Children's two-wheeled scooters: types, recommendations for choosing
It is important for parents that children are always busy with something. When they walk outside, they have a variety of games and activities. One of these is cycling, rollerblading, scooter and other types of transport. The article will focus on children's scooters, what they are, and how to choose the right one.
Peculiarities
Like any type of transport, the scooter has its own distinctive features and characteristics that you need to know in order to use this vehicle correctly. Usually, most skaters are 2-wheeled, so you need to be able to keep your balance. Of course, it is not required as much as on a bicycle, but it is still needed.
There are also 3-wheel rollers that are easier to ride and are more suitable for very young children. A two-wheeled children's scooter is in any case a means of transportation, therefore for children it is necessary to purchase protective equipment... Not everyone can immediately master a scooter, no matter how simple it may seem, therefore, some children are guaranteed falls.
Of the types of equipment, you should pay attention to knee pads, helmet and elbow pads... Gloves can be purchased if needed, but most companies make scooters with grips.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that there are rollers with both two and four wheels at the same time.
The thing is that The 2 side wheels can be removed. Such a unit is universal: you can use the 4-wheel version when the child is still small, and when he grows up, you can remove 2 unnecessary wheels.Thus, you will not need to purchase an extra scooter, and your current one will last much longer.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any technique, scooters have a number of pros and cons. The main advantage is compactness.
Since all rollers have a button for folding, such a unit does not take up much space at home or in the car during transportation.
Another plus is ease. If, for example, bicycles are heavy, and not all children can handle them, then the small dimensions of the scooter make it easy to operate, and the low weight will allow the child to move this type of transport on his own.
The benefit for parents is price. Even high-quality and reliable rollers will not cost much, because the design of such a transport is simple, and it does not require a lot of materials to manufacture. Electric scooters are an exception, but they are more functional than conventional scooters.
And also for parents, a plus can be called not driving too fast... If the bike can reach a fairly high speed and the safety of the child during the race is reduced, then the scooter is the slower and safer way to get around. Even with great effort, your child will not accelerate to high speed on the scooter. If the rider is in protective equipment, then falls will not be terrible for him while riding.
The scooter does not need any additional maintenance.
It does not need to adjust brakes and switches, often change bearings, monitor the main mechanisms and clean.
An exception would be a situation when sand or something similar gets into your unit.
The disadvantage is assembly. When comparing rollerbladers to bicycles or roller skates, the construction of a scooter does not seem to be so reliable. In the event of a collision, there is a risk of flying off this type of transport, but if your child has been riding a scooter for quite some time, then there should be no problems for him.
A significant disadvantage can be called driving conditions in bad weather. If you are roller skating in the rain, be prepared for the fact that your lower body may end up in the mud. The same goes for dust. On a bicycle, for example, all the dust will be at the bottom of the wheel. A scooter has small wheels, and you stand at a low height from the surface. Therefore, if you like to ride not on the road, but on ordinary land in hot weather, then you can breathe dust, which is unpleasant.
Another disadvantage is the various obstacles in the form of borders and tactile tiles. Of course, an experienced rider will be able to jump over them, but children do not have enough physical strength at their age to make jumps on a scooter. Bicycles or roller skates handle these obstacles much better.
Views
Since children begin to use scooters from a very early age, the classifications of rollers are selected according to the age groups of children. As a result, there are three types of children's scooters.
Initially, it may seem that the scooter is the same for everyone, but this is not so. Let's take a look at how skaters differ and how important it is.
For the little ones
This category of transport is suitable for children from one and a half to three years.
The main recommendation is the presence of three or four wheels so that the baby does not have problems with control and balance.
Of the features of the assembly can be called large wheels for stability, large platform, if the child will stand with two legs, and a plastic case, as it is lighter.
Additional accessories for this scooter include a pen for parents. It will help in cases when the child is tired and cannot move further on their own. Then parents can take control of the scooter in their own hands. The steering wheel can be high, but there is a function of its adjustment everywhere so that it fits the height of the child. Typically, two wheels are in the front and one in the back.This design makes the roller stable and easy to operate.
Other functions are various flashing lights and sounds that kids love. Manufacturers are trying to create colorful designs for these scooters to keep them appealing to little ones.
