Balance Bike Training for Pre-Schools

On Monday 15th June, twenty three staff members from five childcare services in Waterford, Tramore and Dungarvan were presented with balance bikes, helmets and received Balance Bike training as part of their successful entry into the Balance Bike Bonanza!
The Balance Bike Bonanza arose as a direct result of Waterford Sports Partnership’s National Pride of Place Award in late 2014 for the ‘Community Health – Physical Activity Cities Category’.  The award included a prize fund of €1,000 and WSP staff and Board wanted to use the funds to further the objective of promoting participation in physical activity in Waterford. And where better to start than with our youngest citizens!

In a collaboration with Waterford Childcare Committee (WCC), the children and staff of the childcare services in Waterford were invited to take part. Children of the services were asked to creatively express through drawing, poems etc. the importance of ‘Being active and healthy and having fun’ and staff/management were asked to complete an entry form outlining why their service should be considered for one of the prizes.


There was a great response and the following were the five successful services:
• The Little School of Montessori, Dungarvan,
• Growing up Together, Waterford
• Park Montessori, Waterford
• Mercy Pre-school, Waterford and
• Naíonra Philibarún, Tramore.

The training, led by Peter Jones of Waterford Sports Partnership and Jacqui de Siun of Waterford Childcare Committee was a great success and included practical demonstrations, session plans, videos and a helmet demonstration.  It also gave ideas on how to enable pre schoolers to learn balance and steering skills in a fun environment.

Claire Brazil from Park Montessori said ‘Absolutely brilliant, really enjoyed it and I want one !!’.
Jacqui De Siun from Waterford Childcare committee added  “The balance bike training enables childcare practitioners to link the benefits and importance of balance bikes to their existing curriculum and included the encouragement of good safety practice e.g. how to put on a helmet correctly. The practical, interactive training demonstrated how children’s learning and development can be supported and encouraged with a focus on developing and /or improving children’s balance and control, self-awareness, co-ordination and confidence, steeped in the element of having fun”.