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Original poster

can a 4 year old cope with a 2-wheeled scooter?

21 replies

hatwoman · 16/11/2006 19:46

or do they need one with two wheels at the back? conversely would a 6 year old find one with two wheels childish?

OP posts:
Moomin · 16/11/2006 19:50

my 5 year old wouldn't cope with a two wheeler. It depends on the child though. If they were super-confident and could get up quite a speed the 2 wheeler might be ok, but if they hadnt had a scooter before I'd get them the 3-wheeler. Dd1 had her 3 wheeler just before she was 4 i think

beckybrastraps · 16/11/2006 19:52

Yes (depending on the child) and yes

IMO

stinky · 16/11/2006 19:58

It depends upon the child DS had his 2 wheeler for his 4th birthday and took a while to gain confidence (abt 2 months) but when he did he was whizzing around. DD was given a 3 wheeler at 2.2 and has so much confidence, she is now 2.5 and whizzes around so fast I can't watch!

Bradsmum · 16/11/2006 19:59

DS was 4 last week and had a 2 wheeler for his bd - took 5 mins to get the hang of it and loves it.

Original poster
hatwoman · 16/11/2006 20:20

so - which of these should I get for them?

this two wheeler

this 3 wheeler

or

this 2 wheeler

OP posts:
LIZS · 16/11/2006 20:31

ds has the first one and think you may find it a bit heavy and cumbersome for a 4yr old and the brake a bit awkward. Personally I'd choose the second at that age - ds had a 2 wheeler from 4 like the 3rd but wasn't confident and dd who is now 5 had a 3 wheeler at 3 1/2 and has whizzed about.

stringbean · 16/11/2006 21:22

Ds turned 5 last week and was given the three wheeler 'cosmic flasher' (the mind boggles!). It's a huge hit, made all the better by the fact that all his friends had one for their 5th birthdays, so they all ride them home from school together - and the idea of 'childish' hasn't entered their heads. Ds would probably have been able to cope with the two wheeler, but wanted one like his friends. Guess it depends on the child.

Twiglett · 16/11/2006 21:27

2 wheeler .. good sturdy one .. check them out some are quite flimsy

a 2 wheeler helps a child work out their sense of balance so they find it easier to learn to ride a bicycle without stabilisers

ellasmum1 · 16/11/2006 21:32

Just bought my nearly 4 yr old barbie 3 wheeler one she wants but noticed on box it says up to 20kg in weight and she already weighs just under 19 and is height of 5 yr old so maybe i have done the wrong thing but not sure I could have bought a 2 wheeler barbie one anyway!

ratclare · 17/11/2006 16:52

my 4 yr old hurtles down the hill on her micro scooter and loves it ,the other kids play on them too age 3yrs to 5 yrs ,although they all started off on 3 wheelers

Californifrau · 17/11/2006 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WriggleJiggle · 17/11/2006 17:10

At my school tearing around on a scooter has been a popular break activity for the past 2/3 years. The children who play are generally 7-9yrs old. So definately not childish for a 6 yr old.

Blu · 17/11/2006 17:17

DS didn't have a 3 wheeler at all. I think they are as hard to manage, tbh, because they stay at one upright angle...can't quite explain it.

brimfull · 17/11/2006 17:18

ds has been riding 2 wheeled scooter since he was 2,so I think a 4 yr old would be fine.

brimfull · 17/11/2006 17:21

oops just read thread,obviously ds is a scooter genius.

Charellie · 17/11/2006 18:01

My 4 year old has the £7.49 scooter in your link. It's lightweight and folds down so is easy to take on holiday. She has had it since she was 3 1/2 and hadn't used a 3 wheel scooter previously but got the hang of it in about 5 mins

DimpledThighs · 17/11/2006 18:40

got my ds a scooter when he starred school as is bit of a journey. Took him about a month to get the hang of it (before then he was doing short tentative scoots) then he was away and it is great. 2 wheels means he had theodd tip but great for him feeling 'grown up'. Another postivie is that all the balance practise made learning to ride a bike a doodle.

each child is different but I say go for it.

Glassofwine · 17/11/2006 18:43

My 3 yr old ds has a two wheeler scooter, has had it for about 6 months and is super fast and super sensible with it. We just got a £10 Woolies one. My 4 yr old dd and 7 yr old also have them, they would all be mortified to 'drive' one with two wheels at the back.

hoxtonchick · 17/11/2006 18:56

my ds has only ever had a 2 wheeler. he got it when he was 3 & has never had any problems at all. they're fabulous for moving at an adult walking speed.

redshoes · 19/11/2006 18:27

My dd (3) manages just fine with two wheels too

martini · 21/11/2006 17:34

DS has a mini micro scooter which has 2 wheels at front & 1 at back. You steer it by leaning from side to side.

Its been a huge success & he can do all kinds of scary jumping around tricks on it, goes really fast but has never hurt himself.

But beware - yesterday the brake snapped off after only 6 months of use (admittedly daily use on journey to school plus longer outings) & also it only takes weight up to 20kg so DS has almost outgrown it.

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