Rocket man

Growing up, it was all ballet, drama, and violin for me, so when it comes putting my son in some sort of extra curricular activity, I'm pretty much stumped.

Now I'm perfectly cool with a 3-year-old boy dancing, mind you, or playing the violin, however, I've actually taught 3-year-old boys to play violin, or really, attempted to teach them, and I can firmly say that there are way better and more cost effective outlets for their energy than screeching out a few notes on a teeny, tiny and quite fragile instrument.

But considering I'm behind the power curve when it comes to this parenting gig - need I remind you of my recent discovery of multi-sized Ziploc bags? - and my husband travels a lot, I'm pretty much at a loss for what to do with him, save somehow attaching him to the wagon and having him pull Margot through the neighborhood in order to burn a few calories and tire his little tail out.

And it doesn't help that I'm a total activities slacker mom, possibly because I was involved in way too many activities myself as a child, but also because I loathe Atlanta traffic, particularly when three little children are along for the ride.

So even Quinlan, who is a perfect candidate for all sorts of awesome things like ballet class or art class or cheerleading (ha!), has only done about three months of an activity before I accidentally-on-purpose just stop taking her.

[Let me add here that if she begged to go and was devastated to miss a class then I'd absolutely get her butt there, but suffice it to say it was a battle getting out of the door every single time and she never ever asked about it once, so at this point in her life I'm not going to force the child to slide into a pair of pink tights and a leotard and march in a line like a roaring lion to Mozart which let's face it she can do around the house and I don't have to endure the $70 costume and 4-hour long recital].

But Drew needs something. Or maybe it's that I need something because Drew is driving me slightly insane and running him on the treadmill is just not a socially appropriate option right now. Plus, it would be nice for him to get worn out while acquiring some sort of skill.

So with the weather changing, I decided it was time to clean out our garage of useless wheeled toys that no one ever rides because they suck in the hopes that inspiration would hit me.

Boys like speed. Boys like wheeled things. Is it possible for me to come up with any more gender stereotypes right this very moment?

Sadly, yes.

And well, I figured if I could find him a fast, wheeled, stereotypical toy it would allow me to avoid actually having to take him to an organized something or other for 3 year old boys because in the back of my mind I just can't imagine my son doing some sort of organized thing.

So, there I was, in the garage full of misfit wheeled toys, mostly because we can be impulse buyers (Cheap! Ride-on! Toy! That is cheap! For a reason!) but also because we have family that like to send us wheeled things that they have no clue how they work but they've got princesses and spidermen all over them so they must be awesome. 

Ugh.

And so, I splurged on a couple of awesome kid's scooters, and a handlebar for a scooter we already had, and after all of two seconds it took to put them together he was out riding around like he was a dolphin who had been kept out of water for all his life and was being let free to swim.

Seriously, the kid glided down the street like a little speed racer and hasn't looked back since.

Bedtime antics - completely gone.

No cruel taking away of the precious blanket. No donut rewards required.

And every time he careens down the hill towards me and zooms by, he smiles - his little head firmly packed inside a helmet, his feet planted firmly atop his little orange scooter, and my entire nervous system grasped firmly in his grubby little paws.

God help me.

Added: If you're looking for the Kickboard US Mini kick scooter, it's on sale at my affiliate Amazon (with free shipping) and it is so freaking miraculous I'd marry it.

Comments

[VDog]

My boy loves gymnastics. It's totally not fey.

[JCF]

A friend's 3 year old is on a city soccer "team." They don't really play games, but they run around with the ball, do soccer-like activities, and work on some basic ball-handling skills. It is very low pressure, fun, and good exercise, according to her. Maybe your city has something like that?

Also, when my SIL (very active) was a pre-schooler, my MIL signed her up for gymnastics. Again, like the soccer, it was mostly just very basic skills and highly active, rather than competitive.

[mom, again]

When the city parks dept list of class thingy came in the mail last week, I was surprised to find that my son will be old enough for organized sports as of this summer. I mean, his 3rd birthday is in three weeks, and 3 yrs old is the youngest age group for the activities that begin in July. T-ball and Soccer and some sort of beginner everything class that is all about instilling sportsmanship.

I tossed the booklet at my husband and told him to sign the kid up if he was ready to be that dad. He's from overseas, the idea of anything organized outside of the school has always seemed strange to him, the idea of organized sports a full two years before school starts really amazed him.

