Toddler gifts that encourage activity

[Fivefootoffun]

Have a 3.9 year old who is short for her age (90cm) - she can’t reach the pedals on her trike and is quite a ‘scaredy cat’ so won’t contemplate a balance bike.

She loves her friends mini trampoline but DH dead against them due to potential injury.

Any ideas for Santa presents that would keep her active. She’s gotten really sedentary over lockdown with no soft plays etc (still not open here) so would love things to get her back on her feet. Her little brother has some soft play indoor pieces which she enjoys using.

Have ordered a scooter already.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.

Crikey. If your DH is scared of mini trampoline injury, I daresay a pikler triangle is out of the question? Wobbel board?

My toddlers love their wobbel board and pikler triangle climbing frame.

The three year old I look after loves her bouncy hopper (not sure if that's the correct name, it's a big inflatable ball with a handle that you sit on and bounce)

Magnetic Tiles

Football goal for the garden?

Membership of something - course of dance classes / little kickers football etc

My eldest isn't very dexterous and lacks the coordination for a bike etc. So I do empathise. Although we go for lots of walks. And we have a trampoline.......

DS uses his scooter when his brother is out on his bike.

Tricycle?

Dance mat?

Disco ball to have a boogie

wellies for going puddle jumping in

We have a Wobbel Board, Pikler Triangle, small slide and ball pit, balance bike and a scooter. To be honest, the most energetic I've ever seen them was trying to catch bouncy balls in the garden the other day!

I also want to get my two toddlers mini trampolines for Christmas but my DH insists on sharing trampoline injury facts with me. I'm still considering them!

Thanks so much everyone for so many great ideas.
Will look into the climbing frames and wobble boards!
Would love to just get a trampoline anyway but if she did end up hurting herself not sure I could bare the ‘I told you so’!

Really appreciate the ideas, thank you!

We had a tunnel thing and tent set we used indoors that was very much loved.

@PracticingPerson - great idea thank you

I had similar OP-DS will be 3.5 at Christmas and is a bit delayed Motor skill wise. Lockdown heightened the delay. For his birthday he got a wobbel board and a triclimb (pikkler triangle) and they've both been great. They all get used as a bridge or a house for his dinosaurs too.

@Twilightstarbright - thanks for this. I hadn’t heard of either of these things before but both have got lots of mentions! I think the Pikler she would love so going to look into that and try and get one ordered. Really appreciate the feed back, thank you!

Definitely a wobble board! I got one for my 4 year old in lock down, her one is chalk board too. We made assault courses with it, she also uses it with her other toys. Like a slide for her teddies or a bridge for her trains. Really recommend it :) I'm really keen on a triclimb if we had the space!

Scooter, we gave paw patrol ones to my grandsons who are really close in age. One took to it likes duck to water, the other one likes taking it for walks😆

Thanks @micc - space definitely an issue too so wobble board sounds good.

@goose1964 - to be honest I’d be happy if she even did that! She takes notions where she’ll walk with her dolls pram but really doesn’t get far before the moaning starts! Many thanks for the feedback.

We have this balance set from decathlon which is good

I'm considering a teeter popper here Has anyone tried it?

Don't discount a balance bike later on. Mine is a bit of a scaredy cat (actually I think mine has dyspraxia) I suppose but I'm just persistent. I went out with the balance bike every day until she could get speed up, then eventually balance and that got her up onto a pedal bike at 3 and a half which she now rides to school. She's not the type of kid who hurls herself down a hill on it but she can ride it well.

These are great ideas. Thanks for starting the thread, OP.

My son was straight on a balance bike, but I just had a quick look to see what was similar which would be more suitable for her:

Gorgeous 3 Wheel Balance Bike

Wooden sit on scooter

I bought our dd a door frame trapeze. But if the idea of a trampoline is scary this might not be suitable 😂😂

We have an indoor climbing frame (Lil Monkey Everest) which my twins of a similar age / size love.

We bought one of these for my 18 month old and she loves it and it's very safe (not too bouncy)

www.amazon.co.uk/Plum-Unisex-Youth-Bouncer-Childrens-Trampoline/dp/B01N657Z0D/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21