Advice Needed on Physically Gifted Toddler - Page 2

[Pattyla]

I discovered at a bike shop that bikes that say they are the same size can be really quite different. I would look at different brands of 12" bikes and see if any of them can be made short enough for him.

[meetoo]

My son started riding a bike last spring at 2.5 Walmart sold one with 11 inch wheels. I also took the reflector (under the seat) off and it was low enough for him to almost be flat footed.

To the OP I recommend an individual sport too. I don't know about being gifted, but at the moment, my son(3.5) is ahead of the curve as far has physical skills go too. He just started BMXing and is LOVING it! And he look seriosuly cute in all the gear!

[AAK]

Originally Posted by quaz

The DO make two wheel bikes VERY small,

Do you know where? The smallest I can find is 12". The 10" inch bikes I've found do not have chains. My son can ride the 12" bikes with training wheels fine (we've tested some at stores), but they are still a bit too tall for him to get up on it himself and start pedaling.


Tammy

Turns out ours is a 12 inch bike, but dd has been riding it by herself since she was 2 1/4. The stupid trike I bought was too big for her, but the 2 wheeler we found at a garage sale fit great. Go figure. I know that she has always been tall for her age, but I never checked her bike size until now.

Amy

[Amberenergy]

My daughter and son are both super gifted physically as well as mentally. And they do great emotionally too so I know I am lucky!
I've just tried to have them try things they like gradually. I don't want to burn them out, but encourage them gently to try different things.
I'm also stressing other skills like piano, music and singing, art to round them out. I know that I am blessed in oh so many ways, but the thing that makes me the happiest is they are happy, we joke and laugh ALOT as a family which to me is the most important thing of all !!

[LynnS6]

What about this 10" one?
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=2401089

I'd look at ToysRUs or Target too - soimetimes they have little ones. (OK, and I confess that my role here is purely voyeur, my kids are FAR from physically gifted!)

[RiverTam]

Our YMCA has dance classes, gymnastics classes, soccer classes, swim classes, and karate classes for kids starting at around age 3.

[pigpokey]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

What about this 10" one?
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index...ductId=2401089

Look at how high the seat is forced to sit above the wheel. We owned that bike but it was not any lower than the Giant Animator 12" and it's useless once they can ride (no brakes, can't use on hills). I think the BMW one probably has the shortest inseam.

[Mandynee22]

My DS (3 in september) is exactly like that. So many people tell me that he's way beyond other kids his age but I figure there are lots of kids doing the same thing. I, like you, hate sports. DS, however, is completely obsessed with baseball, in particular. He dreams about it (and I know this because he talks in his sleep), he wants to wear eye black every day and "baseball player" clothes and shoes.
He tries to share and sometimes gets a little frustrated when other kids can't play right so he'll just keep switching what they do ("you hit... no, you catch, no... you pitch") or he'll give up and play wih bigger kids when they'll have him LOL
He has a little bike with training wheels. I think he's ready for them to come off but I haven't gotten around to it.
Do you have a Y near you? I had him in swimming and basketball this last season and he loved them! I was going to do TBall but he hates TBall. He prefers pitching.
I've just kind of sucked it up and I deal with the sports :-( He even likes to watch it on TV and picks out books about them at the library. I guess it could be worse. I'm beginning to realize that since it has lasted since he was about 10 months old, it is not just a phase
Good luck

ETA: You might want to brush up on some basic sports knowledge. DS was playing BBall with some fourth grade boys at the playground and they kept calling him "Mini Big Pappi" (I don't know how it's spelled). I had to call DP to find out if they were insulting him LOL

[EXOLAX]

Zadee - Our youngest DD is pretty physically adept. She is 3 years younger then her sister and did the monkey bars all the way across just minutes after her big sis did. She was 3 at the time. I thought it was nice of her to wait for her sister to do them first. It's been challenging to keep her physically challenged but I thought I'd share some of the things.

She just turned 5 and things definitely became easier as she got older. At the younger ages gymnastics was a big hit, swimming always is, we've gone through our local rec center and signed her up for almost every individual sport they had available at some point. I know some martial arts schools take young kids, if you can find one that has appropriate expectations. When YDD was 4 she wanted to take a class that taught her to use a sword (oldest DD does kung fu and advanced into weapons and sparring and YDD was too young for class). We found a fencing school, low key, great environment but they started at 5. Don't let age requirements deter you, I asked and they tested DD and let her in anyway. It's been great for her. Some stores and other facilities around here have climbing walls for kids to use, those are great too.

Things to do at home: I second the tramp recommendation. The large ones are great because they can do more, but you can also get an individual one with a handle bar at sporting goods stores for inside. YDD loved hers at 2! Another thing we did on her third birthday was to install a chin-up bar in the doorway to her bedroom. We got one that has two installation points so we can adjust for pulling up/hanging/etc. and one lower for flipping. We went with one that actually screws into the door frame for safety. We've moved it around as she's grown and have jacked up the door frame in the process, but it was sooooooooo worth it. She roller blades in the house, jump ropes all the time, loves the wii physical games, hullabaloo when she was 2-3, yoga cards for kids (pictures of poses on large flashcards and kids try to do them).... We've cut some trees up around the yard to make them more climbing friendly, we've tied knotted ropes to the trees so they can climb the ropes shimmy by their hands along a branch and swing off.... We've debated for years installing hooks in our ceiling somewhere so we can hang a swing/rope ladder/climbing rope indoors. I wish we would have done it a few years ago.

[serenetabbie]

I'm so glad to see this thread!

You all have such excellent suggestions. I have been thinking about getting a mini-trampoline for inside and the Wii, but mostly for my older child who is very resistant to any sort of gross motor stuff. I bet she would love a tether ball!

8 yo DD walked almost a full month later than DS - at 8 months and two weeks - right after she got her glasses. I sort of thought I had a cautious baby on my hands. Man was I wrong. Since then there has been no slowing her down.

When she was 2.5, my MIL gave DS (3 years older) and bike for Christmas. Besides the bike being too small for DS, DS has some issues and after wobbling around a few times refused to go near it. DD hopped right up on it and rode down the driveway. A week later, she saw some "big kids" without training wheels and insited we take them off. That, as they say, was that. She took off like a mad woman. She is on her 3rd or 4th bike now . I really dislike sports, but she begged and begged to sign up for soccer last year. She excells at it! Honestly I am shocked. Like another poster mentioned, she gets so bent out of shape at the other kids who don't give it their all. I can usually find her at dinner time up in a tree or playing hockey with a pinecone (dogs chewed the pucks). People comment all the time on her muscle tone and athletic ability. I suspect it might have skipped a generation, because she sure as heck did not get it from me!

[Zadee]

I wanted to come back to this and say thank you again to everyone for your help and suggestions - they have really been great.

(I had to keep from laughing when, at the 3-year well child visit, the pedi asked if the child jumped off of things high enough to get air under his feet.)

[Seie]

This is interesting - my 2 year old just started riding a 2 wheeler - he uses the footbreak too. He got it SO fast. And yeah he jumps of things - tall things - too. Guess I should start playing ball with him too..
Nice to see all the recommendations.