As your child grows, they are going to be interested in new things–and sometimes that might mean a motorized scooter for kids. Whether they see you ride on your motorcycle or ATV, or just see a scooter at their friend’s house, when your child starts asking you for a one, there are few things you should consider right from the beginning. We’ll go over these things, as well as types of scooters, what to buy, safety concerns, and more.
In the past, kids were mostly limited to bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, and eventually the plain old scooter. But as time goes on and technology becomes more and more accessible and affordable, motorized scooters hit the scene, exciting wheel-loving kids everywhere. Originally, these motorized scooters for kids were built with conventional gas engines, however many of them have come to rely on electric engines, which now dominate the market.
Electric scooters are popular for a number of reasons. While electric motors in larger motorized vehicles have certain disadvantages–including top speed, battery life, and accessible charging stations–these issues will not typically apply to scooters. Thus, the shift in scooters to electric is mostly just clean and convenient.
Things to Consider Before Buying
Speed: This one’s seems to speak for itself. If your kid is a speed-seeker, or is at least 11 years old, then you’ll want to consider a scooter that can really get up and go. 15 miles per hour is about the maximum speed you’ll find on most non-professional-style electric scooters. And it’s a speed that might be ideal for your ambitious 11 to 17 year old —or even for yourself, if you’re looking for an easy way to get around. If your kids are a bit younger though, or maybe lacking meaningful experience behind the handlebars, then you might want to consider an electric scooter that tops out at around 9 or 10 m.p.h.
Durability: Let’s be honest, kids break things. They aren’t exactly incredibly protective of their possessions, and often times this means some rough handling. You’ll want to make sure that whatever scooter you select it is made of quality materials and truly durable–something that won’t break or rust if tossed around a bit or left out in the rain.
Battery Life: Speaking of selecting a scooter that will last, battery life is an important thing to consider. If a scooter has to charge for hours, only to give 10 minutes of ride time, it’s likely your child will get bored with it fast. Pay attention to battery life and seek out a scooter that your child can actually enjoy.
Safety: One of the benefits of motorized scooters for kids is that safety is typically assured as long as the proper accessories are worn at all times, which includes both helmets and kneepads, as well as the appropriate shoes. As much as your child may not want to wear these things, it’s in everyone’s best interest for the parent to be consistent and expect it of there child. In terms of the scooters themselves though, you’ll want to look for easy-to-use, hand-operated rear brakes, a twist-grip throttle for solid control, appropriately sized tires, and a retractable kickstand for safe riding and easy storage.
Types of Scooters
There are two basic kinds of motorized scoters for kids: standing scooter and seated scooter. They are pretty self explanatory, but a standing a scooter is similar in style to conventional non-motorized scooters, with a long narrow piece to stand on, and a slim front piece coming straight up with two handlebars.
On the other hand, a seated scooter often has a similar base as a standing scooter, but with a risen seat coming straight our of the platform that you would normally stand on. Some seated scooters have a different look altogether, where the seat is lower to the ground and leaning back into the seat, contrary to the more common vertical seat.
Safety Concerns
As mentioned before, scooters are typically going to be as safe as the person riding them. Meaning, if your child wears the appropriate protective gear, he or she should be fine. That being said, it’s of course up to parent sot enforce safety rules and to help your child understand what appropriate behavior on the scooter looks like. In the end though, pick a scooter with a max speed that you’re comfortable with, and since you”re unlikely to find one going over 15 mph, they’re all relatively safe.
What to Buy
Currently, the most popular motorized scooter brand for kids is Razor scooters. The company has a reputation for producing quality, reliable scooters. While there certainly are other brands out there, Razors are a good place to start.
Razor E100 Electric Scooter Minimum Age: 8+ Speed Limit: 10 mph Battery Life: 40 minutes
