My 11-year-old wanted to ride his bike alone. It took bravery from both of us.

"He had to prove he was responsible enough to ride his bike alone When we took bike rides together, I would wait to see if he noticed a car backing up ahead or coming up behind us. But I could see that he wasn't paying attention and would have to tell him to stop or move out of the way."

"Together, we agreed on a plan that made us both comfortable. I knew it took four minutes to ride our bikes around the neighborhood, which is about a half-mile loop. I told him I thought he was ready, but that I would wait for him in the driveway and time him. I knew I needed to let him stretch his wings, but those were the longest four minutes of my life!"

"When he made it back home, I thought I'd be the only one who was relieved, but I could see how brave it was for him to go on his own. His pride made me feel like I had done the right thing He proceeded to go around the block a few more times on his own; each time, his confidence grew, and my anxiety eased."

An 11-year-old began riding a bicycle four years ago and became confident enough to ask to ride alone. The child watched other kids on shows but needed to demonstrate real-world awareness during shared rides. The parent observed gaps in attention and required proof of responsibility. A plan was agreed: a half-mile, four-minute loop with the parent waiting and timing from the driveway. The first solo rides were nerve-wracking but successful. Repeated independent loops increased the child's confidence and reduced parental anxiety, and over time the child found solo riding less appealing than expected.

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