Is it ok to just accept that my child hates bikes/scooters etc?

[TeaAndMuffins]

My 3.5 year old has never had any interest in wheely things. On outings, her friends are all whizzing around on their balance bikes, micro scooters, trikes etc. We've tried just about all different wheeled things there are - she sits on them, goes forward a few centimentres, and then just stands up and says "I did it. I'll walk now". The more we encourage her, the more she resists. I've tried helping her so she feels completely secure to experiment with it and not be afraid of getting hurt, but she still doesn't want to. I've tried just leaving them in the corridor to see if she'll have a go at her own volition when she feels like it, but nope.
She just genuinely doesn't seem to get any pleasure from it. For a while I thought this was sad because I always thought cycling/scootering was a wonderful part of childhood... but now I just think, if she doesn't enjoy it, who cares? She can just spend her time doing other things that she does enjoy (reading books, dressing up, doing craft...)
Is my perspective valid? Or is she really being deprived of something essential?
I know she's still very young and has plenty of years to try again, but for now I just can't be bothered to encourage her to progress in something that she has absolutely no interest in.

Absolutely. DS was 14 before he got even remotely interested in cycling.

Well yes, if it's genuine preference and you don't have any other concerns. 3.5 is young and it's something she might enjoy more later. Did you ever have any other concerns about her development or mobility? My son wouldn't even try his balance bike, I found out later he has poor balance and core strength so of course it makes sense. But he still likes more stable wheeled toys so not quite the same situation as you.

They're 3.5 just revisit when they’re a little older.

My 3.5 year old DS is similar. We bought him a balance bike for his 3rd birthday and he barely touches it. Says no to every suggestion to bring it to the park etc.
Got him a scooter for Christmas, because he asked for one, and he's been on it a bit more but isn't asking to scoot to nursery every day - it's me reminding him of it.

The funny thing is I cycle to work and he loves seeing me cycle off and ring my bell. I hope he gets more in to it when he starts at primary school.

Yeah it doesn’t matter. Everyone is different. Some adult cycle and some don’t. We shouldn’t force kids to all like the same thing. I wouldn’t worry, she may get more interested if she gets older. And if she doesn’t, then that’s ok too.

It’s fine, she’s very young, just periodically revisit it as time goes by, if she’s not keen, that’s ok.

DS would not even look at a bike until he was about 7. By 11 he was cycling everywhere

DS never liked bikes . He would push the dolls pram while his sister scooted at that age.
However came to it in his own time aged about 9 .
Now it’s his main mode of transport as an adult ,

DC4 not interested in the slightest. Finally got on a scooter at around 10 because he had to go on something for bikeability in year 5. Felt he had to learn to do the second part of bikeability in year 6 - jeez that was hard going as he was the same height as me by then. He's not been on a bike since.

He does however have ASD and a massive issue with "failing" and finding ways around not having to do the thing he struggles with. He only learnt to tie shoelaces at 15, but would argue who needed to when velcro exists. He could run as fast as anyone else could cycle, so he just did that. I wouldn't be surprised if he also was slightly dyspraxic, he's very uncoordinated - that with the inability to process 'failure' meant he didn't want to try again if he couldn't do it first time.

My DD is 14 and does triathlon but at 3.5 had no interest or ability on wheels. If she's walking everywhere, that's great, being fit and strong will help when she is ready, but 3.5 is very young to have gone through all these things and feel youve given it a go and given up. It's the middle of winter, give it at least 6months before trying again. No need to rush her, who cares what everyone else is doing.

Well there could be all sorts of reasons. Probably it's just personal taste - as in I love cycling and running but hate dancing, netball and going to the pub. Or perhaps your DD has a cautious personality and needs time to adjust to the idea. She may well decide in a year or two that cycling is a great idea. She is so young. Different areas of a child's development happen at different times in different children. We all know kids who walk at 9 months and others who take their first steps at age 2 years. Almost without exception, these children all grow into fullly functioning adults.

There are of course certain conditions that could make bike riding or scootering unappealing dyspraxia or autism for example due to poor motor skills.

Thanks everyone.
You're right, it isn't just a lack of enjoyment - she is not strong on her gross motor skills and finds stuff like this really difficult. She is prone to give up as soon as something doesn't come easily, unfortunately. But I find that even the gentlest encouragement to keep trying makes her really resist.