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Would you let your 4 y.o. drive a snowmobile alone?
A friend posted video on FB of her not-quite 4 y.o. (she'll be 4 in April) driving a snowmobile on her own. (No helmet on, either.) Seems like a terrible idea to me, especially without a helmet. She's driving in an open space and going very slowly and her parents were right there (dad close by, mom video-taping), but still... I can see wanting to teach her how to do it responsibly, but she seems too young and she should've been wearing a helmet. What do you think?
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Re: Would you let your 4 y.o. drive a snowmobile alone?
My gut reaction was no.
But Joey has been riding a 4-wheeler since he was 2.5. So yea, probably. And they would most definitely have to wear a helmet.
I think things like this, when foreign to people, seem that much more outrageous. If you grew up riding these things, it's the norm to have your kids start out on them young as well. I mean, my parents best friends (when we were growing up) had 3 wheelers, snowmobiles, etc. They were a bit older than 4 -- probably around 8 or so -- and would go whip around in the woods, night or day. But my best guess (I can't remember as they were a bit older than me) is that they had been riding since they were around 4 as well.
Hell no.
But, he doesn't drive 4 wheelers. He will ride with on of us, but that is it!
My first instinct was to jump and down yelling "NO"!
But...... .Olivia drove a mini-quad last summer - My Dad had it set so it wouldn't even go as fast as those little battery powered cars/quads that you get a Toys R Us. He walked beside her the whole time and she wore a helmet.
I'm going to have to say in the snowmobile situation it depends on how it is treated.
krisbri - that's funny b/c I think my answer would change for Cam. I like to afford her all the same opportunities as Joey but he is just way more hand/eye coordinated than she is. He would own that thing -- even at 4. He rides his quad like a natural. Her, on the other hand....well, she hasn't quite efficiently handled walking yet! LOL
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my nephew is not quite 4 and he got his own snowmobile for Christmas. My brother is an avid snowmobiler so it just makes sense. He's awesome on it (but it does not go very fast at all!)
but NEVER without a helmet. That part is dumb.