South Florida Sun-Sentinel
For more Sun-Sentinel lifestyle features, click here.

« My stepdaughter's movie pick | Main | Kidnapping your pre-teen the only way to get quality time »

Have bicycle, won't travel

Today is my younger son's third birthday. He got a Thomas the Tank Engine bicycle. And he just sits on it. Or he walks it around the house. Or he sits on it, waits for someone to put his feet on the pedals, then waits for someone (me) to grab the handlebars and walk him around. That's right, he refuses to push on the pedals.


He was more excited about his new DVDs, books and his cake than he was his bicycle. Although he won't let anyone else touch his bicycle.

I remember when Evan turned 3, he also got a bicycle. And he went wild on it, riding up and down the sidewalk with a big grin on his face. I know -- different kid, different skill sets, etc.

But it's tough to remain patient when your kid flat-out refuses to even try. He already has a tricycle that he loves ... to be pushed on.

Any suggestions?

POSTED IN: General (85), Nancy Othon (21)

Please comment

Comments

My son did the exact same thing when he was 3. When he was good and ready (close to 4), he pedaled himself. Relax.

My son, who will be 4 in October, still doesn't like to pedal. Does the same thing: Expects us to push him around or he scoots in the bikes Fred Flinstone style.

We even bought him that Fisher Price Smart Cycle for Christmas, which encourages pedaling to play educational video games.

No dice.

I'm hoping he'll come around soon. We've got two tricycles and one big wheel just waiting to get used!

I'm a Pediatrician as well as a parent of a 3 year old. The developmental age when pedaling is usually accomplished is age 3. That is when kids will typically start riding a tricycle. It may mean right when they turn 3 or it may be later in the year. They may have the physical skills but their brain isn't ready yet. The same can be said for the fact that 3 year olds can draw a circle, but ask them to draw a square or triangle, and it may take another year or two. The brain just isn't ready to accomplish those tasks. Incidentally, my 3 year old daughter can ride her tricycle well, but she cannot ride her bicycle with training wheels although she loves honking the little horn on it!

Post a comment

To help keep spam off our site, please enter the letter "q" in the field below:

The Transparent Team

Joy Oglesby has an infant daughter and a sister 13 years her junior, whom she babies to the now-adult...more.

Rafael Olmeda is a stepfather to two girls, Kayla (15) and Paxtynn (12). They became a family when Rafael married the former Christine Clark...more

Luis F. Perez covers immigration...more.

Matthew Strozier is an assistant city editor, but his real job is father of two boys, Alexander, a toddler, and Rowan, a newborn...more

Anne Vasquez loves to worry, or so her husband says...more.

Daniel Vasquez, the Sun-Sentinel consumer columnist, comes from a large family...more.

Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 11, and Lily, 5, and is married...more.

Subscribe by email

We'll send you every post.
Just enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Or subscribe through an RSS reader.

Parenting Podcast

Listen to transPARENT bloggers talk about raising kids of all ages.
   › Anne Vasquez
Powered by Movable Type 3.36
Hosted by LivingDot

Add to Technorati Favorites

Parenting Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory