Problem...toy Banned from house...requested by PT

I don't see the issue.
It's for PT.
Sorry, not getting why this would cause a problem with the other kid(s)...

Yes--you are free to "ban" whatever you choose, but, personally I would have a hard time denying an item known to be beneficial for use by my child.

Just tell them it's a tool. Only let her use it for therapy, and put it up.

I'll bet you plenty of money, they've used scooters at friend's houses. They are still alive, correct? You're really only depriving them of typical childhood fun!

Who's the mom. You tell them they stay off & only little 2yr old Susie is using it for therapy. Sounds pretty easy because I assume the other kids are older.

In all honesty.. yes I find that quite silly.

First of all, any toy can be dangerous and your children can get hurt just by walking outside ....trip and fall, etc. I don't "get" the banning of such toy but it is your house and your rules.

When you forbid/ban certain things, it makes those things prime interest areas for children because they want to find out why something like this is banned therefore they are drawn to it.

I would guess that your older children have been on a scooter when they are not around you... as in at a friend's house playing, etc. I would at least want my child to know how to ride a scooter and wear protective gear.

That said, if I had a child with any need (especially medical) and something was suggested by a Dr., PT, or whomever of authority, my child would have whatever they suggested that day, no questions asked.

As I understand your post, and I may be wrong.... you prefer to keep said toy banned from your household even though it could be a valuable tool in helping your child overcome a health issue?? I can't comprehend why a parent would opt not to help their child because of a "ban".

I hope I have misunderstood this post.

My family is #1 and we do not compromise on health or safety.

I'm trying to figure out why a scooter is banned. Do you let the kids ride bikes?

Either way, tell the kids it's a tool to learn balance and not a toy. End of story.

Please don't take this the wrong way but they are not dangerous unless used improperly. I mean what I am getting from this is rather than teach your children responsibility you just ban a toy. Do you let them ride a bike? My daughter has had just as catastrophic accidents on her bike as her scooter. Neither did much harm since in both cases she had her helmet on.

I don't like trampolines yet when I was told that is what my son needed for his therapy I got one. I watched them, I taught them and enforced my rules.

So I guess I am saying the other option is being hands on and teaching your child so they don't get hurt.

They are also banned from driving a car, until the appropriate age and maturity level. A once "banned" toy can be a milestone achievement. It's banned until you reach a certain age and maturity level, to be determined by mom and dad. You are not going back on your word or giving in. You are being reasonable as opposed to obstinate.

I understand why you don't like scooters, they ARE dangerous. Just keep in mind that the death/injury statistics refer to "riding toys" which also includes tricycles, bicycles, skates and skateboards.
Also keep in mind that if you choose not to allow your children to practice and use these kinds of toys properly they will be WAY more likely to hurt themselves when they try these things out at someone else's house (don't kid yourself into thinking your kids never will go against your rules, it WILL happen.)
Not bashing your decision, just pointing out another perspective!

The situation has changed, so the "rules" have to change.

In this case, it's not a "toy", it's a therapy tool. When your toddler is SUPERVISED and wearing a helmet, she is working on her skills. When she is not, the scooter goes away.

You're being awfully rigid here. Just put it away and explain to your older children that because their little sister needs to build her strength, there is a scooter in the garage. It is NOT a toy and if it is touched without permission, there will be a consequence.

Lots of things are seen as toys, when in fact they are tools. Take the computer for example! At work, it's a tool to accomplish what needs to get done. At home, it's a source of entertainment. Same thing, two different functions. Sometimes those lines get crossed depending on the situation, but I can't imagine my husband asking me not to use my laptop for work because he uses it to read the newspaper.

New situation, new rules.

I think it's a bit of a moot point. Anything that your 2 year old rides would be of no interest to and too small for your 7 year old. Let your 7 year old know that it is for therapeutic purposes and that once the PT goals are achieved, the scooter will be given away. Presumably by 7 your older child is already riding a bike anyway, right? I would just emphasize that this is a tool for toddlers and that as a big kid, she or he can ride a bike and do big kid things anyway.

