I can’t believe I’m writing this, but my teeny, tiny baby turns 3 in a couple of weeks. I have no idea where that time has gone.
For her first and second birthdays, the decision as to what her present would be was entirely mine. She didn’t understand the concept of birthdays, and definitely didn’t sit around wanting anything to play with other than whatever was in front of her at the time.
These days, she’s still fairly content to play with whatever is in front of her, and we don’t watch normal TV so I don’t have to worry about what advertisements might be telling her she needs – but whenever we go into a shop, she will want to play with every toy she sees. And she will often direct me into certain shops if she knows there are toys in there. Have it at my house, Mummy?
The one thing she mentions time and time again is a scooter. If we see children riding scooters around town on the weekend, she asks if she can have one at her house. Her face lights up when she sees someone riding along on a scooter. She loves all forms of ride-on toys and bicycles, and I think given half a chance she would spend all day outside playing.
The problem is that we live in the middle of the city, with no storage space and no garden. There’s nowhere for S to practise her skills by herself, without other children and dogs (and dog poo) and people about. Yes, I know I am the world’s most ridiculously protective mother. If she had a scooter, I would have to let go of her hand and let her go off on her own – even if I was chasing along behind her. And even if she thinks she’s all grown up… this is only her third birthday.
Part of me feels like I should just bite the bullet and buy her a scooter, let her play and have fun and loosen my grip on her hand.
The other part thinks but she’s only 3, do I really have to let her go so soon?
I can’t decide whether to get her a scooter, or go with a dolly or something instead.
Does your three year old have a scooter? Am I just being an over protective mum?
2 Comments
Lois Cooper · 23/03/2015 at 15:33
We brought our son a scooter for Christmas when he was just 3. It was the one thing he had asked for as well. I chose one that came apart for easy storage (like you we don’t have a lot of space), and he loves it! We live in a built up area, but often go for a scoot round the park. It took him a long time to get confident on it, so don’t worry about them being too speedy too soon, our youngest has one now and still makes me drag her along as she can’t get the hang of scooting and steering at the same time!
Vicky Charles · 23/03/2015 at 17:26
ooh thanks Lois. I think she’d love it if I got her one… just need to figure out logistics!