How to Choose the Right Scooter for Your Child
When we’re talking about different hobbies, it’s not uncommon for your child to show affinity towards the ones “on wheels” and indeed, it’s a great thing to embrace the health benefits of roller skating and cycling since the youngest age. But did you know that aside from motor skills and muscles development, scooting opens a whole new level of advantages for your little one? The confidence boost once they learn to handle it on their own, the importance of staying safe on the road and quick decision making how much force to apply to stop in time and how much to lean without falling over are just a small part of them.
So, if you decided to check out your favourite supplier and explore the great range of kid scooters, we put together a couple of tips to help you choose the right option for your little one.
Types of Scooters for Kids
Kick Scooters
Kick scooters consist of basic handlebars attached on a straight shaft, a flat platform attached at the scooter’s base and a braking system attached to the handlebars or the rear wheels. The rider stands on the platform with one foot and uses the other one to kick off the ground, or push themselves forward, which makes these scooters a great choice if your kid just got introduced to the scooting world.
Stunt Scooters
This type is intended for kids that want to show off their best skills and do a couple of tricks at the skate park once they overgrow the basic kick model. They usually feature two wheels to make it easier to perform some tricks and are always made of higher-grade materials such as lightweight aluminium bodies and high-quality urethane wheels to withstand even the toughest falls. But have in mind that they’re an advanced type, so make sure your child can handle it before you decide to invest.
Electric Scooters
These scooters feature small electric motors so your child doesn’t have to propel themselves forward using their leg. They are designed to provide different amounts of power and different speed options, which makes them not that safe and not recommended for toddlers and small children. However, if you decided to get your little one from the electric kid scooter models, make sure it features a safe-start option and low speeds to ensure safety.
Your Child’s Age Will Determine the Model
Kids develop and overgrow things very fast and it will be no different with their scooter as well. Luckily, nowadays is not that hard to find the perfect option – you can pick from the most advanced electric models for teens to the basic toddlers scooters.
Scooters for Toddlers
If your little one started showing interest in riding on two wheels since, don’t hesitate to hit your favourite scooter store and explore the toddlers scooters Australia experts recommend. But since this is the period when your little one is first introduced to the world of scooters, have in mind that it’s of great importance to choose a basic model so you can make things easier for them.
Such scooters are usually very low to the ground, feature quite a narrow deck to ensure your child’s safety and three wheels to make it easier to balance. Talking about wheels, the designs that feature two front and one rear wheel are preferred. They’re also made of plastic materials and filled with plush foams to ensure maximum safety. If you’re not sure whether the toddlers scooters Australia designed model you’re looking at is suitable for your kid, consult with the store’s professionals to help you get the right one.
Scooters for Children (5 to 7 years)
Once your little one passes their 5th year, it’s time to give their basic scooter a retirement and choose a more advanced one. And while your child’s first scooter was plastic and very basic, scooters for kids at this age feature real polyurethane wheels with ball bearings to achieve higher speeds with less friction and different braking systems- from the hand brakes to the foot front or rear ones.
Scooters for Children (8 to 13 years)
At this age, your child probably has some fine scooting skills and is ready to hit the nearest skate park to learn their first advanced tricks. This is the perfect age to start considering your child’s first stunt scooter that features options to allow a performance that the traditional scooter can’t accomplish, such as shock-absorbing wheels and different “wing” or X-styled handles.
Electric scooters are also a popular option for children at this age, but if you decide to go for one of these, make sure the top speed is not more than 10 MPH and features a safe start option so your kid accelerates the scooter without falling.
Scooters for Teenagers
Once your child hits the teenage phase, it’s most likely going to be looking for something that ensures a high-end performance such as rear brakes, a wide and large deck and core alloy wheels that are way sturdier and more durable than any other type out there.
The electric scooters for teenagers are also a popular option since they’re the primary “vehicle” your child will use to use to transport themselves between different spots of the city before they get their driver license. Such scooters will go with at least 15 MPH, have a rechargeable battery and compact, easy handling features so your child can get most out of their vehicle.
The Scooter’s Construction
At this point, it’s also important to learn the different parts of the scooter so you can make the most optimal choice to ensure your child’s safety and your own peace of mind.
Deck
The deck is the platform where your child will rest their feet while riding, and it should always be spacious and long enough so your child feels stable. Also, make sure that you choose a scooter that features a lightweight deck since if it’s too heavy, it increases the risk of your child getting injured if it falls.
Talking about safety, take notice of the deck surface too. Scooters that feature anti-slip stickers or rubberized tabs are always recommended since smooth surfaces are a potential risk for your child to slip and fall easier.
Wheels
While the wheels’ size should always be determined by your child’s skills (starting from 100mm for beginners to the ones up to 120mm for intermediate riders), it’s also important to consider the surface. If your child’s about to ride on smooth and even surfaces, then smaller wheels are recommended for their safety. But if you want to take your kid to explore new riding trails with different obstacles such as pits and humps, then larger wheels will undoubtedly prevent them from falling and injuring themselves.
When it comes to the material the wheels are made of, plastic wheels are highly recommended for toddlers, since they can’t develop speed that fast. But talking about scooters for children and young teens, even though rubber may be a cheaper option, have in mind that Polyurethane wheels have a great absorbing ability and develop faster speeds in no time.
Brakes
Brakes are crucial for your kid’s safety, so make sure you skip the models that don’t feature one. But when it comes to choosing a braking system, have in mind that foot brakes are more suitable for beginners, since they’re easier to handle and a way safer option than pulling a sudden handbrake and “flying” over the scooter. But once your child masters their new scooter, handbrakes are a way handier option, especially for rougher and slippery terrains, and the situations when a sudden pull over is required.
The Scooter’s Features
Once you choose the perfect scooter for your kid, don’t forget to explore its features and what else it has to offer. For instance, it’s always recommended to choose a scooter that features a height-adjustability option. As we already mentioned, kids tend to overgrow things fast, and having a height-adjustable handlebar will eliminate the need of buying a new scooter every year. Have in mind that for the safest rides, the handlebar should always be at the same height as your child’s chest since anything higher will obstruct their vision, and anything lower increases the risk of falling over it.
Also, foldable scooters are the option many people prefer, since you can always conveniently carry them while travelling, put them in public transport or store them at home without occupying much of your valuable storage space.
Finally, make sure you get protective gear along with the scooter. This includes a helmet, elbow, knee and wrist pads and a good pair of sneakers that will prevent your child from slipping off the deck and falling to injure itself.