While we have a lot of toys, we rotate them and don’t have them all out at the same time. However, there are some of them that we really love and which are out most of the time. I have highlighted some of our favorites including the drum, walker wagon and ball tracker before. Today’s favorite toy is our wooden tricycle. I think this is a great first birthday present because it supports a lot of the child’s needs and sensitive periods around this time. The need to move, climb, exert maximum effort, order, transport etc.
Parked in its spot
My son got this tricycle for his first birthday. My husband thought it would be boring because it has no pedals but it has been used and loved so much since it entered our home. I love that there are so many ways for him to explore and use it. We just put it out and he has figured it out on his own. In the beginning he just practiced climbing on and off it. This is no easy task for a little guy and he was proud of himself when he figured it out. He was also in the period of maximum effort… that time when little children want to carry heavy things and exert their energies. He really enjoyed carrying it from one place to another.
Maximum effort
He then started moving on it but only backwards… and then forward.
Riding
He also enjoys arranging things on it especially books and bottles. This is no easy task as they fall off so many times and require concentration and patience.
Arranging
Once he has arranged the items, he enjoys pushing them around. He pushes from the front sometimes and other times from the back. He also likes to put items in front of him on the narrow part, while sitting on it and then riding around with them.
Hauler
He frequently, rides it to one of his shelves or corners and works on something while sitting on it. He also enjoys using it as a chair by sitting on it on one side and facing out instead of straddling it.
Multi
Sometimes he’ll stop, pick a book and then sit on his trike and look through it. It’s so cute!
reading
I put a framed picture of bicycles above the spot where it is usually parked and he loves looking at it and pointing to them before and after riding.
Pointing out the bicycles while getting on his tricycle.
The picture also helps him remember where it goes when he is done.
One more look before he leaves
His absolute favorite is when he puts his legs up and daddy pushes him and he drifts far away and then comes back to get pushed again
No legs
We absolutely love this tricycle. It looks very nice and so fits into our living room. Our son is quite tall for his age and will soon outgrow it but it will be used by other children and maybe even grandchildren. I definitely recommend one of these for gross motor development.
What are some of your favorites?
Live a Good Life!
0 Comments
Alice · December 12, 2014 at 4:00 pm
I think my sons all time favorite so far is his wooden trike too ( it’s from radio flyer). It’s gotten so much use in the year that we havehad it and I don’t see retiring it anytime soon even though I’m thinking of getting him a strider bike soon.
Elsa · December 16, 2014 at 5:15 pm
Your son is adorable! I definitely agree with you that trikes are one of the best toys for this age group. My son’s favourite toy is a plastic ride on car. It’s absolutely ugly but he doesn’t mind! he fills it up with random items, pushes it, stands on it, uses it as a chair like your son does, and now has started attaching a piece of string to it so he can drag various random objects attached at the other end. He found out that way that our dining table is not so portable! Haha!