Go for a Bike Ride - Fun at-home activities for Kids.

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Go for a Bike Ride!

Plan and take a short neighborhood bike ride, check helmet and bike safety, record distance and map landmarks to learn navigation and exercise.

Table of contents

Step-by-step guide to go for a bike ride

What you need

Bike, helmet, water bottle, notebook or paper, pen or pencil, colouring materials, bike lock, reflective or bright clothing, adult supervision required

Step 1

Put on your helmet and fasten the strap so it feels snug and sits level on your head.

Step 2

Do a quick bike safety check by pressing each tire to make sure it is firm squeezing each brake lever to confirm the brakes stop the wheels and glancing at the chain to make sure it is on the gears.

Step 3

Adjust your seat so you can touch the ground with the tips of your toes while sitting on the bike.

Step 4

Choose a short familiar route that will take about 15 to 30 minutes or roughly 1 to 3 miles.

Step 5

Write the route and circle three landmarks you will look for on your ride in your notebook.

Step 6

Tell an adult your route the time you will leave and return and ask them to supervise or go with you.

Step 7

Put on bright or reflective clothing so drivers and neighbors can see you easily.

Step 8

Fill your water bottle and carry it with you for the ride.

Step 9

Ride the planned route following the streets and turns you wrote down.

Step 10

Stop briefly at each landmark and write its name or draw a tiny picture beside the route in your notebook.

Step 11

Use a phone a bike odometer or a watch to record the total distance and total time of your ride.

Step 12

Park and lock your bike and take a drink of water.

Step 13

Draw a simple map of your route in your notebook add the landmarks and write the distance and time you recorded.

Step 14

Share your finished route map photo and notes on DIY.org.

Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a notebook, bike lock, or bike odometer listed in the instructions?

Use your phone's Notes app or a waterproof index card instead of a notebook, lock your bike to a permanent rack with an adult watching if you don't have a keyed lock, and use your phone's GPS or a watch stopwatch in place of a bike odometer, but do not skip a properly fitting helmet.

What should we do if a part of the pre-ride safety check fails, like a soft tire or brakes that don't stop the wheels?

If pressing a tire shows it's soft or squeezing each brake lever doesn't stop the wheels during the safety check step, inflate the tire to the pressure on the sidewall and have an adult tighten or adjust the brakes or take the bike to a shop before riding.

How can we adapt this bike ride activity for different ages while following the written route and safety steps?

For younger children, pick a very short familiar route of one block with an adult walking or riding beside them, simplify the notebook task to circling one landmark, and help adjust the seat so toes touch the ground; for older kids, let them plan a 1–3 mile route independently, record time and distance on a phone odometer, and post their finished map on DIY.org.

How can we enhance or personalize the ride after completing the steps like mapping landmarks and recording distance?

Turn the ride into a themed scavenger hunt by choosing specific landmark types to find, take photos of each landmark to glue beside your notebook map or upload to DIY.org, decorate the map and helmet with stickers, and set a goal to improve your recorded time or distance next ride.

Watch videos on how to go for a bike ride

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Kids riding bikes Safely

4 Videos

Facts about bicycle safety and navigation for kids

🚲 Bicycles are one of the most common vehicles worldwide — there are over a billion of them.

🛡️ Wearing a properly fitted bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of head injury in a crash by roughly 60–70%.

🗺️ Orienteering began as military map-and-compass training in Scandinavia and grew into a global sport that teaches navigation.

📏 Many kids can ride about 1 mile in 6–10 minutes, so a 1–3 mile neighborhood loop is a great beginner challenge.

❤️ Regular cycling strengthens the heart and leg muscles and is a low-impact way for kids to get daily exercise.

How do I plan and take a short neighborhood bike ride with my child?

Start by choosing a short, low-traffic route with clear landmarks and turns (0.5–2 miles). Do a quick bike and helmet safety check, then walk the route together once. Set simple goals: distance, three landmarks to map, or helpful errands. Use a phone or bike odometer to record distance. Supervise younger riders, stop often to practice navigation and discuss turns, then debrief at home about what you saw and learned.

What materials and supplies do we need for a safe neighborhood bike ride?

You’ll need a properly sized helmet, a checked bicycle with working brakes and inflated tires, a pump, and a spare inner tube or patch kit. Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, a basic first-aid kit, and a bike lock. Use a phone or small notebook and pen to record distance and map landmarks. Optional: reflective vest, bell, lights, and a map or map app for navigation and tracking.

What ages is this planning-and-ride activity suitable for?

This activity suits preschoolers using balance bikes with close adult supervision, early-grade children learning pedaling (about 4–8) for short neighborhood rides, and older kids (9+) for independent route-following with parental check-ins. Adjust route complexity and supervision to each child’s skill and confidence. Always keep younger children within arm’s reach and begin with very short rides until they demonstrate safe control and road awareness.

What are the benefits and safety tips for kids learning navigation on bike rides?

Bike rides build cardiovascular fitness, gross motor skills, map-reading, observation, and independence while strengthening family bonds. Teach helmet fitting, basic bike checks, hand signals, and crossing rules before riding. Choose quiet streets, wear high-visibility clothing, carry a phone and water, and ride single file. Start with short routes, practice turns and landmarks, and review the route afterwards to reinforce navigation skills and confidence.

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