How to choose a scooter for your child

Children should be 2 years old when riding a scooter. But a scooter is not just entertainment, but a real vehicle. Therefore, when buying, you need to know the age and weight of the child, as well as the main characteristics of children’s transport: type, wheels, shock absorption, material and folding system. Your baby’s safety depends on it.

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1. Off-road models
2. City scooter
3. Scooters for sports
4. Scooter Runner
5. Kickboard
6. Treaders
7. Electric scooter
8. Main features of the scooter
9. Which Scooter to Buy for a Child?

What Scooters for Kids

Off-road models

This type of scooter features large wheels (diameter about 300 mm) with inflatable tires, which provides increased passability. It is great for rough terrain, walking through the woods, sand. Has a sturdy frame, sporty handlebar and handbrake. Designed for children from the age of seven.

Advantages

• High passability and maneuverability;
• Versatility. Easily handles bad roads.

Disadvantages

• Large size.

City Scooter

One of the most popular types of scooters. Designed to ride on paved roads. Has two or three wheels, aluminum or steel frame, standard wheel diameter (100-200 mm) and folding design. Most scooters are suitable for children over the age of seven, but some are used at age 2-3.

Advantages

• Easy to fold and transport.

Disadvantages

• Not designed for bad roads.

Sports Scooters

Most models of sports scooters are designed for adults. They are designed to perform stunts and fast rides. Sports scooters can be used by children over 7 years old. Can support about 70 kg of weight. There are practically no folding models among them.

Advantages

• Increased durability;
• High maneuverability.

Disadvantages

• Not designed for walking around town.
• Ride Features. A child will have to practice before they can master the scooter.

Scooter pedestrian scooter

This vehicle is designed for children ages 2 to 6. It is a hybrid of a regular scooter and a treadmill. The transformation from one type of transport to another takes place by pressing a special button. Sometimes the seat of the scooter-begovel has to be bolted. It complicates the transformation.

Toddler models are usually rated at 24 to 50 pounds. The scooter itself does not weigh much, from two to five kilograms.

Standard scooter scooter has large front wheel, wide deck with anti-slip footrest, foot brake, seat and T handlebar. Can have a basket for toys.

Advantages

• Low weight – no problems with transportation;
• Adjustable handlebar and seat height.
• The tricycle teaches balance, coordination, and strengthens leg muscles. This makes it easier for the kid to learn how to ride a two-wheeled bike.
• Suitable for the very young;

Disadvantages

• Suitable for riding only on level roads.
• Some models have a seat that sags under a child’s weight.

Kickboard

Suitable for both two-year-olds and 7-year-olds. It has two pairs of front wheels and one rear wheel. To move, the child pushes off with his foot, as on a skateboard. Equipped with classic or joystick steering wheel. Vehicles designed for children 2-6 years old, often have a plastic frame. Maximum load on the kickboard is 30-60 kg.

Kickboards for kids are often equipped with luminous wheels, adjustable handlebar, toy carrier and compass on the handlebar.

Diameter of the front wheels is 120 mm, the rear – from 80 to 90 mm. It rarely causes the scooter to tip over.

Advantages

• Easy handling. Where the baby leans, that’s where the scooter rolls.
• It is possible to drive on a bumpy road.
• Low weight (1.5-4 kg). Easy to carry.

Disadvantages

• Some children do not like the joystick steering.

Trides

This type of scooter has the most unusual design. The tripper has a V-shaped design. There is a separate “footrest” for each foot. To move, the child does not need to push off, but wiggle his legs and torso to the left and right. Suitable for kids 5 years old and up.

Trider frames are made of aluminum or stainless steel. This inertial scooter can carry a lot of weight. Has foot and hand brakes.

Advantages

• To use the trider, you need to squat, bend over, and work your whole body. It is good for baby’s muscles and skeleton.

Disadvantages

• Suitable only for level roads.

Electric scooter

Electric scooters allow you to move around town without any effort. Operated by a rechargeable battery. Kids electric scooters travel about 6 km without recharging. Maximum speed of about 15-18 km/h.

Electric scooters are suitable for children over 7 years old. They are quite heavy – 10-12 kg. Have a steel or aluminum frame that makes them sturdy.

Advantages

• Can withstand high frame loads.
• Runs for up to 1 hour without recharging.
• Can function like a regular scooter.

Disadvantages

• High price.

The main characteristics of scooters

Wheels

Made of plastic, polyurethane, rubber. The wheels are most often made of polyurethane. They have increased reliability and quietness. Used in both city scooters and sport models.

Plastic wheels are used for children’s vehicles. They are not shock-absorbent, shake on bumps and make noise. The only advantage of these scooters is the low price.

Scooters with small rubber wheels feel good only on ideal surfaces. Large wheels are suitable for riding on uneven terrain.

When choosing a scooter, pay attention to the stiffness of the wheels. It determines the speed and comfort of movement. The harder the wheel, the higher the speed of the scooter, the softer – the better the shock absorption. The highest rigidity in sports models.

Three-wheeled and four-wheeled scooters are most suitable for young children who are 2-4 years old.

The width of the wheels affects the stability of the scooter. The wider it is, the more stable the model and the slower the speed.

Frame

The frame of the scooter is made of aluminum, which ensures its reliability and lightness, steel or plastic. Steel frames are stronger, but heavier than aluminum frames. The plastic frame is short-lived, but has an affordable price.

Deck

The platform should have a rough surface to prevent your child’s foot from slipping. A wide deck is great for beginners and kids, making a scooter more stable. The longer it is, the more difficult it is for a child to control the scooter.

Steering wheel

Most scooters have an adjustable handlebar. It allows you to adjust the height of the handlebar to the height of the “driver”.

Foot and hand brakes

Scooters have a foot and/or hand brake. Using a manual front brake system at high speed can cause a child to fall. It is better to buy models with both hand and foot brakes.

Shock absorber

The presence of a shock absorber makes riding more comfortable, as it softens the unevenness of the road. But scooters with shock absorption are more expensive than regular ones.

What scooter to buy for a child

1. For the little ones, it is better to choose vehicles with a wide platform and three wheels. At the age of two or three, a child can afford a model with a big pair of front and one back wheel. If the scooter is equipped with paired rear wheels, the baby will trip and stumble on them
2. At the age of four, three-wheeled models can be used if the child has not practiced riding before. But if the kid used to walk around the streets on a scooter, he will be fine and two-wheeled transport.
3. At the age of five, you can buy two-wheeled vehicles with a wide deck. And children at 6-8 years old will be happy to ride a scooter with two wheels and a narrower platform.

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In the next article, our experts tell you how to choose the right bicycle for your child.