Children on Bikes: Empowerment – Part One

When should I let my child ride her bike to the shop to buy some bread?

I do not want her to come to harm. But I will not always be there to protect her.

So I do want her to learn how to thrive in the world as an adult. I do want her intuitively to see problems and danger ahead in the results of her work decisions or her late-night party decisions, or because of the decisions of others, and then to take good, independent decisions to avoid risks and succeed on her terms. I do want to build her confidence and self-belief.

I want her to learn to fly without her parents, or any other authority figure, telling her what to do.