scooter for child with low muscle tone/poor balance?

[welliwouldnt]

DD is 7. She has never been diagnosed with dyspraxia, but struggles due to the above for which she has had physio and OT.

The bike has never been a success and really she is too big now to be out and about with stabilisers (she feels).

She does have a slim micro type three wheel scooter, but still a bit nervous about putting two feet on to balance.

Would anyone have any suggestions for a different type of scooter or other vehicle (!) she could try to help her confidence/balance?

thank you.

[ouryve]

What about the v-shaped scooters where you put a foot on either side? Can't remember what they're called.

[frizzcat]

My ds balance wasn't good and we went with the micro scooter - had a blue foot board? It took some time for him to get used to the balance thing, with two feet on the board and using the break. I did use a strap so he could put both feet on and I pulled him and that did help to give him confidence, because he just had to steer. There's a lot to process - steer, foot down, push, both feet up, brake, watch where you're going. This just helped brake it down a bit
The micro scooters are very good I'd be surprised I'd there was something better. Do you have an OT could they recommend anything?

[amumtothree]

Sorry to highjack, would welcome any tips for getting an 8 yr old dyspraxic to learn to ride a bike. Our OT service does a bike couse but it's always in the holidays when we are away,

[ouryve]

No idea. We've given up on bikes with DS1. He's quite good on a scooter, now, though.

We were told by an OT, a few years ago, that balance needs to come first, so a bike with the pedals removed could be used as a balance bike, rather than going the stabilisers route. DS1 refused to have anything to do with the idea!

[welliwouldnt]

I should say, our scooter is just a cheap type, so maybe we should look into getting the genuine article like you have frizz as you seem to have had success with it.

I agree balance is key. Maybe we should give up on the stabilisers and try without pedals.

Or, we may just get her a go kart!

[haggisaggis]

My dd has mild coordination problems but has managed the micro scooter ok. She also has one of those "v" shaped ones, but I actually think they are more difficult! She also has a KMX trike like this, but unless you are somewhere really flat, I wouldn't recommend it! (hers has gears - the new ones don't - and even with gears it is really hard on hills!)

[sonora]

Ds is 5 and has low muscle tone and hypermobility, so lots of issues with balance etc. Last Christmas we bought him a Mooki three wheeler scooter. It has a nice wide footplate and ds found it fairly easy to use straight away (took him a good while to be able to steer left and right though)

Ds has always struggled with bikes and trikes, finds it really difficult to put adequate pressure on the peddles (that's if he can actually reach the peddles!) He also has one of those scuttlebug trikes with no peddles and whizzes around the garden quite happily. Would like to try him on a balance bike to see how he gets on.

[Jacksterbear]

Ds (SPD including sensory-based motor difficulties) has the maxi micro. It's incredibly stable due to very low, wide footboard and 3 wheels - and the fact that the two wheels are at the front means no getting feet tangled up in them like you would if the two wheels were at the back, iyswim. ££££ though,unfortunately.

[Jacksterbear]

Maxi Micro

[amumtothree]

It looks like a maxi micros for us too then. The issue we have is even if he managged to master his baalance issues - he doesn't seem to have the strength to push the wheels round on a bike.

[Saracen]

Slight diversion from the original topic to recommend this balance bike to those who are thinking about that route: www.glidebikes.co/gogliderred.html

My dd gets on well with it because it is so very lightweight - she tended to fall over sideways while straddling other bikes. It's well made and sturdy except the brakes, which are rubbish. My daughter puts her feet down to stop instead!

It has a fairly cool appearance too, and she gets admiring comments from other 7-8 year olds. She doesn't care about being seen as "babyish", but I know that some kids would.

[frizzcat]

autumn take the pedals off the bike, adjust the seat so dc can touch the ground. Practice steering and braking obviously lifting feet up and using the feet to get going. Once dc is comfortable and is confident steering, balancing and braking put the pedals back on. It will take a few concentrated sessions, but it breaks it down a little.

[googlyeyes]

The micro maxi changed our lives. DS1, who has low muscle tone on top of his asd amazed us by taking to it straightaway, and he now spends most of every weekend on it. It has made him so, so happy.

It's pricey, but we bought it when he was 5 (now 6) and it will hopefully last him at least another 5 years.

We have pretty much given up on the bike...he is able to pedal, but just shows no interest in it. The OT at school said cycling is much harder than scooting as it involves constant alternating between either side of the body (and therefore brain!). Not sure it's worth persevering anymore

[welliwouldnt]

thanks everyone. think we will give the balance bike or bike without pedals another go, but am going to look into the 'proper' scooter for Christmas.

Lovely to hear your son doing so well with it googly.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

I'm a bit late to the discussion, but DS2 (11y) manages well on a maxi micro scooter. It goes up to 50kg.

[smkemp]

We had a lot of experience with low muscle tone, dyspraxia and the Micro Scooter really helped him learn to balance confidently. I wrote a piece about the whole story www.toyrider.com/how-the-micro-scooter-can-help-kids-learn-how-to-balance