big kids – Mummy To Twins Plus One

The kids had tricycles and plastic broke on one of the bikes front wheel. Now they are both fighting over who has a turn with only one bike. Oh no not again! I cannot take this! Before the bike broke, hubby and I were discussing getting them big girl bikes, other kids their age have two wheelers and I thought they needed to make the next step. My reasons were:

1. Their old bikes are too small

2. Kids are too big for the smaller bikes

3. They both need to learn how to ride a proper bike

Last Wednesday the bikes I purchased for the girls arrived. I was amazed at the service as I only ordered them on Monday and they turned up on Wednesday. Not only was that quick but the kind post man left them at the back of the house rather than have me arrange another delivery or go to the post office to struggle with the boxes. Thank you!

Julia racing away on her new bike. She is a very happy girl.

Saturday hubby constructed the bikes and Sunday we took the twins to try them out the park, our house does not have a lot of space for bikes. A park is better or a big concrete oval to allow kids to ride their bikes easily. Not sure where you would find that. I am on the look out for places now. Maybe basketball courts or footpaths at the park that will allow kids to practice and hubby and I to take a walk.

Lillian on her big girl bike. She is so happy!

Some tips

If you order online make sure to put a note to deliver package if you are not home. My postie was very kind to leave the bikes at the back of the house. Not sure how I would have managed to get them if they got sent back to the couriers dept or the post office.
Order from a reliable shop/department store. This way you know that you will get looked after, and if something happens to the product you can be assured it will get fixed or replaced. I got the bikes from Big W, they were great! (Note this is not a sponsored post or paid advertisement for Big W, just amazed and wanted to share what great service and products that I was able to get the twins)
I purchased the twins a Repco Flutter 40cm (16″) Girls BMX Bike each. It was just right for them, not to girly but had the adequate amount of pink and butterflies. It is cute and I knew they would love it. The bike is also a BMX bike so will hold up to the kids treating it roughly and the environment we have here in the Blue Mountains.
The bikes were reasonably priced and I only paid $36 to have them delivered to the house. Bargain really, considering that I would waste nearly a whole day just going to Penrith to purchase them and not be able to put them in the car or take them out myself. I would also need to get there in school hours and race to get home to collect kids for school pick up. Home delivery makes everything much easier and less stressful.
I did plan to purchase helmets when I got the bikes online. However it presented me with measurements and I have no idea what size their heads are. I did not want to purchase the wrong ones. Due to the bikes having training wheels the bikes are very good and sturdy. The kids have not come off badly but I want to get them a helmet each so they get used to it and also is the law to wear one.
Big W in Katoomba opens in April I have heard so will most likely go there if we don’t get one for the kids beforehand.

I’m amazed the twins have taken so naturally to the bikes. I know they have training wheels on them and that might be the reason all is good so far. When do you think the training wheels should come off? I’m going to leave them on for a while until they are really comfortable with their new bikes and turning, and all sorts of other things are second nature.

Let us know how your child went with their first big kid bike. Send in your comments.

Girls getting ready to go to school.Image courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

My little girls have grown up so much. They have had nearly two years at pre-school and are busting at the seams to be off to big school (Kindy) soon! They are still very small for their age and petite little things, however they are feisty and strong little people. The girls love a challenge and cannot wait for the challenge that Kindy brings them.

There is currently 2 more sleeps until transition starts for Kindy and as you can imagine, they are super excited. I keep on getting asked, “How many more days’ mummy till transition?”

Transition for those that don’t know is a day a week that pre-school kids go to the primary school to learn what Kindy and the big school are all about. They get introduced to their future teachers, see and experience what it is like to be in a classroom, learn what is expected and get to know the facilities of the school. The kids even get paired up with a year five buddy that will be the year six buddy next year so that they can show them around the school.

A friends child that went last year said it was very cute and lovely to watch her son hold hands with an older student and be shown around the school. Adorable.

I am very excited for them. Hubby is working from home that day so that he can be there for the first day. It will be a day to make sure to record with many pictures. I have said this before, it will be a strange thing to suddenly have two kids in school full time next year.

Did your kids go through transition? Did they like it? Did you think it was a good idea? What was the best thing for you as a parent? Send in your comments.