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Daddy Plays Best

Sharing Your Athletic Interests With Your Kids

By Jonathon Allen

David Young and his 4-year-old son, Gabriel, weave their tandem mountain bike through the small parade of assorted SUVs depositing children outside the local Montessori school on a typically rainy Oregon morning. They part with a hug and Young pedals off to work. Though many of the parents look surprised to see them riding in the rain, it's just another school day for the Young family.

"We've commuted by bike almost every day this year," says Young. "Gabriel loves it. In fact, he doesn't even like riding in the car anymore. I've been an avid cyclist for years and have always preferred bike commuting to driving. It's really fun to see Gabriel get into it at such an early age."

Young, who works as a consultant in Ashland, Ore. and has ridden bikes much of his life, is one of a growing number of fathers around the world who know the joy of sharing a favorite sport with their children.

"I've been riding bikes my whole life and it has affected me in really positive ways," Young says. "I'm really excited to give that to my son. Hopefully, we'll be riding together for years."

"Passing along the passion for a sport or hobby is one of the primary ways fathers bond with their children," says family counselor Collin Barnham, also of Ashland, Ore. "Many fathers work, so the only time they get to spend with their families is in the evenings and on weekends -- the same time they have for pursuing hobbies and sports. If the kids are able to go along on a fishing or bike trip then Dad doesn't have to miss family time to pursue his hobby, and the child learns invaluable skills."

In Young's case, the ability to get his son to into cycling at such an early age has been made considerably easier by advances in modern technology. The miniature bike Gabriel rides attaches with a clamp to his dad's bike. The unit lets Gabriel pedal while allowing Young to maintain control of steering and braking as they ride through cross-town traffic and Monday-morning carpools.

Want to see more?

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• Do you love the water? Teach your child to after reading In the Swim of Things: Getting Your Preschooler to Embrace the Water
• Make sure you're not pushing your little athlete too hard in Too Much Encouragement: Why overzealous parenting could harm your child
• Don't take your child for a ride until you read Biking and Your Child's Safety