Kids Scooter Safety

Favoured by many parents for how easy it is for kids to learn, scootering is a great way to get your youngsters moving and makes for a super speedy school run. However, as fun as the sport is, there are a few safety precautions that must be made before your kids become fully fledged scooter riders.

Following our handy advice on kids scooter safety will guarantee a parent’s peace of mind, as well as ensure that your children get the absolute maximum enjoyment. Fun is what it’s all about, after all!

Wear proper safety gear

The most important piece of advice in keeping your children safe on their scooter is to make sure they are kitted out with proper safety gear.

For beginners and experienced riders alike, the odd fall is often unavoidable – if they’re not wearing protection, these falls may result in some nasty cuts and bruises, which risks putting your child off riding. Wearing adequate protection, such as a helmet, will do an excellent job of preventing this.

The essential safety accessories for riders include:

• – A helmet
• – Knee and elbow pads
• – Wrist guards
• – Reflective strips/clothing

Invest in a hard helmet, that is well fitting. A good helmet will have strong straps, as well as inner padding for maximum comfort – an uncomfortable helmet may put your child off wearing it.

Whilst wrist guards offer extra protection from cuts and grazes, they will also work to protect growing wrists from potential sprains in case of a fall.

Protective accessories are of course primarily for guaranteeing your child’s safety, but they will also help instil confidence for newbies, making for a far more enjoyable scooter ride.

Choose riding location wisely

Location plays a huge part in kids scooter safety. Choosing somewhere with roomy paths, without any loose stones or gravel that could hit a scooter wheel will not only be easier to manoeuvre but will additionally prevent accidents.

Especially for the less experienced riders, avoiding busy roads is highly recommended. Instead, opt for a park with plenty of space to practice. If your nearest park requires passing a busy road, make sure your young riders are fully educated on traffic safety – we’d recommend they dismount and walk when needing to cross.

Also be aware of pedestrians using the pavement, as they do have priority. If your child is heading down a busy pavement, it’s advisable to encourage them to dismount in order to keep both themselves and other people safe.

Skateparks are a great location for your kids to meet other keen scooter riders and learn new tricks, but choose your timing wisely and be aware of skatepark etiquette. Avoid a super busy time if your little one is still a newbie and ensure they know not to ride in front of other skaters or bikers using the ramps – a collision can be pretty painful!

Keep up on scooter maintenance

It’s essential that you and your child work together to keep up with necessary scooter maintenance. Ensuring that all bolts, screws and clamps are kept tight will prevent any parts breaking whilst riding. You must also check the handlebars and wheels are securely fitted – these coming loose could lead to injuries.

Whilst scooter maintenance is very affordable, we’d highly recommend investing in repairs and replacements. An overly worn wheel or a disintegrated handlebar grip can be dangerous as well as effecting the quality of the ride. Keeping up with issues such as these, and replacing where needs be, will go a long way to keeping your kids safe when riding.

Safety aside, working on scooter maintenance together is an ideal way to teach your child about simple repairs and ensure they take pride in looking after their scooter!

Choose the right riding clothes

Aside from essential safety gear such as a helmet, your child’s clothing must be considered too. It’s best to avoid loose clothes which potentially cause obstructions, or long trousers that could get in the way of a scooter wheel.

Footwear is always hugely important for a safe scooter ride. Sandals or open footed shoes that could easily fall off are strongly advised against. Instead, we’d recommend a sturdy pair of trainers, with proper grip – but be sure there aren’t any long laces that could get caught in the wheel.

Make sure that your kids are wearing reflective items to ensure they are highly visible. A helmet with reflective patches is a great idea or alternatively invest in some reflective strips to attach to their clothes.

Whether your child is on the lookout for a fun new hobby or wants to develop their existing scooter riding skills, look no further than Two Bare Feet. We offer an extensive range of scooters for kids that are high quality and great looking, designed with the ultimate ride in mind.