Four year old refusing scooter Santa brought

[Nonicknamesleft]

Wonder if anyone has any advice. Santa brought my 4.5 yr old dd a two-wheeler micro scooter for Christmas, and one of the three-wheeler models for her 2.5 yr old sister. We just thought the eldest was too young for the maxi-micro three-wheeled scooter (described as suitable for age 6 upwards), and it was a lot more expensive.

Having tried the two-wheeler for about 10 seconds she hates it and won't get back on. She's coveting little sister's three-wheeler, which all the kids at school have. Again, we didn't get one of these ones for her as they are marketed as being suitable up to the age of 5.

Any suggestions how to bring her around, or are we doomed to see the stupid thing collect dust until one of the younger two is big enough? She tried it outside so naturally, it cannot be returned.

[HaveAHappyNewJung]

I think you just have to leave it tbh. She may change her mind in time. She will realise it's better to have a not-so-nice scooter than none at all!

That's unfortunately the risk with presents - it's upsetting when they don't get used (I got my DSD some roller skates but she was too scared to try) but IMO it's better to leave it rather than (albeit accidentally) create any guilt or pressure on them to use it.

[thisisyesterday]

i would leave it. just say father christmas bought her the one for big girls and then just keep on seeing if she wants to use it. am sure she will eventually

[seeker]

Find out which of her friends has a 2 whheler like the one Father Christmas bought, then invite said friend round to tea,

I (practically) guarantee the sight of someone else zooming round on her scooter will suddenly make it the most desirable object known to 4 year old!

[fel1x]

I have to say that the 2 wheel scooter is MUCH harder than the 3 wheel one! I'm not surprised she is having trouble getting going on it.
If she cant do it, then she cant do it really, you cant make her be more physically capable than she is!

My eldest is 5.5 and has the maxi micro 3 wheel one (has had it about a year). We went for that one as we knew there is no way he is able to manage a 2 wheeler just yet (we do try every now and then but he still isnt able to balance and steer at the same time)

I'd put teh 2 wheeler away until she is a bit older and can manage it imo

[Scootergrrrl]

Could Father Christmas write her a letter saying something about how it doesn't matter if she cant do it straight away but perhaps if she tries a little bit every day, it'll get easier? Sometimes you just need to get over that initial "don't wanna!" and they realise its actually fun, even though it's not what they really wanted.

[Nonicknamesleft]

That's a very brilliant suggestion, Scootergrrrl. Sadly I think the reality is that our dd is also not the most physically capable child in the world and it was probably totally naive to think she could handle this. We just couldn't afford the older child's three wheeler which is literally twice the cost but would have been perfect. What a false economy that turned out to be. Wonder how much they go for on ebay.....

[ConnorTraceptive]

I think a two wheel scooter is too hard for her age but don't worry just hang onto it and rewrap next christmas! DS1 took a long time to get the hang of a three wheel one and has only just expressed an interest in wanting a two wheel one now he is turning six.

I have learnt the hard way about buying ahead of their age. You think you'll get value for money but often it ends up sat there until they are ready!

[ConnorTraceptive]

could you get a cheap three wheeler one off ebay (say santa's little helper has lent her on e until she's ready for the other one)

[Scootergrrrl]

Glad you like the idea! I do think it's important to remember though that riding anything with two wheels, whether a bike or a scooter, is a skill to be learned like any other, not something they will automatically be able to do when they are physically ready. Practice, once shes ready, will make the world of difference. Like most things, she'll probably surprise you with the speed she learns with once she is ready. You can also get smaller two wheel scooters with bike tyres - look on amazon - which are easier to learn on than the micro ones. Good luck!