Not that you care, but I think the ban is rather silly but to each his or her own...

When I taught, I told kids, "Fair is not that everyone gets the same. Fair is that everyone gets what they need."

If your older children ever have the misfortune of needing physical therapy, and the PT recommends a scooter, you will consider it, but for now, your rule stays the same for them.

Well, my kids didn't have scooters..... but I find skateboards MUCH more dangerous than a scooter... are they banned, also?

(The reason we didn't have scooters was because they didn't have a place to ride them safely.... our driveway is gravel, and it fronts onto a road I didn't let the kids ride their bikes on until they were much older.)

What about roller skates? Bicycles? Bicycles can be much worse, since the kids are farther away from the ground. I have 4 kids, and daughter #3 ended up with two different injuries from two different accidents.... the first time, (4th grade) she flipped off her cousin's bike and broke 2 fingers... I wasn't there... she was visiting grandma. The second time, happened literally just outside our driveway.... she was going to a babysitting job (7th grade, I think), and I think the bike hit a rock... she flipped off and broke her collarbone.

My point is.... any of these items can be dangerous... but they can also be very healthy ways of getting exercise.... They shouldn't be treated as a "toy", but as sports equipment...... they need to be used with proper supervision, protective gear, and training.

What about cars when they get older? Cars and driving.... those can be VERY dangerous....... Daughter #2 was in a SERIOUS accident when she was in college... totaled her car.... flipped it.... (it landed on its roof)...got out with a broken collarbone and 4 stitches. (She fell asleep driving back to college one morning.) Did I ban driving for her? No, since she was an adult. Did I ban driving for the son I still had control over? No....

You're right... I do find banning a scooter silly, but I don't know the whole story behind why you've banned it.

You do understand that, no matter how good your children are, if they are at their friend's house and they have a scooter, they are playing on it, right? The more you ban something that all the other kids do, the more your kids want to do it. I'm not saying there are things I don't want my kids doing, but I'm also not naive. My parents were crazy religious when I was a kid. I wasn't allowed to eat Devil's Food Cake because it had the word Devil in it. I couldn't watch Casper because it was about evil spirits. Guess what I did at the age of five when I went to my friend's house for a play date? Yup. I think you are being way silly on this one. Riding a scooter is no more dangerous than riding a bike or playing on a swing set. Kids are GOING to get hurt. But part of our job as parents is to not make them scared of having fun. Put a helmet and pads on them and let them have fun!

I REALLY don't get not going along with your PT. This could help your child, but you are more concerned with sticking to your guns than you are with helping your child overcome her physical limitations? I don't get it. My one year old has been in physical therapy since he was six months old. His PT told me from the beginning, the #1 thing we can do to help is encourage play that will work the muscles we are focussing on.

Well, since I was once a kid, I know the few things I wasn't allowed to have, use, say, do, etc, were the exact things I did when my parents weren't around - and since I didn't know to to use or do them safely, it was much more dangerous. So I'm confused on why they are banned? Bikes, tricycles, swings, heck, even walking can be dangerous - if you're ankles are prone to twists like mine!!

I also can't imagine getting something like that for one kid and not letting the others have one also...but life isn't always fair I guess.

You're the mom and you make the rules, but be careful on ones like this - they will do it at friends homes just because they can.

what do you have a against scooters? You said that you "ban" them, but you don't really say why? Do you let them ride bikes? or rollerskate? My 5 and 7 year old started riding scooters when they were only 3 years old and they have never and I promise, not even once have they gotten hurt while riding them. They love their scooters and bikes and ride them every day unless it's raining. I just don't understand why you are so against them. Also if it will help your child, then go for it!

i'd be worried that they would use scooters at friends houses an not be good on them and get hurt. why not allow them with proper padding and helmets? if not then i;d still get the toddler one and J. tell them the dr prescribed it and she will be watched and if they want to be watched like a hawk they can choose to have one ith money they save up
or J. get the toddler one and say its for therapy, end of discusion and it has 3 wheels...so its safer. pretty sure they want a cool one not a 3 wheeled one

Once again, I 100% agree with Jo. My daughters both use scooters and love them, and haven't had any problems (razor scooters). We have a duty to teach our kids how to use such things responsibly and safely. If you're doing that, I don't see any problem.

yes banning scooters is silly. Do you let your kids ride bikes?
When used with helmets and if you felt the need to knee and elbow pads they have a very slim chance of getting hurt.

