Kids Scooters - The Ultimate Guide

This post may contain affiliate links. We will earn a small commission if you use our links to make a purchase. Review our Privacy Policy for more information.

Kids scooters are some of the best toys for children both young and old. Scooters, like all toys, have evolved over the years and there are so many more options today than there were even 5 years ago. The days of the simple two-wheel kick scooter are gone. Parents have so many more options to choose from when looking for scooters that it can seem overwhelming.

Before spending your hard-earned money, review our “Ultimate Guide to Kids Scooters” to help you make the best decision. Our guide is broken down into the most important decision factors when looking to purchase a scooter for you child. This includes age guidelines, scooter styles, and popular brands as well as some important information about safety equipment and a section with more information as well. Hopefully our guide helps you make the best decision when buying a kids scooter.

Kids Scooters – Age Guidelines

The age of your child will be the most important thing to consider when buying a scooter. Age guidelines for kids scooters are set by the manufacturer and finding the proper one is very important to assure the safety of you child.

We’ve broken the age guidelines down into 5 categories and provided some examples and information for each group. The age guidelines are just guidelines and are not meant to be absolutes. Children grow both physically and cognitively at different rates so there is going to be some overlap between the groups. The important thing is to know your child and how you child will handle the toy.

Birth to 24 Months

Kids Scooters - Little Tikes Go & Grow Lil' Rollin' Giraffe

Kids Scooter – Little Tikes Go & Grow Lil’ Rollin’ Giraffe

Scooters for kids under 2 years old and younger are different from what most people consider to be scooters. Kids this young are just learning to walk and gain mobility. Kids scooters for this age group are typically ride-on types with 3 or 4 wheels, like the Little Tikes Go & Grow Lil’ Rollin’ Giraffe. These scooters help young kids develop the coordination and strength to become more mobile by ‘scooching’ or pushing themselves along while riding on top of the scooter.

Many kids scooters for children this young are also highly interactive. They have pre-programmed electronic sounds and phrases as well as buttons and other things to play with mounted to them. These scooters are more than just ride-on toys for children, they are also learning devices to help facilitate early childhood sensory and motor development.

There are many great scooters for kids in this age group available here at Kids Ridez. We also recently added a post with the 5 most popular which you can read here. There’s an even greater selection available through our affiliation with
Amazon.

If you are looking for a perfect scooter for this age group, check out our post on the top 5 baby scooters for your child.

Kids Scooters – Razor Jr. Folding Kiddie Kick Scooter

2 To 4 Years

Scooters for kids between the age of 2 and 4 start to resemble what most people think of when they think of scooters. Most have the classic flat bottom platform to stand on along with vertical shaft and handlebars. Kids that ride these scooters are still pretty young so they scooters use more plastics and plush foams for safety.

A great example is the Folding Kiddy Kick Scooter by Razor pictured on the left. It has features common to many kids scooters in this age group including foam handles, a wide plastic platform, and 3 wheels for stability. This model has a great feature which allows you to fold it up for easy storage and transportation.

Though not as popular as kick scooters, electric scooters are first introduced for this age group. The most important thing to look for in an electric scooter for this age group is a ‘safe-start’ feature. This feature allows the scooter to gradually accelerate to prevent your child from falling.

Here are some other great kids scooters for 2 to 4 year olds that are highly rated:

Micro Mini Kick Scooter | Little Tikes Lean To Turn Scooter | Razor Jr. Kuties Cowboy Scooter | Spiderman 3 Wheeled Scooter

Kids Scooters – Razor-A Kick Scooter

5 To 7 Years

Once kids getting a little older and their motor skills develop, they enter into the next age group for 5-7 year olds. Kids scooters for this age group really start to become more advanced and have more features. One major difference between these scooters and those designed for younger kids is the wheels. Wheels on scooters for younger kids are usually plastic and sit on a plastic shaft, but scooters for kids starting in this age group feature true wheels with ball bearings. A great example is the Razor A Kick Scooter featured here. This is the classically designed scooter that most people think of when they think of kids scooters. It is a little heavier duty than the plastic ones for younger kids and features urethane wheels with ABEC 5 bearings. Wheel bearings allow the scooter to achieve higher speeds with less friction. As a result of this, scooters for kids in this age group also start featuring brakes.

