#81 Thinking About Children's Success and Failure Experiences Through Training Wheels

The spread of Strider means kids can ride right away.

While the younger child in the first year of elementary school wants a bicycle, they have already developed a sense of balance through pedal-less kick bikes, sparking excitement that they might be able to ride smoothly without training wheels. There are also some mixed feelings expressed about the current situation where there is less of the struggle and emotion associated with removing training wheels like in the old days.

Nostalgic memories of having my father support me from behind at the park.

Looking back on the memories with the older child, who started with training wheels and practiced desperately while the father held the back at the park. There was a time during the pandemic when practicing was tough, but we talk and laugh about how the memories of parents working up a sweat while being involved every step of the way remain vivid even today.

Is riding smoothly really the only good thing?

While becoming able to ride without struggle, the discussion expands into whether an important feeling might be cultivated through the process of improving while experiencing small failures and injuries. We talk about the sense of achievement gained at the end of trial and error, so please be sure to listen to the main episode for the full details.