Kindergarteners at Needham Elementary could be riding shiny new bikes in gym class with help from the community.
Needham physical education teacher Linzie Spaulding is raising funds for a complete Kindergarten PE Program from All Kids Bike, a campaign by Strider Education Foundation, Inc. to place learn-to-ride programs in public schools around the country.
Spaulding needs help from the community to raise $5,000 in the next year to bring 24 Strider balance bikes, helmets, sets of pedal conversion kits sized for kindergarteners and an adult-size bike for instruction, teacher training and an eight-lesson bicycling education program.
The program provides teachers such as Spaulding an additional option to keep gym class fun for kindergartens year after year as a regular part of curriculum, she said.
The program came to her attention after a physical education teacher she follows on Instagram posted about new bikes for their students. With her application accepted, the race is on to raise funds.
Since 2018, the nonprofit Strider Education Foundation has brought All Kids Bike to more than 298,000 students at 331 schools in 41 states, according to All Kids Bike. Five Indiana schools have programs in place while three others are raising funds, said Breiane Williams, spokesperson for the foundation.
Similar to a roller skating program that is already part of the curriculum, riding bikes will teach students they can do things they didn’t think were possible and bring confidence and joy at their triumph, Spaulding said.
“I’m just excited to build the confidence of my little kindergartens and show them they can do hard things,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll take those skills home and be more active.”
Franklin Community Schools plans a Bike to Work Day for teachers each year. This program is a great way to get students started on the healthy activity at a young age, Spaulding said.
Teaching students to ride bikes early on often sparks a love of the activity that will last their lifetimes, she said.
“My goal is to make them fall in love with movement so they’ll keep moving when they’re 16 and when they’re 66,” Spaulding said.
So far, the campaign link has been shared on the school’s Facebook page, and information was sent to parents earlier this week. As of Thursday, $80 had been raised for the campaign.
This summer, Spaulding plans to hit the Franklin Greenway Trail and bike around to local businesses near the school to ask for more donations.
But anyone can donate. Donations can be made online at support.allkidsbike.org/needham-elementary-school.
