Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Bike Safety Check Sheet: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 3
- ForYear 3
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Bike Safety Check Sheet is a free printable PSHE worksheet for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children tick off a set of simple checks on the bike, the helmet and themselves before they ride. It takes about 10 minutes, needs only a pencil, and works best done with an adult before each ride.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a checklist for children to tick. They walk round the bike and check the tyres, brakes, handlebars, seat, pedals, bell and chain. Then they check the helmet and chin strap, their laces and trousers, and that an adult knows where they are riding. Each check is a short sentence, so children read it, look at the bike and tick only when it is true.
- Tyres feel firm when I squeeze them
- Both brakes stop the wheels when I squeeze them
- The handlebars do not wobble
- The seat is low enough for my toes to touch the ground
- The pedals turn smoothly
- My bell works
- The chain is on and not loose
- My helmet sits level, about two fingers above my eyebrows
- The chin strap is snug, with room for one finger underneath
- My laces are tied and my trousers will not catch in the chain
- A grown-up knows where I am riding
Building a before you ride habit
Same order every time
Start at the front wheel and walk round the bike the same way each ride. A fixed order means nothing gets missed and the routine soon feels automatic.
Touch and test
Squeeze, push, spin and ring. Children check with their hands as well as their eyes, which makes each tick mean something.
Say it out loud
Reading each check aloud and then saying "yes" or "not yet" keeps children thinking instead of ticking quickly.
Tell an adult
If a check is not a yes, the child stops and tells an adult. The bike waits until it has been put right.
Why check a bike before every ride?
A bike that is in good working order is easier to control. Tyres, brakes and handlebars all affect how a bike steers and stops, and parts can loosen or wear over time, even when nobody has noticed. A quick look before each ride means a problem is spotted in the garden or the playground, not halfway down a path.
The checks also cover the rider. A helmet only does its job when it sits level and the strap is snug. Loose laces and wide trouser legs can catch in the chain or pedals. Telling an adult where you are riding is part of the routine too. For Year 3 children, a short, repeated routine is a good way to build safe habits.
Adults should do any fixing or adjusting, such as the chain, the brakes or the seat height. If a check is not a yes, the bike does not get ridden until an adult has dealt with it. An adult also decides where it is safe for a child to ride.
Quick bike facts
- A bike bell is a way of telling other people you are close by.
- Brakes slow the wheels by rubbing against them, which is called friction.
- The chain carries the push from your feet on the pedals to the back wheel.
- Tyres need air inside them to roll well and to grip the ground.
- A helmet is made to protect your head, and it works best when it is worn properly.
Skills and curriculum link
- Safety checks
- Self checking
- Following a routine
- Careful reading
- Taking responsibility
Ideas for helping your child
- Ask whyPick one check and ask, "What could go wrong if this was not right?" Children remember a check better when they know the reason for it.
- Use hands, not just eyesLet your child squeeze, push, spin and ring each part. A tick should come from testing, not from a quick glance.
- Keep the orderWalk round the bike the same way every time. Say the checks in the same order until your child can do them without prompting.
- Praise spotting problemsThank your child when they notice something that is not right. Finding a problem is the point of the sheet, not a failure.
Key words
- RoutineA set of things you do in the same order each time.
- BrakesThe parts that slow down or stop the wheels.
- HandlebarsThe bars you hold and turn to steer the bike.
- ChainThe loop of metal links that carries the push from the pedals to the back wheel.
- HelmetA hard hat that protects your head when you ride.
- Chin strapThe strap under your chin that keeps your helmet in place.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes for you.
- Take the sheet and a pencil to the bike. Read the first check aloud together.
- Let your child test each part with their hands and tick only the checks that are true.
- If a check is not a yes, stop. An adult fixes or adjusts it, then your child checks again.
- Do the same checks in the same order before each ride. Repeating a familiar routine builds the habit.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Do the checks together out loud. Read each one, point to the part of the bike, and say what you are testing. Let your child do the touching and ticking. An adult should handle anything that needs fixing or adjusting, such as the chain or brakes.
To stretch confident children
Write a short list titled 'Riding safely' with three rules for the road or path where you ride. Read the rules to an adult and explain why each one matters. Add one more rule that only applies to where you live.
Make it a game
Safety inspector. The child checks an adult's bike and ticks the list. The adult puts in one mistake on purpose, such as untied laces, to see if the child spots it. Swap roles. The bike stays parked during the game.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child ticks every box very quickly without touching the bike.
Try thisSlow down and ask them to show you each check with their hands. Say "yes" or "not yet" out loud before each tick.
Watch forThe helmet looks fine but sits tipped back or has a loose strap.
Try thisAsk an adult to help adjust it. Then check again against the sheet before ticking.
Watch forA child tries to fix a loose chain or brake themselves.
Try thisRemind them that adults do the fixing. The child's job is to spot the problem and tell an adult.
Talk about it
- Which check do you think matters most, and why?
- What could happen if the laces or trousers caught in the chain?
- Why do we do the checks in the same order every time?
- How do you know when a check is a yes and not just a guess?
- Who should know where you are riding, and why?
- What would you do if one of the checks was not a yes?
Take it off the page
Label a bike
Draw a bike and label the parts from the checklist. Add a small tick or star next to each part you check before a ride.
Bike shop role play
One child is the bike mechanic and the other is the customer. The mechanic talks through each check and explains what it is for. The mechanic does not touch anything that needs fixing and tells an adult instead.
Make a poster
Make a poster for the garage or school bike shed that reminds riders to check before they go. Use simple words and clear pictures.
Who it is for
Parents
Do the checks with your child the first few times, then stand back and let them lead. Keep it short and calm. Step in for anything that needs fixing, and agree where and when they may ride.
Teachers
Use it before a cycling or safety lesson, as a PSHE starter, or as a plenary on keeping safe. Pupils can check a bike in the playground, or use the list to talk about the routine in class.
Home educators
Print it for each child who rides, or reuse it each time. It fits well with outdoor play, a family ride or a talk about road and path safety. Keep a copy by the bikes so the routine stays visible.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this sheet, children learn that some activities carry risks and that adults help keep them safe. They practise looking after their own things and listening to safety advice at home and at school.
After it, children can think about rules for the places they ride and how to share paths and roads with others. Many children later take part in cycle training in England such as Bikeability, where a before you ride check is a good starting habit. PSHE education covers keeping safe at this stage.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is the Bike Safety Check Sheet for?
It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Younger or older children can also use it with an adult, because the checks are short and the routine is simple.
- What will children practise?
Children practise a simple routine for checking a bike and helmet before riding. They learn to test each part, tick only what is true, and tell an adult when something is not right.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 10 minutes, done with an adult before a ride. Once the routine is familiar, children often move through the checks more quickly, but it is still worth doing carefully each time.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Do the checks together out loud. Let your child touch and test each part while you read the sheet. An adult should handle anything that needs fixing or adjusting, such as the chain or the brakes.
- Is it free to print?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or keep a copy near the bikes to use before every ride.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It works as a PSHE starter, a plenary, an early finisher task, a homework task or a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and it sits under keeping safe in PSHE.
- Is it a screen free activity, and do I need colour?
Yes, it is screen free and needs only paper and a pencil. No colour printer is needed. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper, so it is quick and cheap to print.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.