- Dundee Council have banned stabilisers and pedals from its nursery school kids
- The intention is that children will ‘cycle’ to school using their feet and get fit
- It comes after Scotland posted record levels of child obesity on Tuesday
A council has banned cycling with stabilisers and pedals from its nurseries in a drive to defeat child obesity.
Dundee City Council health chiefs believe removing stabilisers used by children to learn how to ride a bike will force youngsters to ‘use their core’ for balance.
They even suggest removing the pedals from the bikes in a move to help children maintain a healthy weight.
Scotland posted record levels of child obesity on Tuesday, with nearly a quarter of five-year-olds in danger of falling victim to the health problem
The council have launched an initiative – called ‘Play on Pedals’ which removes the pedals and the stabilisers from the bikes and allows children to grow in confidence by using their feet to push themselves around.
Audrey White, from the children and family service at the council, said the new scheme was part of efforts to increase child activity.
Dundee City Council health chiefs believe removing stablisers used by children to learn how to ride a bike will force youngsters to ‘use their core’ for balance
On Thursday, she said: ‘This is a new initiative that is working right across every single nursery in our city.
‘The policy is we don’t allow stabilisers.
‘Children learn to use a bike without any stabilisers, without any pedals and when they feel confident, they can move on to standard bikes.’
She said using the core muscles was ‘a key fundamental movement’, which stabilisers do not allow.
The council have launched an initiative – called ‘Play on Pedals’ which removes the pedals and the stablisers from the bikes and allows children to grow in confidence by using their feet to push themselves around
Ms White added that at the heart of their approach there was an attempt to build parent confidence in taking their children on free outdoor activities which would mean youngsters spend less time in front of screens.
The council strategy sits alongside Scottish Government proposals, which include restricting portion sizes and clamping down on junk food promotions and advertising.
Scotland posted record levels of child obesity on Tuesday, with nearly a quarter of five-year-olds in danger of falling victim to the health problem.