Bike riding is a great way to have fun and get in quality exercise at the same time. Children tend to love riding bikes but may enjoy some fun activities to incorporate into their daily bike riding routine. Whether you want to help your students learn basic bike safety rules or better engage with the world around them whilst riding, these 21 bike activities are a fun way to do so!
1. Build A Bike Ramp
Get your little ones involved in designing their very own ramp! It could be long or short, high or low. It could be in your yard, on the school premises, on your driveway, or even on a trail.
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2. Bike Obstacle Course
Create a bike obstacle course to promote regular exercise with a touch of added fun. Use cones and other objects to create a fun course that requires children to be alert and employ motor skills to navigate the path.
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3. Nature Ride
All great bike aficionados love a great nature trail! These are great for mountain bikes and should never be completed alone. You can find nature trails at your local parks or make your own in your backyard.
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4. Fun Bike Wash
This bike wash is an easy DIY activity. Use some PVC pipe to construct a small structure that students will ride through. Drill small holes in the pipe and connect a water hose to add the element of water to the contraption. Children can use soapy water and brushes or sponges to clean their bikes and have them look brand new.
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5. Races
Whether you have a race with others or just an individual time trial, bike races can be lots of fun! It may be helpful to draw a bike lane with chalk so little ones know where their space is.
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6. Penny Drop
This fun event is another great bike activity. Place some smaller jars along the riding path, and supply children with pennies to drop into the jars as they drive by. This is a great way to practice distance riding, control, and motor skills. This is also a great game to inspire friendly competition among children.
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7. Go Slow
Challenge your riders to go extremely slow. Add an extra element of drawing curvy and zig-zag lines for them to follow along. The catch is that they must do it slowly. This will challenge their balance and control.
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8. Bike Trip BINGO
Printable bike ride BINGO is a great way to make children aware of things around them as they ride. You could play BINGO out on a bike ride; stopping to mark things as you find them until someone gets a BINGO. Or, you can play it at home or at school to review things you may need to know before heading out.
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9. Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a lot of fun! You can print one or make your own. Children will have fun finding different items during a bike ride. Remember to keep it simple and include things you know that will encounter; such as trees, cars, and stop signs.
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10. Bike Rodeo Game
Lasso up, cowpokes! Let children pretend they are part of the rodeo with this fun tossing game. Roll up old magazines and newspapers and put them in a bag that kids can easily wear. Set up a hamper or basket for kids to ride by and toss these in. Challenge them to try from different distances.
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11. Water Balloon Pop
All you need for this activity is a bucket of water balloons and your bike! Lay out some of the water balloons and let students practice moving around on their bikes. The goal is for them to drive over the water balloons and pop them. This will challenge children to think about how they want to map out their course and pop their balloons.
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12. Role Play For Bike Safety
Children can dress up as police officers and monitor the traffic flow. Let them use small stop signs and other traffic signs that will help them understand the flow of traffic and how everyone must stop and stay safe. Children can take turns playing the driver and being police officers.
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13. Limbo Obstacles
Traditional limbo is a fun game to play, but have you ever thought about playing it on a bike? Use cones and a pool noodle or other long, flexible object to see how low you can go. Remind students to stay safe as they duck under the bar as it is lowered each turn.
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14. Teeter Totters
Similar to a ramp, these little teeter-totters are a lot of fun! Kids will enjoy riding up one side and down the other as the board tilts. With just a few supplies needed, it’s a simple DIY! Position a board on a small bar and secure it so that it can tilt as students ride up and down the other side!
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15. Bike Safety Cards
A great way to practice bike safety is to learn about it on and off the bike. Print this colorful card with helpful photos and review these with the children. There is a little information printed on the bottom and a matching photo at the top; great to use when introducing a biking unit.
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16. Traffic Dramatic Play
Dramatic play is perfect for young children just learning the rules of the roads on their bikes. Use chalk to draw out bike lanes and present road hazards and signs along the way to help them practice their skills during active travel.
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17. Agility With Cones
Cones are great for courses and space, but they can also be great for improving agility on the bike. Small bike paths with cones at even intervals help students control their speed as they practice turning.
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18. Tennis Ball Drop
Once beginner bike riders get going pretty well, you can start to build other skills with them. This tennis ball drop is a great way to practice safely starting and stopping. Students carry a small bag of tennis balls and must drive to each basket and drop the ball inside.
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19. Driver’s License
Just like when you drive a motor vehicle, you must have a driver’s license. Take the time to make these adorable driver’s licenses for bikes. You can add the child’s picture and laminate them so that they last. Children will be so proud to show off their driver’s licenses.
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20. Mountain Bike Textures
Adding little bumpy roads and other fun textures to the bike paths and the obstacle courses is a fun change for your riders. Use flat slats of wood or other safe objects to let students feel the difference between riding on the road or these different textures.
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21. Bike Painting
Bike painting can be a little messy but also provide an hour of fun! Throw out some color and let students crank up the intensity as they ride their bikes and trikes over the paint and then a piece of paper; creating a colorful aftermath of tire tracks along the way.
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