Compared to the other more expensive ride-on tractors that my friends' sons have, this is not the most durable tractor - it's lightweight and fairly flimsy, and I can't imagine it would be able to cope with an 8 year old on it! But it if you're on a budget and your 3 year old desperately needs a tractor to be like his friends then I can recommend it - just don't expect more than one child to be able to use it at once! The trailer is very weak and small, not able to hold a toddler like my friends brand name one!