Razor scooters are some of the most popular in the world and the ‘A’ series has several models available. Check out our post, ‘Razor ‘A’ Scooters’ for an overview including specs and features.

One other major factor to consider when looking for kids scooters for older kids is the type of braking system. The first of two types of brakes standard on kids scooters is the hand brake. Hand brakes on scooters are basically the same as ones on bikes. Click here to see some examples of scooters with hand brakes. These are less popular than the 2nd type, foot brakes.

Kids Scooters – Rear Brake

The rear foot brake is by far the most common and popular braking system for kids scooters in this age group. The image to the left is of the ‘Rear Fender Brake’ patented by Razor. A rear foot brake allows the rider to apply pressure to the rear tire by simply stepping on it as opposed to pulling on the hand brake.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both hand and foot brakes. Hand brakes tend to be a little more difficult to use and harder to control than foot brakes, but, they may be more familiar to kids that ride bikes regularly. The rear foot brake is easier to use and more intuitive for young riders, but can cause loss of control if not used properly. Ultimately, knowing your child’s abilities and preferences will help you make the best decision for a kids scooter for this age group.

Here are some of the best-selling kids scooters for 5-7 year olds

Razor A2 | Madd Gear VX6 Nitro | Razor Cruiser Scooter | Micro Maxi Kick Scooter | Mayhem Supernova Kick Scooter

Kids Scooters – Razor PowerWing Caster Scooter

8 To 13 Years

Once kids get a little older they can start using some of the really cool and exciting scooters on the market today. These include different styles like the three-wheeled ‘wing’ styled PowerWing Caster Scooter from Razor. This kids scooter, and many like it, differ from the traditional kick scooter by using caster wheels set out from the center line on wings. The scooter is propelled forward by ‘swishing’ back and forth rather than kicking with one foot. These types of scooters are a lot of fun to ride as kids can start to do cool tricks with them like riding sideways and whipping around very quickly. These types of scooters are for older kids because it does take a great deal of coordination to master using them.

It’s in this age group that kids start to use stunt scooters. This kind of scooter is specially designed with different options to allow the rider to perform stunts that cannot be accomplished on a normal scooter. A good example is the Vokul Pro Stunt Lightweight Scooter. This kids scooter is made of lightweight aircraft aluminum and features shock-absorbing wheels along with high-grade ABEC-9 wheel bearings. There is a wide selection of stunt scooters available at Amazon, or you can continue reading this guide where we cover them more in-depth below.

Kids Scooters – Razor E100 Glow Electric Scooter

Another popular option for scooters for kids in this age group is the electric scooter. Electric scooters are available for younger kids as well, but they tend to be more of a toy than a means of transportation and tricks or stunts. The electric scooters for older kids go much faster and can be used for doing tricks and for zooming around the neighborhood or campus. Generally speaking, most manufacturers don’t recommend these types of scooters for anyone under the age of 8 years old. The main reason for this is because the top speeds tend to be between 10 and 12 MPH, which is faster than most younger kids can handle. The Razor E100 Glow Electric Scooter is a popular example of electric scooters perfect for this age group. It features an all steel frame construction and fork design along with kick-starting and chain driven high torque motor.

As with any kids scooter you are considering, knowing your child is the most important factor to consider. In this age group, kids scooters really start to vary greatly and have many more options. You will first have to determine what your child is looking for. Does she just want to scoot around the driveway and a normal kick scooter will suffice? Does he want to do stunts or have a need for speed and a stunt or electric scooter a better choice? Knowing how you child is going to use the scooter will help determine what kind to get.