For children from 3 to 5 years old
The main feature of this category of rollers is the transition from three wheels to two. At this age, the child becomes more confident in movements and develops coordination, so some children boldly switch to 2-wheel units... It is worth noting changes in equipment: for example, the presence of brakes or other body material. The child begins to move independently with the help of this transport, therefore, brakes are necessary for him.
They are either foot or hand, which are front and back. When using them, you need to pay attention to the direction of movement, because when you press the wrong brake, there is a possibility of falling.
The body material influences strength and weight. After three years, the child is actively growing and developing physically, so he can cope with an aluminum or steel roller. The main thing is that the total weight of the unit is convenient for operation.
For children from 5 years old
Scooters for older kids should be different durability and reliability. At this age, there is no special talk about the difficulty of control, because the child is already able to independently control such a unit. It is advisable to purchase folding models, since children will be able to walk with them and go to stores where the presence of a scooter when folded is not prohibited.
As a rule, such rollers are suitable for children under 9 years old. The technical equipment is also changing: better brakes, new alloys for creating the body and shock absorbers appear.
I would like to say about the wheels and about what they should be. The best examples are rubber or rubber. They do not make noise, they calmly pass irregularities and do not wear off like plastic ones. Pay attention to the size. Bigger wheels make it easier to overcome bumps and holes, but this increases weight and reduces compactness. Wide wheels give great support while riding. The diameter of this component can be from 120 to 200 mm. Older models may have larger wheels.
The steering wheel should be adjustable so that the child does not experience steering problems.
Materials and colors
The main materials for creating the case are plastic, aluminum (or its alloys) and steel.
- Plastic is lightweight, cheap, but less durable. This body material is suitable for very young riders.
- Aluminum alloys good in that they are lightweight, durable and corrosion resistant. The only downside is the price, but it fully pays off in reliability and convenience.
- Steel structure strong, reliable, but has a lot of weight. The price of a case made of this material is average.
For girls, the main colors are purple, white and pink. And also there are yellow, light green and other light shades.
For boys, the main colors are red, blue, black, gray and other colors.
Manufacturers
It is worth marking the main list of manufacturers so that you know products of which companies are of high quality and worth their money.
- Cups Is a Chinese brand that stands out for its low price. Good quality and ease of use are the main advantages of the models from this manufacturer.
- Time Jump - a company that creates good models of scooters in terms of price-quality ratio. The owners note the reliable design and the presence of additional functions. Some people just hate the fact that the handle is difficult to adjust.
- Tech Team Is a domestic manufacturer known for the sale of bicycles, rollerblades and sports paraphernalia. Tech Team scooters are distinguished by their manufacturability and the presence of interesting functions.
These and other manufacturers are included in the ratings of the best scooter models for children in a certain age category.
Selection Tips
If you want to buy a high-quality rollerball, then you need to pay attention to the materials from which it is made, as well as to the components, because they make up the control system. Among them are handles, wheels, steering stems, brakes, frame, bushing, bearings and fork.
Do not forget about the shape of the steering wheel, which can be in the form of the letter T or Y. And also the control method plays an important role - it can be rotating or in the form of a joystick. A conventional rotating steering wheel is controlled by turning, after which the front wheels (or a wheel, if there is one) move.
The joystick steering wheel is a modern feature that helps your little one not to fall off the scooter.
And also do not forget about the weight - the more it is, the more stable the unit. Bearings and other consumable parts must be made of high quality materials to ensure long roller life. If you do not want to experience inconvenience while riding on uneven or rocky roads, then get rollers with a rigid fork. It will provide good cushioning, so you won't feel bumps and bumps.
Damping also depends on the material of the wheels, because rubberized ones will not rattle, unlike plastic ones. Folding units should be checked for the strength of the spring, it is on it that a lot of pressure is exerted during driving.
Buy this type of transport for the classification that you need, because scooters can be stunt, universal, urban, combined and others.
How to learn to ride
The main rule is to push off with more than one foot. You should push first with your dominant foot, then the other. The tremors must be constant if you want to drive constantly. In cases where two people ride the scooter, one can push from one side, and the other from the opposite.
If the child is not very easy to cope with balance, then help him as much as possible. Leg movements should be light, without undue stress, the back should be kept straight.
How to choose a two-wheeled scooter for a child is described in the video.