This post contains affiliate links. We're an Amazon affiliate. That means that we get small commissions for some items you buy through links in this post. And you don't get higher expenses that way.
The truth is: Everything is dangerous and risky.
And this post will not talk about whether riding these is legal or allowed. In some countries it is. In others, it is not.
Quick note: This post is for parents who have children who enjoy riding electric scooters, and for those who don’t want to stop them from riding. Be confident that this post will help you to improve your child’s safety when riding an e-scooter.
Electric scooters + Children = Enormous fun (Instagram: Scooter Hut photo credit)
As soon as your child leaves your house, you no longer have total control. It doesn’t matter if your child walks or rides a bike, skateboard or electric scooter…
Before you barricade your child in, do yourself a favor and hold on until you hear about THE SECOND OPTION...
I doubt you want to take away all the joy and adventure that electric scooter can provide from your child.
They will develop balancing skills, hang out with other kids and spend quality time outside, without a computer, without video games, without Fortnite.
If they go outside, they will learn how to use all their senses (not just their eyes).
However, some things will hurt, but that’s OK.
I was proud of my kids when I saw how quickly they learned and applied everything from this list. Your kids will succeed as well, but you need to be patient and take the right approach.
Improve your child’s riding skills
An electric scooter, as a vehicle, is not dangerous: imprudent and reckless driving is.
At the end of this post, you will see the bigger picture.
And you will learn the answer to the question —are electric scooters safe for children (and under what circumstances).
And what’s more important, you are going to see what you can do about it.
Are Electric Scooters Safe for Children - Problem Section
As rational human beings, we’re all concerned about heavy traffic (big trucks, cars), we’re all afraid of falling (bruises, fractures), and feel a cold sweat from all sorts of collisions we can imagine. That’s all normal.
To be fair, these days, the situation in traffic is crazy everywhere. Letting our children out is stressful. Even if they want to ride an e-scooter outside just for fun, you can be concerned about other children.
What if your kid hit your neighbor’s younger child? Your child is OK, but…
...you see what I mean.
All I’m saying is we can’t avoid danger in life, not in a million years. And we don’t want to sabotage our children by forbidding them from riding their favorite little machines.
We want to teach them how to ride safely and confidently. That has to be our main mission. Later in life, they will be better drivers and riders as well. They will be more confident and skilled in everyday traffic.
Solution Strategy Section - Are Electric Scooters Safe for Kids?
Learn all the rules on e-scooter children safety
If you’ve already decided that you’re not ready to let your kid ride an electric scooter, that’s fine.
But you’ve got to understand that this also applies if you let them ride a bike. Stay with us and absorb all the information that will be crucial for your child’s development.
It’s all about education and good judgment when it comes to the power and size of an electric scooter.
The maturity of your child also plays a huge role. Focus on that more than on age.
Also, don’t forget to only purchase certified e-scooters. Cheap electric scooters can be dangerous. Choose wisely.
If you can connect all the dots, your kid is going to learn how to be aware of dangerous situations but won’t be scared or paralyzed by them.
Your mission is to teach your kid to be calm and logical in these situations.
You’ll be proud of them when you see the results.
What to Do If You're Worried About Whether Electric Scooters are Safe for Children
Great, we’ve agreed that this world isn’t perfect. So far in your life, you’ve heard that riding electric scooters, bikes and skateboards is dangerous.
You’ve seen all the danger and horror, but now it’s the time for you to confront it and stop being afraid.
Now, we have to do something about it. I’ll help you. Here’s the concept you need to apply.
Nothing on Earth is 100 percent certain.
However, if you apply everything, you can be sure you’ve done all you can when it comes to whether electric scooters are safe for children.
Eventually, your child will be conscious, self-reliant and self-confident in traffic. An electric scooter will become his favorite machine and you will be thrilled and proud.
Factor #1 - Your Child
Your child, as a rider, is the deciding factor when it comes to safety. First, you have to observe the maturity, skill level, size and personality of the child.
When I said personality, I mean, your kid might become different person when they hit the max speed on their scooter. Your job is to calm them down and let them realize that being savage on a scooter will end in bruises fast.
If your kid is skilled on a bike, you can be pretty sure that it will be piece of cake to learn to ride an e-scooter. For kids that are too risky and too energetic, you have to choose a less powerful and slower electric scooter.
