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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Anyone elses DC can't use a micro scooter?

17 replies

BoysRule · 04/06/2013 13:47

My DS is nearly 4 and we bought him a micro scooter when he was 2.5. He still can't use the bloody thing. We have taken it out fairly regularly but I always end up carrying it. He can scoot along with his feet but absolutely cannot steer it. He doesn't persevere with it and gives up. No amount of encouraging or directing etc seems to help. It seems like everywhere you go there are children zooming around and he is the only one pushing it along whilst walking next to it looking crestfallen.

He is well co-ordinated physically, he can throw accurately, climb really well etc. He does struggle to pedal a trike though which I can't really understand either.

I wish I had got a normal old fashioned scooter as he may have had a chance to steer that.

Is he the only one in the world?

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hairtwiddler · 04/06/2013 13:52

Yes. Ds can't use it. But he can whizz along on his sister's two wheeler. He has a balance bike so the steering threw him I think.

pipsqueakz · 04/06/2013 13:55

My dd was exactly the same when she was younger. She still a bit like it now ( she's 8 now) only just riding a bike without stabilisers. But she was a very premature baby born three months early! I was told by docs she maybe a bit behind but only practical things she stuggles with a little. Theory stuff she is fantastic with. Was you lo a prem baby?

theidsalright · 05/06/2013 16:08

My ds who is 4 can't use one either. Whizzes everywhere on his balance bike. It's the steering bit with him too, he doesn't get it. I've given up on the scooter now. We're buying him a,proper bike with no stabilizers this month!

BlueChampagne · 05/06/2013 16:23

As hairtwiddler and theidsalright age 3.6, and not prem. Still enjoys using it, but not as much as balance bike. However, does fit in car more easily for holidays.

CreatureRetorts · 05/06/2013 18:06

Steering is odd on those things, having to tilt!

But honestly does it matter?

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 05/06/2013 18:11

DD got one for her third birthday and I would say it was about a year before she was really confident on it. She's got a Maxi Micro now (aged 7) and I can't ride the bloody thing for the life of me, whereas I have no problems with DS's two wheeled stunt scooter.

I think different things for different children TBH. DS, who has diagnosed coordination problems took to his mini micro aged 4 like a duck to water and converted to a 2 wheeler normal steering scooter very easily but at 9 can only just ride a bike. I wouldn't worry, it may well just click one day. Or sell it!

ToysRLuv · 05/06/2013 20:29

DS 3.8 can't ride his and he has had it for a year. He is seemingly scared of riding it and finds it teetery/unsteerable, so hasn't wanted to try it for aaages. Also, he is not very much better on the balance bike. He is a bit of a scaredy cat and doesn't like to persevere practicing things he finds too hard. I was the same. Only gave up my bike stabilisers when I was nearly 8 and the stabilisers were bending with my weight (I was very tall and large for my age).

However, he can read and count, throw a ball very accurately, and jump, run and dance really well, so I think he will be fine. Sod what all the others are doing!

WeAllHaveWings · 05/06/2013 20:40

ds(9) never really "got" scooters, until he was about 6 and playing out with his pals, got the hang of it in a couple of days and a few days later was riding his bike for the first time too. Now he's never off them!

SIL had a micro scooter for her dd(4) which she never really used, but she was great on her 2 wheeler.

PhilPhil · 05/06/2013 22:34

I taught my ds (3) to steer by walking beside him and putting my hands on top of his, so he could feel the pressure... that seemed to make it 'click' for him and he suddenly got the hang of it, before that no end of instructions and he was all over the place... he's not that great at other physical things, so I was relieved that he managed to get this - he still can't jump properly for example.

EugenesAxe · 05/06/2013 22:38

No - my DS 3.4 and can't do it, or his balance bike. In his case though I think fear/ reticence to relax and go with it. He's the same with swimming - very tense & won't stretch out on front or back, particularly.

He can catch OK, climb etc. it may be an ear thing or just a scaredy cat!

DewDr0p · 05/06/2013 22:42

A bit like PhilPhil dh had to teach ds1 how to do it by standing behind him, putting his hands on top of ds's and showing him what happened when they leaned (dh may even have jumped on behind him, can't quite remember!)

Whereas ds3 picked it up while noone was looking aged just under 2 and did a very impressive arc right through the hall and kitchen of our holiday cottage lol!

ToysRLuv · 05/06/2013 23:02

I know a 3.5 year old who can rollerblade (in-line skates), cycle with a normal bicycle (no stabilisers), ice skate (since he was under 3) and ski. He is pretty amazing like that, but, on the other hand, at least I won't have to worry about DS doing anything crazy or reckless when he is a teen, whereas this boy might be paragliding and base jumping by age 15 .

Original poster

BoysRule · 06/06/2013 09:51

Great to hear that DS is not alone! No, he wasn't prem and is actually well co-ordinated in other areas. Can't use a balance bike either though. I have to say that I blame DH as he is the same - I think it is a multitasking thing - he can't steer and push at the same time.

I am going to keep it and see if DS2 can master it one day.

ToysRLuv - when DS first learnt to walk all of my friends with boys his age were tearing their hair out with boys who climbed curtains, tables, swinging on lampshades etc. DS has never done any of that - he is really cautious physically which does have its upsides.

OP posts:

2children2cats · 06/06/2013 10:18

I'll join the club, my dd (3.4) can't steer her micro scooter or pedal a bike. I find it very frustrating as she would be so much quicker if she could do one of them.
She was a late walker but is starting to be able to do some physical stuff. In the last 2 weeks she has mastered hopping, forward rolls and walking on her hands (wheelbarrow race style) so I'm holding out for the scooter/bike to click.

ToysRLuv · 06/06/2013 10:41

Boysrule: Yes, that sounds like my DS. We bolted the bookshelves into the walls according to the general recommendation, but DS has never had the urge to climb them, and gets scared of heights, e.g. if you try to lift him on your shoulders (he says it's too high up, which is fair enough really). He was nearly 18 months old when he finally decided to walk. He just takes his time and considers. He is like that with a lot of things.

Mini micro was second hand, so not that annoying a redundant buy, but decent balance bike was 90 quid. Luckily can sell it for nearly the same if ds never gets into it.

MummyPig24 · 06/06/2013 18:22

My 5yr old can't use a mini micro. He has had a 2 wheel micro since he was 3 and has been able to use it no problem since he got it. But he cannot steer his sisters mini micro, and she cannot balance on his 2 wheeler.

Lildot · 09/06/2013 14:30

My 4.5 year old is hypermobile, cannot do her micro but her old fashioned four wheel scooter is her favourite...she really speeds along with confidence as the scooter gives her stability whereas the micro steering meant she kept veering off into fences and hedges....each child is different. I thought the micro would help her stability in her major motor skills but it did the opposite in terms of her confidence in her ability to scoot in a straight line and actually get somewhere..

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