How long did it take your LO to master the scooter?

[Varfalli34]

My DS is 2.5 and really can't figure his scooter out. We have used it on and off for quite a while but only recently started giving it a proper go. I see kids his age whizzing about on them so wonder whether it just takes a bit of time? Or should I be doing something to try and help himfigure it out? He is desperate to do it and gets so frustrated that he can't.

We have the mini one which has a lower round handle maybe should I switch to the bigger handle bit?

[efeslight]

DS (4 and 1/2) had a balance bike and went onto a bike with pedals but no stabilisers at the weekend. Had the balance bike for about 2 years.

He was actually quite worried about it but took to it really quickly. We were lucky that we met friends who had their daughter's bike with them that was far too small for him- he learnt in 20 minutes. Then the bike we had bought for him, which to be honest is slightly too big, didn't seem so scary. We've never bought him a scooter- is he missing out?

[bakingtins]

If he's going to be 4 I would buy a proper bike but get the shop to take the pedals and cranks off for you. Make sure the seat can go low enough so he can put his feet flat on the floor. Use it as a 'balance bike' until he gets the hang of balancing (when they can push off and glide along both feet off the floor) then put the pedals back.
Stabilisers teach them not to balance, you will save yourself hours of running along behind breaking your back if you teach the balance first!

[Judez99]

Thanks BlingBubbles - does it work?! I was thinking of getting him a bike for his 4th birthday but maybe a balance bike would be better first. Mind you, when we were kids we just started off with stabilisers until one day they came off and that was that!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Dd had the mini micro for her second birthday and mastered it pretty quickly but then she did have to do the school run twice a day and we like to walk into the village at the weekends.

[Coveredinweetabix]

DD had her micro scooter for her 3rd birthday. She was useless on it for the first couple of months and I regretted getting it for her. Then we had a breakthrough as a friend came over with her 5yo and his scooter and DD watched him fascinated and then tried to copy... with very little success as he was so much faster and whizzier than her. For the next month, whenever I was meeting up with friends with DC, I checked if their DC had scooters & if they liked them and, if they did, arranged to meet up somewhere scooter friendly and, within that month, DD had grasped it and quickly escalated to demon-child-on-scooter level.
I think one of the frustrating things if your DC can't do it is that the other children look to be doing it so instinctively and go so quickly. It took DD days to go from stuttering along to being like that. The steering thing on micro scooters is brilliant but hard to explain to a child.

[bakingtins]

I think the balance bike thing might be key. DS2 was a whizz on the balance bike from 2 and onto a proper bike at 3.5. He's had a micro scooter from around the same age and not been interested, struggled with the steering which is quite different to the bike and counterintuitive if you have been keeping the bike handlebars upright to balance and turning to steer.
Suddenly grasped the concept of the scooter at about 3.5 and in one circuit of the park went from being hopeless to whizzing along.
Big brother also did the balance bike --> proper bike but didn't have a scooter until he was 4 so went straight to a 2 wheeler. Got it straight away but has never been that bothered about it, much prefers the bike.
I'm not sure the leaning to steer is helpful when every other ride-on doesn't work like that.

[BlingBubbles]

Judez99, a balance bike is a bike without peddles, teaches the kids how to balance and in theory once they master the balancing they should go straight onto a normal bike without stabilisers.

[BlingBubbles]

DD1 who is nearly 3, got a scooter just before her 2nd birthday and after about 2 months she was wizzing around everywhere on it. She has great coordination though, she is fantastic on her balance bike and was skiing in Feb. Clearly takes after her dad.

[iklboo]

I have zero scooter skills. I can't ride a bike either.

[Judez99]

DS got one for his 3rd birthday - a mini micro - and still can't do it (3.8 now). Like previous posters he gives it a go but doesn't get the steering and then just gives up and prefers to walk. He's hopeless with pedals too - was never even able to master his tricycle that he's now too big for! I guess he'll learn these skills in his own time (at least, I hope so!).

What's a balance bike?

