Scooters

[FranMay]

We have a cautious ds 3.9 who is not confident with all things on wheels and is lagging behind on motor skills! e.g. He can't pedal yet, has a bike but won't take it out. He also has a scooter which he can ride indoors a bit but he can't steer very well so on the couple of occasions we've taken it out, he's lost confidence immediately as has scootered off course. Now we would love to encourage him on all things to do with physical dev and am wondering whether a different style of scooter would help. He has the one from John Lewis where you have to lean to the side to steerwww.johnlewis.com/230407860/Product.aspx Does anyone know whether other styles are easier? (Or perhaps we should be patient with him!!)

My ds was the same, and is the same age. He has that scooter and it took one sunday of being in a flat park and just letting him play with it to get his confidence - he still can't pedal and has a certain 'style' whilst scooting but loves it and whilst he may fall off it occasionally, loves it so basically keep on trying otherwise it could get expensive

Thanks, yes I guess we need to go to a wide open space! Glad to hear he's not the only one who can't pedal.. I guess they all go at their own developmental speed on these things!

we had similar issues with DS and we bought a secondhand trailer bike. It worked wonders, gave DS so much confidence (and DH some exercise as it only fitted on the back of his bike )) He got the hang of pedaling in no time and it wasn't long before not only was he on his own bike but the stabilisers were off in no time. The other thing you might try is the balance bike (small bike with no pedals, child just scoots along with both feet while sitting on the saddle).

I would say IME that other styles are easier to use. A three wheeler one like this one is very easy to use.

From there dd went to a smaller wheel three wheeler one like this one

She now has a two wheeler one and there's no stopping her

I would just say lots and lots of opportunity to practice (especially in the garden etc) and your little one will get the hang of it in no time

Totally agree that they all go at their own speeds with this sort of thing. Dd1 was so cautious and didn't get the hang of a scooter till she was around 4 yo, she rode a two wheeler bike when she was 6, but she still isn't confident on it (she is 8 now).
Dd2 could ride a scooter from the age of about 2 and could ride a two wheeled 'big' bike at the age of 4.

Think it must be a combination of personality and the fact that we don't have easy access to anywhere to practice and ds so resistant to taking his scooter or bike anywhere. I wouldn't care really, but think it would be something he could enjoy if he got going. It is the same with swimming. He says he doesn't want to go and with no pool within walking distance, we just don't get round to doing it! Then I worry that he's going to lag behind in that too... his sister at 16 months is so different. She mastered the ride-on toy we have before she was 1 and can ride slowly on the scooter too!