“I want to ride like ET,” said Jamar, during bike club last week. “You mean that you want to fly?” I asked. “Yes.” Thank you Jamar for reminding me of the best bike movie ever. In the movie’s most famous scene, a gang of bike-riding kids outmaneuver the cops to protect their friend ET. Kids […]
ET: The best bike movie ever Read More »
These feet are made for biking. And playing in the sand, talking to ducks, jumping on rocks and just plain having fun. But will they remember any of it as adults? Will Bike for Life make a difference for these kids? As Bike for Life’s summer session comes to a close, I’d like to think
These feet are made for biking: making memories to last a lifetime Read More »
Bike for Life 2012 has started and it’s going very well, in part because of lessons learned from 2011. Here’s a run-down of 10 changes and tips for this year. 1. Three people are better than two: This year, I am fortunate to have two really great volunteers riding with me. This make a huge difference.
Bike for Life: Tips on How to Bike with Kids Read More »
You never know what you’ll see while biking. On Monday, bike club went to Monona Terrace Convention Center and spotted two Pacific Loons feeding in the waters near the bike path. The kids thought they were ducks, but the pointy beak and diving behavior suggested otherwise. I didn’t get the best photo, but that didn’t
Pacific Loon on Lake Monona Read More »
Carrot juice or chips? Raw peanut butter anyone? What do you think kids will eat? Turns out they’ll eat all three, but not necessarily in that order. I didn’t think they’d like carrot juice, but they did. They watched intently as the Willy Street Coop juice bar man turned carrots into juice with the flip of
Carrot Juice vs Chips: Bike for Life explores the options Read More »
I wrote this piece during the last heat wave in July 2011. Now that we’re deep into a serious heat wave of 2012, it’s a good time to re-post. See my comments below for my new take on heat. I didn’t want to, but I cancelled Bike for Life on Friday afternoon (July 1) because
Is it ever too hot? Read More »
What will kids buy if they only have $1 to spend on a snack? That was the Bike for Life challenge last week. The kids could choose from the following as long as they stayed under $1: – apple or banana – 22-60 cents – cheese stick – 33 cents – 1 oz peanuts –
$1 Snack Attack: What will kids choose to eat? Read More »
Meet the Ferocious 5: Isaiah, Micah, Buba, Cashel and Gavin. The boys make up my morning Bike for Life group at the Goodman Community Center. I have a girl group in the afternoon. While I didn’t plan it this way, I’m seeing the benefits of same-sex groups. I find it easier to manage behaviors in same-sex
The Ferocious 5: The joy of same-sex bike groups Read More »
A bike is an independence machine. Give a kid a bike and they have the means to see and do things that they couldn’t do before. Of course, biking is also good exercise, it’s good for the environment and it’s just plain fun. I just launched a new biking program at Goodman Community Center called
Biking: Independence on Wheels Read More »
Six kids will get a new bike on Thursday. They’re excited and I’m excited. They’ve worked hard at doing service around the Goodman Community Center. They’ve washed windows, picked up trash and worked with preschoolers. They’ve written book reports too. We’ll walk to the Wheels for Winners garage on Thursday and the kids will pick
Kids get Bikes on Thursday! Read More »