Get the 2 yr old his/her scooter , and tell the others that it's for the PT, if you don't want to loosen up a little and let the older ones earn theirs.
Seriously kids get hurt , they get scrapes , and bumps and bruises. IT'S NORMAL. But , serious injuries can be prevented if the equipment is used the proper way and safety equipment like a helmet is used. It's impossible to keep kids from getting hurt. They can get hurt walking down the stairs, or at the school playground. They ALL recover.

ETA: scooters were invented in Germany in the early 1800's so they've been around for a while . . . not sure how long Physical Therapists have been around.

I would treat it as any other equipment that the kids are not allowed to use except under supervision. For example, my DH has exercise equipment that is tempting to a small person, but it has been made clear that it is not for HER. So let your child who needs the therapy use it while under your supervision and put it up when it's not being used for therapy. Emphasize to your children tool vs toy.

Hmmm...
You are the parent. If you have decided that scooters are not allowed in your home for whatever reason then they are not allowed. So, you tell the physical therapist "nope, sorry. No scooters. What else can we use?" If she sticks to her guns then you stare her in the eyes and say, "We do not have scooters in our home, nor will we be purchasing any. What else can we do?"
That's the great thing about being a parent. We get to do what we want (within reason). So, whether or not I agree with banning scooters is not the point. You don't want 'em then you tell her no.
L.

I just wanted to comment mildly that my kids had scooters and had zero injuries from them.

i do get banning certain toys. my nerves would just not take my kids having a trampoline (nor would our insurance premiums) so despite their longing, we didn't get one. yes, they used them at friends' houses and were fine. they just make me clutch my chest. so even if others find your rule silly, it's okay to have the occasional silly family rule.
i'm not sure why all the angst over the PT issue. either get the scooter and insist that it ONLY be used for the one child's therapy, or find another way for her to exercise her legs. they do exist.
kids aren't stupid. you simply explain the reason why the banned ITEM (not toy) is allowed in the house, and be firm in your rules about it.
khairete
S.

Are you by chance a SAHM? Are the other kids school age? Just a thought, but would you consider limiting these activities to the hours the other kids are in school?

You could also be creative with your kids schedules and try to find a few hours each week that the other kids have activities and this could be the activity of the 2 year old.

Might be the easiest way to manage this situation.

Good luck!

Perhaps you could put a different spin on it and call it something besides a "scooter" - especially since it has 4 wheels and your 2 yo needs it as part of his therapy. Maybe call it his "balancing wheelboard" or something like that.

But like others have said, kids can get injured in a multitude of ways - bikes, skateboards, swimming, sports, running on the playground, etc. If you are having trouble rationalizing it to your 7 year old, maybe it's because you are having trouble rationalizing it to yourself. You have every right to forbid certain kinds of toys - guns, video games, etc. - but if your sole reason is because of the possibility of them getting hurt, there are plenty of other ways for them to do that!

I do understand some of the problems that come with scooters, so I have some empathy with your situation.

What about an alternate therapeutic device, such as a balance or spinning board? I know that the Dizzy Disc might be able to accomplish much of the same with balance....

http://www.amazon.com/Sportime-DDJR-DIZZY-DISC/dp/B0011YJC2G

I'd strongly recommend comparison shopping for this toy. The inclines on the disc can be adjusted to become more complex and your other kids can use this safely too. Win/win/win! (parent/children/therapist).

