University puts wheels in motion for kids
by Ileiren Byles
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Mike Cabigon observes Francis as the eight-year-old tests his braking skills. | |
More than a dozen youngsters were taking their first steps to increased independence by learning to pedal their bikes. A program run by the university's Centre for Adapted Group and Individual Exercise (CAGE), which provides motor development programming for children with impairments and disabilities, the bike challenge helped the participants learn to spin their wheels.
"As we all know, growing up in the summer and riding your bike with your friends or with your family is very important for several reasons - for independence, to enjoy the outdoors and to be able to participate with your friends and family," said Karen Robinson, co-ordinator for the CAGE program.
"The thing about being able to ride a bike is that, a lot of time, if you can't, you'll get left behind," added Donna Goodwin, executive director of the U of A Steadward Centre for Personal and Physical Achievement.
"Not all of the children who come to CAGE have visible disabilities, some are experiencing co-ordination problems that really can get in the way of learning bicycle skills on the street, in public vision with other neighbourhood children around," she said. "And now we've got lots of slush, and it's just not a happy environment out there."
Some of the young participants obviously had some previous experience on their wheels and program staff and volunteers instructed those children on the rules of the road and safety. For others, just making it that first few metres without stopping was a major accomplishment, said Mike Cabigon, as he shouted encouragement to one such boy.
A U of A alumnus, Cabigon was attracted to the freedom and speed bicycles offered him as a child. Now, a competitive mountain biker, road racer and triathlete, he's eager to share his passion with CAGE's kids.
"You can see things you can't even see in a car when you have the freedom to ride a bike," he said. "Bikes enable you to go faster and further than you can on your own two feet. That's all there is to it. I can get from here to there faster on a bike than I can on my feet, so I like my bike and the kids appear to have the same sort of enthusiasm."
Aside from learning the childhood skill of cycling, CAGE participants also get a solid grounding in physical activity and game play, said Robinson. "We work on gross motor skills, fundamental movement skills, game play - understanding how a soccer game works, how basketball works, because the goal is to get them ready for the community."
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