Recommend a scooter for a five year old?

August 18, 2009 11:12 AM

Recommend a push-type scooter safe for a five year old?

Our daughter is turning five. She wants a push-type scooter for her birthday, similar to her big brother's Razor. She doesn't have the balance yet for a two-wheeled Razor-type scooter, so we'd like to get her something more stable. There are a ton of three and four wheeled scooters out there, so I'm hoping some other parents (or five year olds) can help us separate the wheat from the chaff.

If it helps, this will only be used on pavement (and with a helmet and, most likely, gloves).

posted by mosk to sports, hobbies, & recreation (6 comments total)

My 4 year old daughter has this one from Radio Flyer. It's build pretty well, and she likes using it. It has a little wider platform for putting both feet on (compared to her twin brother's Spiderman scooter). But she hasn't gotten the knack of doing coasting like that yet. And she really digs the bell.
posted by jaimev at 11:19 AM on August 18

I can't recommend a specific brand, but look for the type with two wheels in front and one in back. My kids got the opposite kind, with one wheel in front and two in back, and they were forever kicking the back wheels when pushing off.
posted by padraigin at 11:29 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]

Our 3-year old boy has used both a three wheel and two wheel model. He uses both well. He also understands the limits of his balance. Yes he has had some minor scrapes but nothing that even required a helmet. You might be surprised how she is able to handle a two wheeler. We bought our two wheel model in France. It is smaller than a razor but othrwise identical in form. The quality of components and construction is lower of course.
posted by Dick Paris at 11:37 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]

Kickboard USA. My four year-old is permanently attached to the mini one.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 1:41 PM on August 18

Second the kickboard. No comparison.
posted by Caviar at 3:10 PM on August 18

These are all very helpful; thanks! We'll give her another shot at her brother's Razor to verify that she doesn't want two wheels, but this is really a preference on her part. Like most kids, sometimes she's fearless (e.g., she's a terror on monkey bars), and sometimes she's very fearful/reluctant (e.g., stick her on a bike w/training wheels and she goes v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y, but we can stick her on a Trail-a-bike and she isn't afraid of the increased speed at all).

If she does choose three wheels, I think those Kickboard scooters are really cool, and may be perfect, albeit a bit pricey. She's probably too tall for the Mini, unfortunately, (she's pretty tall for her age), but I see the Maxi comes in purple, her favorite color, so all may still be well with the world ;-)
posted by mosk at 3:17 PM on August 18