Here are some of the best-selling kids scooters for this age group:

Pulse Performance DX1 Freestyle Dirt Scooter | Razor Pro Beast Sport Scooter | Fuzion Z250 Pro Scooter | Madd Gear Pro Base Scooter

Kids Scooters – Madd Gear VX5 Extreme Scooter

14+ Years

Older kids entering their teens that are still riding scooters are probably looking for scooters with high-end performance. The best types of scooters for kids looking for performance are the professional stunt scooters like the VX5 Extreme Scooter by Madd Gear. This scooter is a high performance scooter featuring 120mm core alloy wheels, a rear brake, and a 4.5″ deck. It’s cool factor is also through the roof with a chrome shaft and multiple metallic color options for the body (view colors available here).

One of the most important factors to consider when getting a scooter for kids that are little older is the wheels. You will want to try to find scooters with alloy core wheels. Much like cars, alloy wheels are harder and more durable, and there are many more style options available, like these available at Amazon.

Kids Scooters – Styles

There are multiple styles for kids scooters and each style has different functions and capabilities. There are two main types of scooters: Kick and Electric. There are also two types of specialized scooters with these main categories; three-wheeled and stunt scooters. Along with determining the correct scooter for the age of your child, you will also want to make sure the style fits you child as well.

Kick

Kids Scooters Razor Party Pop Scooter

The most basic style of scooter is the kick scooter. This type of scooter is what everyone thinks of when they think of a scooter. While there are many different options for these scooters, they all have the same basic style. First, they consist of a set of handlebars on a straight shaft coming out of a lower body. Some kick scooters have hand brakes attached (see some here), but it is not a standard feature. Second, they have a flat platform attached at the base leading back to a rear wheel. The rider stands on this platform with one foot and uses the opposite foot to push or ‘kick’ off the ground to propel themselves forward. This is the most popular and standardized type of scooter for kids. All other styles of scooters are based off this basic design.

When it comes to the standard kick style of scooter for kids, the most popular one on Amazon is the Party Pop Kick Scooter by Razor pictured to the right. It features a light-weight steel frame construction along with a skate-board style platform, urethane wheels, and a rear fender brake. What really makes this kick scooter awesome is the LED lighting system that features 12 colored lights built into the deck. These LED lights light up and strobe to provide a fun dance-party like vibe. Watch the video and see the get the latest price here.

Electric

Kids Scooters – Razor E300 Electric Scooter

The second main type of scooter for kids is the electric scooter. As the name implies, electric scooters have small electric motors to provide propulsion. The electric motors provide differing amounts of power so it is important to make sure you are selecting the correct one for your use. The differing power options also allow for different speed options so it is critical to the safety of your child that you select an age and weight appropriate electric scooter. Electric scooters for young kids are specially built for young riders with safe-start options and low speeds and are made out of plastic and have three wheels. There are some great examples from Pulse Performance available here.

As kids get older and can handle more power in the electric scooters, more options are available from other manufacturers. The most popular of the electric scooters for kids is the E300 from Razor. This scooter offers speeds up to 15 MPH and can run for a continuous 40 minutes between charges. What makes the E300 popular is the design which features a wide-stance platform and heavy-duty frame construction as well as the twist control accelerator. The E300 is also reasonably priced for a high-quality electric scooter for less than $300. You can see a video of the E300 in action and check the current price on Amazon here.

Three-Wheeled

Kids Scooters – Micro Maxi Deluxe Three Wheeled Kick Scooter

Most people think of scooters as only have two wheels, but there are also specialized scooters available with three wheels as well. One of the benefits of having a scooter with three wheels is the increased stability obtained by having three wheels on the ground. This increased stability makes three-wheeled scooters the go-to type of scooter for younger kids learning balance. However, with that said, three-wheeled scooters are not limited to just young kids. There are three-wheeled kids scooters for all ages. View them here.

