Atv Riding Lessons for Kids – Part 2

ATV riding lessons for kids – Part 2

After having gone through the lessons on ATV riding lessons for kids – Part 1, I am sure by now your kid is able to understand how his Kid ATV works, so it’s time to move on, so here’s Part 2 of the “lesson” :-

Starting slow
To help him develop confidence, get him to practice first with the engine OFF. Have him sit on his Kid ATV and tell him to keep his eyes straight ahead while you push his vehicle slowly from behind – this gives him the “feel” of riding a moving ATV. While you are pushing his Kid ATV, get your kid to steer straight ahead and learn to perform tasks like stopping the vehicle and turning OFF the engine switch while moving. Watch your kid as he performs these tasks to make sure that he’s doing it correctly without looking at the controls. Repeat these until he is able to get the “feel” of using the brakes, stop and turn off the engine without hesitation or looking at the controls.

After he’s able to do the above, you can now work with him with the engine running. Start the ATV’s engine and have him practice starting off and riding in a straight line and stopping the machine – all these done under minimum speed. Keep your kid’s ATV’s speed as low as possible as he practices to ride a straight line and stopping. It would be a good idea for you to walk alongside as he rides while you are holding the engine cutout switch cord. This exercise should continue until he is able to start off, accelerate, cruise and stop properly – all this to be done by your kid with confidence.

Making that turn
Now that your kid is able to ride his Kid ATV in a straight line and stop it at his will, the next step would be to teach him how to turn his machine. And again, practice first with the engine off as your push it from behind. When he’s turning, watch and make sure that he is shifting his weight slightly forward and supporting his weight on the outer footrest and that he leans his upper body into the direction of the turn and pressing down with the opposite leg. When he is able to do all that, let him practice with the ATV’s engine running – and yes, with the machine being under power again. Check and see if he’s using the proper techniques that you have taught him. Make him practice the turns over and over again until he can do it correctly and confidently.

Putting the “lessons” together
Once your kid has mastered the basic riding maneuver skills listed above, get him to practice them altogether. Get him to perform various tasks like turning right, turning left, stopping and so on – but vary the order of these tasks so that he will not be able to anticipate what you will ask him to do next. Once again, have him practice until you are confident that he has mastered all the basic skills. As he becomes more familiar with the controls of the machine as well as the basic of riding, you should slowly increase the speed that you feel he is able to handle.

Learning to ride an ATV does not happen just overnight, so patience is a required virtue. Be patient with your kid if he forgets a step, but remember to praise him and encourage him when he does something right. If you are frustrated while you teach him, can you imagine how frustrated he is with himself? It may take time for him to learn, but it’s always better for him to learn all the necessary skills required now than later. If you want to learn more about ATV safety or riding tips, visit the forums of websites such as www.jackel.com or www.atvoutdoors.net Happy riding!