As your kids turn six years old, there will be many activities to keep them engaged and have fun after school. Among these, riding is one of the most popular options as it is safe, easy, and helps develop essential skills for children, both mental and physical.
As parents, we all want to give our kids the best riding experience and support them to learn quickly. To achieve it, the first thing is to choose a well-fitted bicycle that can make them comfortable and confident.
However, kid bikes are available in different sizes, making it challenging to pick the right option. So if you don’t know where to start, keep reading this guide to know some basic things about how to choose a suitable size bike for your children.
Overview of kid bike size
Before choosing a bike for your kids, it is necessary to know that the sizes of kid bicycles are not determined by the frame sizes or heights as adult models. Instead, the diameters of their wheel, which are directly proportional to the frame sizes, will be the decisive factor.
In general, there is a variety of kid bike sizes, ranging from 12 inches to 24 inches. Smaller models tend to come with simpler constructions and fewer parts to ensure the ease of use, while larger units will offer more features to help your kids maneuver better on the road.
How to measure your kids for choosing a bike size
Generally, the height or age of your kids can be a good factor to estimate the bike size. However, these things alone can’t help you make the right option. In fact, the most reliable method is to measure their inseam or inside leg length, which is the distance between the crotch and the floor. This will suggest if your kids can reach the ground with their feet when sitting on the bike.
Here are three simple steps to measure the inseam length of your kids:
- Step 1: Stand the kids in socks against the wall
- Step 2: Put a small notebook or book between the legs as high as possible so that your kids still feel comfortable
- Step 3: Ask the kids to move away, then measure the distance from the floor to the top of the notebook or book. This is the inseam length that you need to measure.
The short clips below will give you more insight into measuring your kids for choosing the right bike size:
What size bike for a 6-year-old kid?
Once you have measured your kids for their height, inseam length and other factors, it is simple to choose the right size of the bike based on the height charts provided by most manufacturers.
In general, the average height of 6-year-old children often ranges from 39 inches to 48 inches, with the inseam between 15 and 21 inches. Thus, the most suitable option for them might be models with 16-inch wheels.
Of course, there will be exceptions due to differences in heights and inseam lengths. For example, if your 6 year old kids have a longer inseam, then a 18-inch bike might be better to accommodate their legs. And 20-inch bikes seem large for this age range, but they can fit those kits with an exceptional height compared to their friends at the same age.
However, keep in mind that height charts aren’t the decisive factor when selecting a kid’s bicycle. Instead, you should think of them as a starting point to have an overview of what you are searching.
By far, what really matters is how well and easily your kids can ride and keep everything in control. Make sure they can straddle with their fit on the ground and hold the handlebars simple without leaning and compromising the balance.
Final thoughts
To sum up, choosing the right size bike is really important to ensure that your children can learn how to ride quickly and safely. Using the size guide is a good idea, but keep in mind that it is just for reference.
The key to making a good decision is to make you’re your kids look comfortable and can ride in a controlled manner. Also, purchase the best that you can afford instead of wasting your money on expensive and large models.
