No one would consider our family to be sports enthusiasts or even exercise enthusiasts. But the kids need to learn to ride a bike, right? It's a basic life skill, isn't it? Our 5-year-old daughter had been using training wheels for about two years. She just couldn't find that sense of balance and was very afraid to lose those training wheels. She wasn't particularly adept at balancing on her 2-wheel scooter, either.

Enter that cute little Pink Mini-Glider. The thing is magic. I am not kidding. She practiced on it maybe six times over the course of six weeks. One day I was coming home from running errands, and my husband told me he had seen our daughter coast down the driveway and into the court with a big smile on her face. I told him, "Take off the training wheels now! She's ready." She started to whimper, but we told her we knew she was ready. She sat on her 2-wheel bike and rode it. All afternoon she rode it. Need I say more?

A Glide Bike looks similar to a standard bicycle, but in place of pedals and chain there are stationary foot pegs. The bike must be properly fitted so that the rider can easily set his feet on the ground when he loses balance. See the website for details. Kids just practice coasting along under their own power until they find that sense of balance. It truly is wonderful to give your child a tool that helps her gain confidence. The Pink Mini-Glider lists for $99.99. It is not a small expenditure, but if you have a child like our daughter who needs that extra help to get her over the hurdle, you might find that a Glide Bike is worth the expense.

Product review by Nancy Casari Dayton, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, February 2010