Scooters are very popular ride on toys for children but just like all toys they don’t come without their dangers if they’re not operated correctly. Before buying your kids a shiny new ride it is beneficial to all if you review some of the most important scooter safety measures that will help keep your little ones as safe as possible.
1. It’s important that the scooter is age appropriate for your child. If it’s too large for the child they will have trouble operating it which could cause them to become frustrated or to tip and fall off. For very young children you may want to consider a three wheeled scooter that will provide extra balance while they’re learning how to ride. Adhere to manufacturer age recommendations for the motorized rides.
2. Safety gear is always recommended for children and is important to scooter safety. A helmet is the most important component because scooters can tip and you want to be sure that your little one’s head is safe. Elbow and knee pads are also wise choices.
3. Proper shoes should be worn while riding a scooter. Sneakers are the most recommended choice. Sandals and flip flops may upset a rider’s balance and little toes and feet may get injured if your child has to hop off quickly.
4. Scooters should always be ridden away from moving vehicles and pedestrians. Set up guidelines with your children by reviewing your safety concerns and making them aware of how important it is that they follow your scooter safety rules.
5. Uneven ground surfaces can make dangerous riding conditions. The most frequently seen injuries from scooters occur to the upper body. This happens when children tip forward over the handles of their scooter and can be caused when the front wheel is stopped by something as small as a bump, some sand, or a large piece of gravel. This can also be caused by children leaning too far forward on their ride. Teach your children how to look for and avoid unsafe conditions.
6. Tuck in any loose clothing, remove scarves and long jewelry, and tie long hair into pony tails before riding. These are all items that can get wrapped around the wheels or other mechanical parts and cause an injury.
7. Finally, a parent must make sure that their child’s scooter is properly assembled before they ride on it. Read the instructions before beginning and tighten secure all nuts, bolts, and screws.
Scooters are loads of fun and will entertain your kids for hours at a time. A little bit of proper preventative scooter safety measures will ensure that your kids get the most enjoyment as possible from their favorite rides. If you’d like to bump up your kids fun level a little bit then I recommend that you read Scooter Games, a great book that introduces over 100 scooter games that will challenge and entice your kids.
Written by Tony Larsen, a physical education teacher, this book is curriculum drive for a school atmosphere but it has plenty of awesome games that are perfect for your home playing field. Some of our favorites are Fun Bones, the scooter version of the Hokey-Pokey, and the Scooter-Tug-Of-War which is one of the kids favorite summer party games. Also included in the book are some great tips on scooter safety measures!
Originally posted 2010-04-30 06:10:18. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
About Tina
I'm a country girl who loves the outdoors and loves the fun that comes with ride on toys. It's very important for parents to provide toys for their little ones that are fun (of course) but also beneficial in some way, shape, or form. That's where ride on toys fit in so be sure to watch for all the great deals I can find for you.
I’m was nervous when my kid asked me to buy him a scooter. I’m thinking, the more he spend his time outside the greater chances he’ll get hurt. To let the anxiety go, I bought him protective gears and asked him to only use the scooter in the park far from the streets and cars.
Those are great ideas! Riding in the park is perfect as they learn how to be aware of what’s going on around them while they’re riding.
I don’t agree with adhering to manufacturer age restrictions. One of my kids has always been exceptionally gifted in the coordination department so those age suggestions are not relevant to him. Parents should be smart enough to know what their kids can handle. The age thing is just there to cover the manufacturer’s ass. That being said, I agree with everything else. I get so nervous when my kids are anywhere near cars. One crack in the road or misplaced rock or even looking the wrong way, and that’ll be all she wrote (We live in downtown Boulder so it’s hard to avoid traffic). And, yes! Can’t tell you how many kids I’ve seen without proper safety gear. My best friend in 3rd grade was in a coma for 4 months after hitting his head falling off an ATV (he had no helmet). Thanks for the tips!
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Parents should most certainly be able to judge what level of toy their children can handle and there are many times that a child can handle a more advanced toy than the manufacturer recommends. I do think that we should take extra care with the motorized rides though. Even though a child may be a little advanced doesn’t mean that they can always handle the extra speed that comes with some of these rides.
How terrible that your friend suffered from the lack of a helmet – I’m sure he’s extra careful with his own children after that type of experience.
Thanks for stopping by!