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Austin Babies
Confession
Our in-laws bought Gracie one of these for her birthday. I thought it was cute and she loves riding on it, but honestly, these things make me cringe. Everytime I see a kid on a motorized bike, scooter, whatever it may be, I think to myself how that kid is missing out on the exercise that the non-motorized version gives them. DH got on my butt last night for glaring at the parent of a kid that already overweight at like 5 and just crusing lazily down the sidewalk on one. Honestly I didn't mean to glare, but it was a natural reaction.
I told DH that he is not allowed to buy her any more toys like that. I am overweight, so is my mom. DH is slightly overweight and so are his parents. It is already in her genes to be heavy and I really want to teach her from early on that exercise is awesome and that those toys are for lazy kids.
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Re: Confession
I wouldn't mind DS having one of those, but I would definitely limit the time he spends on it.
But I see where you are coming from.
I so wanted one of those when I wanted a kid.
I see your concern, but I think it's ok as long as you limit how long she can be on it. which I'm assuming isn't really an issue since most kids have the attention span of a gnat.
I always wanted one of those.
I don't think you are being unreasonable. You have a valid concern and you want to take preventative measures to make Gracie's life better/healthier/easier. No harm in that.
I also so wanted one when I was a kid!
I think if a family was out on a walk, and one of the kids was riding these things instead of walking, that would really bug me. But limited periods of time zooming around the yard are probably okay.
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I definitely see where you're coming from and it was a hurdle for DH and I as well. We are both active and really stress the importance of fitness with DSS, while his mom is, well, doesn't.
DH and I take DSS for bike rides, to walk the dog, and to do other outdoor physical stuff all the time. If you rely on electric things as their only outdoor fun, then you're becoming the problem (the hypothetical non-you, of course). But if you're outside doing all sorts of fun things, the electronic toy is just another thing to do outside, and doesn't have an overall negative impact on their health and well-being. It's everything in moderation, because when there's a hard-line "no", it will make them want it more, or resent their activity time.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
I totally understand your concern.
Cam has one and loves hers. She plays on it a couple times a week, and maybe for 10 minutes each time - maybe. By then she's ready to find something else to do, so I'm not having to enforce any limits at this point. I would, though, if it was something she was attached to the whole time we were outside.
I agree with pp (was it FCB?) that said its an overall lifestyle that would be a problem, not just a toy that is part of a rotation outdoors. If you are doing other things to keep her active and healthy, then I would go ahead and let her enjoy it here and there.
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I totally get your concern and have had similar thoughts. However, the kids in our cul de sac who have them play on their bikes more than the cars and apparently the batteries discharge pretty quickly (on the big ones anyway) so it's a good excuse for them not being available all the time...
My concern is more the safety, I've seen the 4-5 year olds who have the power wheels run into our cars, into the curb, they always seem to take the turns too big from driveway to sidewalk and ride over our grass... ug. And it's hard when I'm playing outside with Megan and Ryan so the kids don't run into them. Anyways if we have lots of land and the kids could ride the cars in the yard that would be ok with me but I'm just not a big fan of them in our cul de sac.
I'm more concerned about kids moving faster than their brains can safely navigate in the world. If a child is on one, I firmly believe they should have a helmet on.
But I don't think it's a gateway vehicle to childhood obesity.
There is a little girl on my street with a motorized scooter, and it seriously scares the crap out of me. She flies up and down the street (not sidewalk) and I am always afraid she's either going to wipe out of get hit by a car. The other day I saw her WITH another little boy ON the scooter, neither of them wearing helmets, going as fast as the thing goes up and down the street sometimes actually turning her head around to talk to this kid and not watching where she was going.
I seriously considered going out to flag her down and lecture her on safety, but I was honestly afraid that if I tried to stop her it'd cause her to take a spill. Thankfully her mom eventually came out and at least made the other kid get off of it. I'm not a huge fan of the motorized stuff in general, but to each their own. Those scooters that actually go pretty fast though - really not appropriate for a child to use unsupervised, in my opinion.