Know how to choose a scooter for your child
It seems that only recently your baby has learned to stand on the feet and has taken his first steps. Today he asks you to buy a kid’s scooter. Now the shops, markets and supermarkets make our eyes diverge, and we really suffer from the problem of choice. Today we’ll learn how to choose a scooter that fits for the age and height of your child.
Choosing a kid’s scooter according to the age of your child
Usually toddlers at the age of 2 have all the skills necessary for riding a scooter; they only need quite a bit of time to understand how to ride it.
The first thing you should take into consideration when choosing a scooter for your toddler is the number of wheels. Kid’s scooters can have from two to four wheels. The more wheels the scooter has, the more stable it is.
For a 2−3-year-old kid, choose a scooter with 3 or 4 wheels, as it’ll be easier for your child to learn to ride a scooter and to manage the balance. A 3-wheeled scooter with 2 front and 1 back wheels is the best option, as 4-wheeled scooters are heavier and not very mobile. If a scooter has 2 back wheels, your baby will always touch them with one leg and stumble.
For children from 3 to 3.5 years you can choose 3-wheeled scooters, if earlier they had no scooters. Buy two-wheeled scooters if your kids already have some riding skills. It’s it a little bit harder to stand on them, but they offer greater maneuverability. You should still choose among the models with wide platforms.
3−5 years. Choose among 2-wheeled models with wide platforms and breaks. It’s important to teach your kid to gain speed, control it and to brake.
Scooters for 6 to 8 year-old children have two wheels, small weight and a narrower platform. If at this age your child already knows how to manage a scooter, so you can choose for a trick model. They are not dangerous and will allow your child to develop physically.
From the age of 10 children usually stop riding scooters and prefer bikes if only this is not their hobby. If your child makes riding a scooter his hobby, you should choose among advanced models with a stable and maneuverable platform.
Choosing a kick scooter according to the height of your child
It is important that your child has taken the right position on the scooter. A good scooter must be suitable for your kid’s height, as an incorrect posture can hurt his back muscles and arms. How to choose a scooter that fits? Choose a scooter together with you child and check his position. He should have a straight posture with the arms slightly bent at the elbows. The handlebar must be at the level of your child’s chest when he stands beside it (not on it).
Other characteristics of a good scooter
- Wheels.
Large and narrow wheels are suitable for unpaved roads. They better smooth surface imperfections and have good passability. But these scooters are not very fast and maneuverable.
Scooters with little rubber wheels or wheels made of rubberized plastic are suitable only for smooth surfaces. You can easily speed up such a scooter. Wheel width affects the stability of a scooter: the wider the wheels are, the better stability is and the less is the speed that a scooter can reach.
- The platform.
The platform should be roughened to prevent slipping. Scooter with a broad base is better for beginners or toddlers, as they have lower maneuverability. The length of the platform also matters: the longer it is, the more difficult it is to control the scooter. The position of the platform mustn’t be high for toddlers, otherwise a kid will need much more efforts and therefore the little rider will get tired quickly. When riding on a low deck, one should be careful to avoid the curbs.
- Material.
Another major difference in children’s scooters is the material from which they are made. It may be plastic, metal or both.
Plastic children’s scooters are light, so usually they are designed for toddlers under two years of age. But as you know, plastic is not the most durable option. Therefore, it is not suitable for children, who can already ride actively. So, for children over 3.5 it’s better to buy a metal core scooter. It’s certainly heavier and more difficult to ride, but your child will learn! Besides, it’ll be useful for his physical development.
Most scooters are made of aluminum, which is a lightweight and fairly durable material. Some models are steel. They are very heavy and very durable. The best option is a scooter made of the alloy of aluminum and steel.
- The handlebar.
Trick models have a fixed handlebar. In most other models you can choose a suitable handlebar position, which is very useful as children are growing fast. The handlebar must have grips to prevent slipping of the hands. They are often made of foam rubber, which is comfortable to the hands, as it absorbs sweat. Rubber pads are also nice, but they don’t prevent friction blisters.
- Brakes.
How to choose the safest scooter for your child? You can’t prevent fallings but you can reduce their number, choosing a model with brakes. Usually the brake is located above the rear wheel, but there are models with a front brake. They are a real threat to your kid’s health, because using front brakes at a high speed always leads to fallings, sometimes even over the handlebar.
- Construction.
Foldable scooters allow you to save space in the apartment, they are very mobile and easy to carry. But it is important to realize that you won’t find a cheap foldable scooter of high quality. Solid scooters are more durable a priori, however, they need more space for storage. So, if you want to save money it is better to buy a solid scooter.
Right clothes for riding a scooter
Although riding a kid’s scooter is basically non-traumatic, it is worth remembering that while riding a child can scratch or hit the knee, so it’s better if the child is dressed in pants or shorts below the knee. The shoes must fit tightly on the foot not to fall down at the most inopportune moment. Also the child must have a special helmet.
Let’s summarize how to choose a children’s scooter:
- The most vulnerable spot of a scooter is the junction of the handlebar and the foot platform, so when choosing prefer models with no welding in this place;
- For the urban environment choose a model with rubberized or rubber wheels of medium size;
- The handlebar of the scooter must be adjusted for the height of your kid;
- Grips and platform must have a non-slip coating;
- The brake should be only on the rear wheel;
- When buying, carefully examine the scooter: the wheels should turn well, the elements should not dangle;
- It is better to choose a scooter with a metal or aluminum cord, then it will last longer and won’t break at the most inopportune moment;
- It is desirable to buy a kid’s scooter of a bright color and with reflective elements, this will make your child more visible on the road.