[Ohnonotagen]

my ds didn't really master his until a few weeks into pre school (they take scooters in on a friday) and he was about 3.4.. I used to worry as saw much younger kids zipping about.

He had a four wheeler first and he used to struggle on that as the wheels on the back were abit big and he sort of hit his foot on them when he was scooting. I got him a three wheeler one, the kind with the two wheels on front (we'd only paid £3 for his 4 wheeler on ebay) and he picked that up better, now he's ok on both.

[NotCitrus]

Ds got his for potty training, age 2.11. Loved stroking it and walking with it, but wouldn't scoot over 1 mph.
Then age 5, at school, other kids used them and suddenly he bravely took off. Still more sensible than Many kids.

Dd at 2.3 has nearly mastered it when he lets her have a go.

[Jamjars22]

It's so interesting hearing people who have multiple kids, some who got it straight away and some not til much later. Goes to show how different development is etc. I'm trying to teach my youngest to do itand getting no where!

[Lucylouby]

Ds has only recently figured out how to scoot and he is 5.5. He also struggles with his bike and has pretty much given up on that now he has mastered the scooter. It just clicked over night and he is really good now. Dd1 and dd2 both got it much earlier, dd2 is 3 and is really good already. Your ds will figure it out, it's like anything, they get it in their own time.

[Loverofcheese]

My first two were very nimble and could use a micro scooter on their second birthday. Younger kids seem to struggle more.

Micro scooters are fantastic.

[AmeliaToppingLovesShopping]

DD3 is 3.9 and whizzs around on her scooter. She got it when she was 2.4 and managed to get to gripes with it pretty quickly.

DD2 is 5.9 and she still isn't great on a scooter. She sticks her leg out too far and just looks really awkward on it. I bought her a big 2 wheeled scooter for Christmas and she refuses to use it, I think she is a bit scared. She can rideca bike without stabilisers but can't ride a scooter!

[Lioninthesun]

Parietal do they have to steer when you use the lead? DD is 2.9 and can use it pretty well but I don't trust her with it in town just yet but if I can carry it with us then pulling her back up the hills would be a lifesaver!

[VodIsGod]

DS3 had a micro for his 2nd birthday. He'd had a few goes on his brother's scooter before that but within a few hours the scooter was like an extension of him. He is now 3.5 and is very controlled, uses the brake well, tries to do little bunny hops and can keep up with his two elder brothers, no trouble. Looking at the other children at his nursery leaving on scooters there's a real range of skills and confidence though.

[TheBreastmilksOnMe]

DS is 5 and couldnt get on with his 2 wheeler so we got him a 3 wheeler and he really took off with it. Now that he's got his confidence with that he's able to go on the 2 wheeler.

DD who is 3, still struggles with the 3 wheeler.

Try the easier to balance ones first and give lots of practice.

[SizzlesSit]

DS got one for his 2nd bday. Previously he'd just borrowed other kids ones at the park and straddled it

The day he got his own he whizzed off on it like a pro much to our surprise

He's really fast on it, brilliant round corners but still hasnt mastered the break...his trainers are suffering!

[edwinbear]

DS had one for his 2nd birthday but only really mastered it about 3. DD started snatching her brothers off him and trying to copy just before she turned 2, so she had one for her 2nd birthday. At 2.5 she keeps up with 4.5 ds, but she has had the advantage of being able to watch and copy him I think.

[Neverendingnappies]

DD1 is 4 and is hopeless on her scooter. it is a mini mirco and she cannot steer it, gets frustrated and i wind up carrying it. DD2 is 2 and can ride it, steer it and loves getting on it and will bomb around the garden or park with no hesitation.

DD1 now has a bike with stabilizers and she is much more confident on it.

[CuriosityCola]

Note: still no interest in the balance bike apart from ringing the bell.

[CuriosityCola]

I think it helps to see an older kid on one. My ds had no interest in his scooter. We then bought him a balance bike for his Christmas. Lots of cousins over to play. Then next day he scooted from one end of the livingroom to the other with ease and hasn't stopped since.

I have actually noticed that some of the kids that are really good on them are actually older than they look.