Out of curiosity, why are scooters banned? My girls have fallen off of theirs many times, but they wear helmets, so they're reasonably safe, I think. Nothing like a few skinned knees to teach a kid where their limits are. ;)

Anyway, if your younger daughter needs one, then buy her one. I wouldn't deprive her of a necessary therapy tool simply because you don't want the older kids riding scooters. Just tell them why she needs it. (Although they will still be really bummed that they can't ride scooters - it IS a really fun toy...)

I support your decision to ban scooters. I wanted to let you know that, since others felt obliged to let you know you're depriving your kid of fun. A lot of things are fun that are unwise. And it's your choice. As for the argument that "your child is probably using it at other kids' houses," well, that's why moms communicate with other moms: "Just so you know, Sally is not permitted to use scooters at all, and I saw that Jane has one at your house. Please steer them away from using them so Sally's not watching Jane do it and wanting to do it too." Any mom that's a friend and halfway reasonable would respond, "Sure, I understand, we'll put the scooters away for this play date" and would be grateful for the heads-up--even if she disagreed with you.

So, good for you and your husband. Do what you think is right. My daughter is also not permitted on scooters. You're not alone and you're not a helicopter mom. Rest easy.

As for the therapy, find a second opinion. There are so many therapy options that surely another person can direct you to a device that would have the same beneficial impact. I think it's more than kids the age of yours can absorb if you have to explain "I said no, but now it's OK for one of you and not the other...." Sounds like maybe the therapist, at heart, does not really get that you mean what you say about scooters. And it's asking a lot of the kids to comprehend why one uses it and the other cannot. You'd be setting yourself up for problems if you say yes. I can't believe there is NO other similar option.

I agree, just tell them it is a tool. Just like a treadmill or weight bench, etc. Supervise your toddler and have her wear a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, & bike gloves.

Since the therapist wants the one with 4 wheels, not three and likely it will be small, it'll be pretty easy to differentiate from the scooters a 7 year would want to use. You can show how it's different and a therapy tool. I'm sure there are other tools you could use for your 2 year old, maybe a balance bike?, but I have to say that scooters really do seem to help balance a ton. My youngest got so good on her 2 wheel scooter that she rode her bicycle without training wheels so quickly the 1st time when we tried it. She already had the feeling of how to balance. She's not otherwise very athletic so I attribute it to the scooter. My oldest had a hard time with her bicycle, we stopped, she got good in her 2 wheeled scooter and then next time we tried the bicycle it was no problem. So I actually recommend them to people now... So I'm very curious though why no scooters? They seem less dangerous to me than a bicycle. i wonder if I'm missing something.

do you have other issues with this Physical therapist?

when my dd was getting therapy i remember that they spelled out very clearly that if i was having any issue with the person providing the therapy that there was a procedure in place to have a new therapist take over immediately.
I"m wondering if she doesn't often encounter your choice of parenting style and maybe isn't as tactful as she could be and you are bristling a bit and feeling she is being too insistent on the point of the scooter.
Am I reading too much into this or could this be what you are really asking/upset about.

Some suggestions are that you purchase the scooter and the pt keeps it with her and brings it back and forth to appoinments with you. She may have one from her organization that she could bring if you don't want to purchase it. or if she doesn't then you buy it and donate it to her work. Along with that you can arrange for your other children to not be there when your dd is having her therapy. I get that the therapist wants you to let dd use it say everynight after dinner or what ever but this is a compromise to me, that she be allowed to use it during therapy time.

Either way, it's your choice, I do think you aren't giving your older kids enough credit, --sounds like there was a good story behind the banning!

This shouldn't even be a battle. Might as well keep them in a bubble!! Do you let them ride bikes? Go to the park? Swing? Climb stairs? Run around? Do sports? Because they can get hurt doing those things, too.

You need to do what is right for your family. Seriously, what did PT do for therapy before the invention of scooters? I don't see it as a great tool if you are so set against it. Find an alternative tool. Good luck.

