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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think babies/toddlers achieve things at different ages, partly to do with the weather?

10 replies

00100001 · 15/02/2022 16:20

Bear with me...

But, let say child A turns 2 in June, and it's sunny and summer and long days. It's perfect weather for ... learning to ride a scooter. child As is out a lot of the days, and has the opportunity to practice. So are whizzing along by the end of June.

Child B turns 2 in November, and its cold, windy and rainy. Not so many opportunities perhaps this learn to ride their scooter. So end up being proficient at 2.5+ in the summer.

Replace scooting with any skill eg potty training, skiing etc

Yes. All children are different yadda yadda yadda. Yes. They have just as much opportunity because you could just take them in the rain (fun).

Anyway, just some light hearted musings.

OP posts:
Fairislefandango · 15/02/2022 17:34

Interesting theory, but surely most milestones don't require being outside, and the seasons aren't so clear-cut in their weather, and children go out in the rain, and there's a fairly wide age range for the hitting of milestones?

Skeam · 15/02/2022 17:41

I think this depends on how you view being out in wet weather. After a brief and disastrous period living in the ME, I came back to Europe delighted by rain and actual seasons, had DS and was out in all weathers with him.( In fact, he did learn to ride a non-balance bike in freezing, showery April weather, but he was so obsessive about getting it right, and so thrilled when he got the hang of it, I just shivered and clapped and stayed out.) Toilet training I'm not sure is at all weather-dependent if both parents work, and the child is in a childcare setting -- I think we finally took the plunge with DS during the October reading week at my university, but I think it was pretty much an indoor pursuit.

Camomila · 15/02/2022 17:44

Nah, I think toddlers like to achieve things at the time that is most inconvenient to their parents. Grin

I was going to wait to potty train DS2 until the summer (because of all the washing), but he's decided to do it now, in rainy Feb when everything takes ages to dry and the week before I go back to full time work.

Thatsplentyjack · 15/02/2022 17:46

Technically yes, because if they have to wait a few months to try the activity, they will obviously be older than someone whose had the opportunity younger, but in reality no. Its because some children are just more capable than others. Better balance/coordination/more interest.

TTstormtrooper · 15/02/2022 17:49

I don't agree but I'm one of those parents who takes my DC out in all weathers. I also think there is as much chance of rain in July as there is in November. So it makes no difference IMO.

Cinnabomb · 15/02/2022 17:53

I agree, sort of. We normally live in the Middle East, my 18mo is active, running climbing always outdoors. Came back here for a trip to see family with visions of puddle suits and splashing in puddles with wellies and she hates it. Whines at the cold and sits on the floor refusing to walk as she hates her boots. 🤷‍♀️

FlibbertyGiblets · 15/02/2022 17:55

Yeah mine were awkward . E.g. don't buy a bike for Christmas because you WILL be down the park all through January and February's chilly dark days, brrrrr, encouraging your tot to press the pedal, the PEDAL that's right well done oh and steer STEER mind the flower bed oh haha yes, dismounting, forgot to show you how okay just fling the bike down, mmmmhmmm unorthodox but it works etc etc.

Phenomenology · 15/02/2022 17:57

At least flower beds have less to damage this time of year 😆

RedWingBoots · 15/02/2022 18:01

I'm another one who takes their child out in all weathers. In fact she's the one who wants to go out even if I don't.

Anyway she learns things all year round.

Recently she learnt to ride a bike with pedals in January. She didn't really have much to learn after using a balance bike for over a year but it is still winter.

SkankingMopoke · 15/02/2022 18:42

I agree with PPs that few milestones are weather-dependent (and only then for the less hardy). Sitting up, crawling, walking, running, climbing, talking, reading & writing, swimming etc etc are/can be all indoor activities. Scooting and riding a bike are the only 'big' milestones I can think of that aren't do-able indoors. Even skipping and cartwheels have been skills my DCs have learned indoors at gymnastics.
I found for scooting and cycling, the biggest driver to learn was wanting to keep up with their friends/sibling. It is what got both my DCs cycling, and I have since witnessed a few friend's DCs finally 'get it' whilst out with my (slightly older) DCs on bikes, who were riding around them shouting encouragements.

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