If you want to reduce risk, you need to be honest with yourself. If you're wondering if electric scooters are safe for children, you need to focus on your kids first.
On the other hand, if your child is calm and levelheaded, there is no problem. Your child will not push the scooter over the limit. They won’t do anything risky and hazardous in order to impress their friends.
Once you start to carefully observe your child, you will know exactly what kind of e-scooter is the right one. And, you can be sure, that is a great start.
- Note for any electric scooter rider -
Use the strength of one leg to push an electric scooter a little bit before you hit the acceleration button.
Only then will you start your ride smoothly and safely, and, what’s more, you will save your battery.
If your kid doesn’t apply that advice and hits the acceleration button right away, then they can lose their balance a bit. Just give a little leg push before hitting that button.
All in all, your job is to observe how your child behaves and act accordingly.
Factor #2 - Size of the Electric Scooter
People mostly look at the features and design when it comes to choosing an electric scooter for their child and they end up with a gigantic beast their child can’t move or steer properly or safely.
If your kid is small, find a lighter and smaller version. Go through the manual and read dimensions and make the right choice.
The height of the handlebars, seat, and dimensions of the standing deck… Those are things you don’t want to ignore.
Huge mistakes can be made.
If you buy a bigger scooter and just think, “It’s ok, my kid will grow,” Your child might be frightened right at the start because they don’t have full control and you can have problems later on with insecurities.
You have to choose just the right size if you want to give your child a chance to be confident and safe on their little electric friend.
Factor #3 - Electric Scooter Controls
After you choose the right electric scooter for your kid, it time for class.
You have to teach your kid:
- how to brake
- how to accelerate and
- how to steer properly
The very first step for your child is to learn how to use this electric machine before confronting the hassle of traffic.
Are electric scooters safe for children if your kid is not able to control it in a way that is comfortable and easy? Well, they aren’t. If they can't reach the controls easily, that is a huge risk.
The biggest mistake is to let your kid "hit the road" hoping that they will figure it all out by themselves. Yes, that can be the case, but it can also be disastrous and your child can be overwhelmed.
The next issue is fear, quitting, or in the worst case scenario, injury, none of which you want to happen.
Go through the whole process of learning with them. If they are embarrassed on the street, teach them in the backyard. Just come up with something. Use your imagination, help your kid to learn faster.
Also, if you want to bond with your children, teach them to maintain their e-scooter.
Start with the basics.
This post about electric scooter maintenance is filled with golden info you can share with your child. Also, if you’re electric scooter rider it can be pretty rewarding if you learn something from that post.
Factor #4 - E-Scooter Footwear Rules
If you see your kid riding electric scooter barefoot or in slippers... Well... that’s not good. One of the primary rules is that, as a rider, you have to wear anti-slip shoes or sneakers.
Because only they provide a good grip to prevent slipping and tumbling down. Otherwise, the probability of falling down is undoubtedly higher.
Even a shoelace can cause problems, such as blocking a wheel, losing balance or falling. In life, there are numerous problems that can appear. But if we have control over it, we have to prevent it, simple as that.
Quick tip: Please pay attention to shoelaces. It’s dangerous if one of these gets to one of the wheels.
The next point is something we don’t have total control over, and because of that, this one is a tricky one. Stay with us.
Factor #5 - Traffic Safety Rules
I suppose your main goal is to teach your child to be safe in everyday traffic. It doesn’t matter if your kid participates in traffic as a pedestrian, cyclist or electric scooter rider.
One thing is certain: It’s on you (as a parent) to show them everything you know, and it’s on them to learn fast. And they will…
You don't need to be afraid all the time as electric scooters are safe for children if your child knows how to behave in everyday traffic.
Teach them...
- The sooner the better -
Teach your kids how to behave properly in traffic. Nowadays, that is a remarkable skill to have. They are young, they are quick learners and good students.
Far better than grown-ups.
When it comes to electric scooters, they have to behave as though they are on a bike.
Here are a few good tips:
- Crossing a street at a pedestrian crossing (by pushing their e-scooter)
- riding on bicycle paths
- being careful when there are pedestrians
- watching out for cars… I mean all the time
...these are things you want them to apply, just knowing isn’t enough.
So, even if you think it is meaningless, just talk to them. They will absorb everything they hear from you.
Kids have to know that it is in their interest to watch and observe everything (not just a few meters in front of them).
Teach them that observing traffic is critical.