I would just let her know you will not get a scooter and ask for other suggestions to use. We use to learn balance from balance beams, strengthen legs by riding bikes. It is saying a lot about your PT when she is pushing something you already told her isn't allowed at your house.

As for injuries, I am sure you have reasons to think that they will cause more, perhaps you were injured or someone was injured on them. My youngest couldn't get a new bike without ending up in the ER for stitches. You don't have to explain why you don't like them, it is your house and your children and that is your choice, so don't pay attention to those who question it. All parents have something they don't want their children to do because it seems more dangerous, even if it seems silly to others.

I think you can model the difference in how you "treat" the scooter. For example, it doesn't belong in the garage with the rest of the riding toys. After PT, it is folded up and put in a closet in the house.

You explain to your 7 year old that the LO is using the scooter as physical therapy equipment just like the balance balls that are for exercise and not play.

I will say that no matter what you say or what type of "spin" you put on it, the fact remains that a 2 year old gets to ride a scooter and the 7 year old does not. May cause some issues between the siblings. It does appear to be "unfair."

I could really care less why you've chosen to ban scooters. I've banned my kids from using trampolines, ever. And a few other things like whack-a-mole and YouTube. I also had to ban our wooden trainset from the house because the dogs kept eating the tracks. That's my perogative, and the scooters are yours.

That said, there has to be some similar motion to pushing a scooter that you can simulate in your house. Try this: Using the couch or a chair to hold onto as support, have your child place most the weight on her right leg. Place a piece of cardboard, a matchbox car, maybe even a marble under her left foot, and see how far she can 'push' it back. You could even setup little targets or distance lines to help encourage her aim or propulsion force. I think that would come really close to simulating the motion of a scooter. May take a little practice to get the coodination down, but practice is excercise too!

Good luck!

It might be a good tool, but it certainly is not the only one.
A tricycle (or Big Wheels) might not work on balance issues as much, but it sure works the legs out just fine.

Your home, your children, your prerogative to ban scooters, I personally don't need to know why. I'm sure there are things i say "no" to that people would disagree with : ) My 3 year old does have a scooter, wears a helmet when using it in the driveway and on the carpeted patio, but has fallen so many times I've seriously thought of leaving it in the garage :-/

Since the PT is sticking to her guns, i guess you just need to stick to yours more? Make it clear it's not happening (if that is your decision) and say, "Let's move on, what is an alternative?" Hazel has a good thought in that area, the Dizzy Disc.

When I was doing PT with my daughter (for almost a year, as an infant and young toddler), one of the first questions the PT would ask was "What worked, and what didn't"--and which exercises worked for you and which didn't. She very much saw it as her JOB to find exercises that we could do with reasonable ease (given that it was a baby, and we have two other kids) so that we actually did them, and did them reliably. If a scooter doesn't work for your family, tell her that--I'm sure there are other ways of handling a balance issue. Yes, a scooter would be fun for her, and that makes PT a lot easier with a two year old. But if that is a line you don't want to cross, then tell your PT that--and if she doesn't want to respect you on this issue, that might be a red-flag issue for you. Respect for the family is part of her job.

well, my first thought was, if she is 2, then it is really important to make her pt "fun", so unfortunately, the scooter would have to be "fun", not a tool, or WORK. so in that light i guess since you've banned them, you should probably stick to your guns, unless you plan on recalling the ban :) good luck! hope you find something else that works.

Wow, never heard of such a thing. There are so many other toys that are so much more dangerous. Like bicycles, they can really get hurt on those. The can get their feet caught in the spokes when they are riding and flip-, knocking out teeth, breaking bones, all sorts of hand and elbow injuries.

Then there are roller skates. The kids will wear their knee and elbow pads but inadvertently will fall on some other body part. Their helmets keep their head safe though.

The kids have swings on the play set too. I wouldn't allow those in my child care facility. They would have doubled my liability insurance. So I just chose to not have them at all. We took the structures completely down so the kids would not climb on them either.

There are so many toys out there that are dangerous. I think if they can get hurt on them they should all be banned.