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Elementary School is teaching skills that will benefit both riders and non-riders alike. “Strider Bikes let children of all abilities learn to ride on two wheels while at the same time instilling confidence in them to do it,” said HMS TK-4 PE Teacher Janet Prins.
The Strider Bikes were purchased in the spring of 2021. Prins used the 2021-22 school year to write the curriculum. The bikes have been utilized by students in the gym the last two school years.
Prins tells about how the bikes were acquired. “The company that was selling the Strider Bikes kept sending information and wanting me to purchase them,” she explained. “After a year or two of getting the information, I decided to talk to Cathy Jochims, our principal at the time, to see what she thought of the idea of adding bikes to my curriculum. I told her if I would raise the money to purchase the bikes, would she be okay with it and she said yes! So in our communities within the HMS school district I asked businesses and people if they would like to make a donation so we could get the bikes. The response was overwhelming. I thought it would take me 3-4 months to raise the money…I had the money raised in four weeks.”
“The last two years we have been using them with the TK-Kindergarten kids,” added Prins. “The bikes are made for that age group. Usually when they get to first grade, most kids are too big for the Strider Bikes.”
The PE teacher feels the value of getting the bikes is huge. “You’d be surprised how many kids don’t have access to a bike or need extra help in learning to ride,” said Prins.
There is a certain amount of teaching that goes on before a student even grabs hold of one of the bikes. “We first talk about safety when using the bikes and the different parts of the bike that we will be using,” noted Prins. “Helmets were included with the purchase of the bikes and the kids learn to put them on by by themselves. The Strider Bikes help children to learn balance and coordination before we even put the pedals on.”
Ah, yes. The pedals. “Pedaling is not the most important thing and it does not define riding a bike,” stated Prins. “Pedaling is just one means of getting the bike to move forward. So my kids start by walking/running while on the bike, pushing off with both feet and then coasting. This aids in the balancing skills it takes to pedal a bike. After about two weeks with no pedals on the bikes, I then add the pedals and all kids try to use the bikes with the pedals on.”
The Strider Bikes are not just educational. They are fun as well. “The kids absolutely love these bikes,” said their PE Teacher. “It doesn’t matter if they know how to ride or not, they like being able to use the bikes in gym. And if I can get a couple kids from each section to learn how to ride by the end of the unit, then that is just a bonus.”