Electric Scooters For Kids - A Brief Buying Guide

You're considering giving your child the gift of a scooter. There are so many makes and models available today that it can be hard to narrow down your choices and settle on the right one. Are electric scooters a good choice, or should you choose a manual one instead? Should you choose a stand-up scooter or a sit-down, Vespa-style model? Your child's age, size and ability to control the scooter are important things to think about when you go scooter shopping.

First of all, most companies that manufacture electric scooters recommend that only children 8 years and older should ride their products. This is a guideline that should be heeded for your child's safety. A younger child might have trouble controlling even the smallest and most lightweight electric scooter, which means there's more potential for accidents.

Even if your child is 8 years of age or older, you should check with your state and local laws before buying any type of electric scooter. Some states have varying age limits for riding scooters, and some towns set their own age limits which are sometimes as high as 15 years of age. There may also be local restrictions on where anyone can ride an electric scooter that can make owning one almost pointless. Some small towns don't allow them on roads, sidewalks or bike paths and that seriously limits how much a child would be able to use an electric scooter.

You'll also need to consider your child's weight. While electric scooters come in a variety of models that can handle different weight ranges, you'll want to purchase a scooter that's big enough without going overboard. If you're looking at a stand-on scooter, for instance, and your child weights 80 pounds, then one that has a weight capacity of 120 would be better than one with a weight capacity of 220.

It's easy to think that maybe bigger is better and perhaps even safer. As your child grows, the larger scooter might seem like something that he or she can use indefinitely. But scooters that have larger weight capacities are typically heavier, and may be harder for a lighter weight child to control. On the other hand, if your child has balancing issues, you might consider a slightly larger scooter. Since these are made to hold more weight, they often have a wider deck that can offer more stability and balance.

You can choose a stand-on or sit-down scooter for your child. Younger children who are transitioning from something like a manual scooter are good candidates for stand-on scooters. These are exactly like classic scooters but with electronic operation. Some even come with a seat so the child can stand or sit. The standard sit-down scooters typically look like mini Vespas or even small motorcycles. The tires on these models are usually a few inches larger, and that can help offer more balance. Aside from that, the chief differences are price and looks, with the stand-on models costing a bit less than the sit-down electric scooter varieties.