So, this summer will be like last summer: our back yard and regular trip to local playgrounds, but now using the big kid swings. We have a scooter but he can't figure it out, he stands on it and goes no where. I guess our goal is to get him to understand the scooter.

[Tish]

You have inspired me. I will be investing in one asap. Our boys can have a little scooter gang as they scoot their way to the pool. ;o) What a fabulous idea!

[Amanda Daybyday]

I'm with you on the extra curricular/organized activity thing. And a scooter. What a great idea. You just gave me inspiration for my 5 year old's birthday. He needs something other than Lego.

[Karen (SubMommy)]

We got Boy Child the Radio Flyer version.

LOVES.IT.

Although, for some strange reason, right now he'd rather wash the cars. Cries when we say, "but, Buddy, it's raining."

I have strange children.

[LSM]

I'm a big advocate of free play outdoors, which it sounds like the scooter is helping to achieve. If you're still looking for a more organized activity, though, I'd suggest Gymboree classes. My son loved them when he was Drew's age!

[Mina]

I put my 2.5 year old boy in swimming and soccer and he loves it... He is in an indoor swim place where you don't have to go in the water w/him... He gets so tired! I actually really appreciate having a boy that I need to "exercise like a dog." I think physical activity is great! I'm more the play active type, not the sit and do princess tea party and Barbies or whatever...

[Jaelithe]

I have been told by several occupational therapists and child development experts that small children absolutely NEED physical movement to organize their developing nervous systems, and that boys in particular have a very hard time relaxing and/or paying attention if they do not get a generous daily dose of it in one form or another.

And see, you didn't even need an expert to tell you that - you just figured it out on your own. What was that you were saying about being behind the curve?

[Kami]

The day my four year old son started riding his big boy bike was a great day indeed. I don't know about gender stereotypes, having only boy children, but my boys need to be run like dogs. I swear to God. And as far as I'm concerned, his swimming class and gymnastics class are what kept me sane this winter. Now that the weather's permitting, I'll just let 'em out back...

[Lady M]

Ok, we might just need to get one of these. And a meditation class for me while they boys are riding.

[Melanie]

Yay for scooters!

Around the same age I discovered how much easier bedtimes were, and how much happier my son was when I got him OUT in the evenings. Even for just a half hour.

Hmm. Maybe I need to revisit that technique, it kinda got lost last winter. It rains a lot here.

Anyways.

Another activity thought, that maybe both older kids would enjoy (therefor only one trip to plan instead of one each)? I just enrolled my son in karate. OH MY GOD he loves it - he's not much older than your son, and the local spots here start'em at 3. He begs me to go, and dances when I tell him that today's a karate day. They wear him out. My 4 year old does pushups. They talk about how to handle bullies (without fighting), how to help Mom and Dad at home, how to listen to their teachers. They set goals for themselves, yes, at 4. Even better, when Cameron does something that deserves a time out, he sobs and asks me to not tell Sensai.

[Motherhood Uncensored]

So awesome, Cathy. And yes, our neighborhood pool just opened today.

I think I hear angels singing.

[mayberry]

My husband also refurbished two scooters basically with spray paint. He bought a Razor scooter for our older kid at a thrift shop, and then took the girly little kids' scooter we had (totally pink and purple) and sprayed it black and blue. Instant boy scooter.

Swimming is the other thing that tires my kids out in a beautiful, miraculous way.

[Chrystal]

Could it really be that easy?? Wear her out, she stops being a brat?

[ClumberKim]

My five year old just got a scooter and he is terrified of it. Could Drew come up to Pittsburgh and help me out? (You think I'm joking but I'm not.)

[Sandrine]

Yay for scooters! My SIL brought one from Paris for our son's six birthday two years ago. It changed our life. For two years now, he gets about everywhere on his scooter, with his father running behind (yeah, I'm far too nervous of traffic to do that). It means there's always something to keep him occupied (except in winter when it's snowing). And because he's autistic, it's also a really good way of calming his nervous system. We love that scooter.

[Amelia Sprout]

I keep thinking my three year old needs a scooter. The tricycle is still pretty hard for her, she's tall for her age and uncoordinated for a bicycle, so maybe a scooter would work. I need to do something to get her to go to sleep.