Factor #6 - Electric Scooter Safety Gear for Children
Nowadays, if you take a closer look at electric scooter riders, you can see that there are people who think they are immortal. There is no other way to describe it.
Those same people pass on their ignorance to their children. And that is dangerous.
What’s important is making a habit of using safety gear. It’s like wearing a seatbelt.
If you teach them early on to use it, later in life, it will be a subconscious habit that can save their life.
I think that these are essential:
- Helmets for kids
- Lights
- Bell
Also, electric scooter accessories like knee and arm pads are nice to have.
An electric scooter, or a bike or a car aren’t dangerous as a vehicle. The thing is that ignorant and hazardous ways of riding cause accidents and problems.
Factor #7 - Please Without Tricks
An electric scooter isn’t built for tricks. Simple as that. Regular kick scooters are built for that, but that is not true for electric ones.
No tricks if you want to be safe on e-scooter
We all know that electric scooter safety for children is crucial, and letting them to do tricks with these heavy scooters is dangerous.
Explicitly forbidding things is not a brilliant solution (I know), but if you explain the truth to them, they will understand. And what’s more: children will listen to you.
Tricks can cause a puncture or wreck the wheel. If that happens, you will need to be your own mechanic a lot. Learn how to repair a wheel and fix a puncture on electric scooter. You will need it.
You need to know one thing.
Tricks are for kick scooters, not for electric ones.
If your kid is a highly-skilled trick ninja, you have to buy them one of these best pro scooters. These are lighter, easier to maneuver, and less expensive. Electric scooters are for cruising and enjoying the ride.
Also, check these best razor scooters if you want a nice razor scooter for tricks.
Bonus Safety Tips
Here are bonus rules that younger kids need to be aware of.
Rain - Avoid wet surfaces and riding an electric scooter in rain. Simply because it’s a lot less safe riding in conditions like this.
Phone – This one is a no brainer. Using a phone while riding is simply too dangerous, especially for younger kids who are not experienced on e-scooters. Also, if they use a phone while riding, they will acquire the bad habit of doing that later in life.
Passengers – Do not let your kid ride with one of their friends. That is something they will do if you let them, as it’s a really cool feeling to give someone a ride.
FAQs about Are E-scooters Safe for Children
Are scooters safe for toddlers?
There are few things you need to know if you want your toddler be safe on electric scooter. When you are choosing an electric scooter for toddlers, pay attention on age limits that the manufacturer recommends.
Also, pay attention to the dimensions of the scooter and how big your kid is. Make sure that the height of the handlebars and widths of the standing deck is appropriate for your kid. This post will show you how to teach a toddler to ride a scooter.
Can a six-year-old ride an electric scooter?
Yes, there are electric scooters for six-year-olds as well. Obviously, you can’t let your kid go in traffic, but if it is near you in the pedestrian area, it is safe. There are two things you need to do right.
Find the one that fits your kid the best when it comes to dimensions. And secondly, if there is lots of people around, you need to keep your kid really close.
At what age can you ride an electric scooter?
There are electric scooters for every age on the market. Of course, you can’t let your kid ride in the middle of heavy traffic, but riding in quiet areas is possible at every age.
What’s also important is to focus on the dimensions of the e-scooter and making sure that is going to fit to your kid. Also, pay attention at the max speed. I’m sure you don’t want your 10-year-old kid buzzing around 30 mph, right?
Are electric scooters dangerous for children?
If you give your kid an electric scooter that is too fast and also too big, the answer is yes. It is dangerous. If your kid is speeding around like crazy, the answer is yes, it is dangerous.
But if you get a slower scooter and it is adjusted for your kid, you don’t need to worry. Also, if you teach your kid how to behave when riding, the answer is it is not dangerous. Focus on teaching your child how to ride it properly.
Final Thoughts on Children's Safety on Electric Scooters
Follow all the e-scooter safety rules
As you can see, all of these points are interconnected. You have to understand how important it is to implement all of it — all these factors combined will protect your kid.
Help your child become a better electric scooter rider by teaching them everything you've read here.
Did you like all this? Please use everything you’ve read throughout this post and help your child to become more confident.
AND WHAT’S MORE IMPORTANT: It will be safer!
We hope that now (after all this) you have a clearer picture will no longer wonder whether electric scooters are safe for children or not. Now, you know the answer.
Feel free to leave a comment and share this with friends or kids who love electric scooters.
Help someone!