Of the three-wheeled scooters for kids, the Micro Maxi Deluxe is the most popular on Amazon and for good reason. This scooter features a long shaft that runs straight down into the frame and attached directly to the two front wheels. The handlebars are nice and wide and allow for easy turning and maneuvering. The third, single wheel in the back also has a foot brake attached to it for easy stopping. The Deluxe is also a very sharp-looking scooter and is available in seven colors: aqua, black, blue, green, pink, purple, and red. It is also reasonably priced on Amazon (check price here).

Stunt

Kids Scooters – Vokul VK3 U-Bar Pro Stunt Scooter

Stunt scooters are a type of kids scooter that is specially designed for doing tricks and stunts. Most of these scooters are for advanced riders with higher degrees of ability and can be used in competitions. Stunt scooters typically featured higher-grade materials like light-weight aluminum bodies, high-quality urethane wheels, and custom platforms. Many competitive scooter riders also assemble their own scooters from the high-end parts available to give them a unique ride and look. Most stunt scooters for kids are of the two-wheeled variety because they are the easiest to perform tricks with for skilled riders; however, there are specialized stunt scooters like the X-wing types available that feature a normal front wheel and shaft with two caster wheels flared out on wings. Yvolution has a very popular line of these kinds of three-wheeled scooters, see them all here.

The best-selling and most popular of the stunt scooters available is the VK3 U-Bar Pro Stunt Scooter by Vokul. This is a great stunt scooter for kids for a couple of reasons. First, it is very reasonably priced and is a great entry scooter for kids learning to do stunts on their scooters (click here to see latest price on Amazon). Second, it is made of the 6061 light-weight aircraft aluminum with reinforced platform so it is durable and stable for the rider. Finally, it also features high-quality ABEC-5 bearings for higher speeds and better performance. Getting all these features for a very reasonable cost is what makes the Vokul VK3 a perfect stunt scooter for kids to begin their stunt riding adventures.

Kids Scooters – Brands

Brand names are important for any purchase and when researching scooters for kids brand names play an important role. The best manufacturers of scooters specialize in making scooters and similar products as opposed to a large variety of products. This specialization allows the company to really focus on producing the best products. We have researched and provided information about some of the best known and highest quality producers of kids scooters below.

Razor

Razor is by far the most popular brand name when it comes to kids scooters. They feature numerous product lines and are leaders is developing new products and innovations. What sets Razor apart from other brands is the high-quality products they have across all lines of scooters. The have great products for all ages and they also have great products for every style of scooter.

The Razor website is great source of information on all their products and it has a very cool feature that allows you to search for replacement parts for your scooter. The part search allows you to find exactly what you need make sure you get the correct part for your product.

Razor products are also very popular on Amazon and you can get some great deals on Amazon on all their products. Razor scooters hold many of the top spots on Amazon’s best-sellers and highest rated lists. For more information, follow the links below to view their top products in each category on Amazon.

Top Rated Razor Kick Scooters

Kids Scooters – Razor Cruiser Kick Scooter

Top Rated Razor Electric Scooters

Top Rated Razor Three-Wheeled Scooters

Top Rated Razor Stunt Scooters

Pulse Performance Products

Pulse Performance Products is another American Made brand that produces multiple lines of scooters. They have scooters for all ages and in all styles.

Kids Scooters – Pulse Safe Start Scooter

Perhaps what they are most famous for is the safe-start line of electric scooters for young kids. These scooters have the safe-start feature that gradually increases speeds very slowly so small children can ride electric scooters with less fear of falling off or losing their balance. Pulse is not limited to just electric scooters for young kids. They also have a very popular line of stunt scooters and regular kick scooters. Along with Razor, they are one of the most popular and highly rated brands in scooters.

We’ve put together a list of the most popular Pulse Performance Products scooters for kids available on Amazon below. Follow the links for additional information

Top Rated Pulse Performance Products Scooters

Street Surfing

Kids Scooters – Street Surfing Scooter Street Rush Orange

Street Surfing manufactures multiple product lines including scooters, skate boards, long boards, and caster boards. Their line up on scooters includes scooters specifically designed for on-road riding, off-road riding, and stunt scooters. The line-up of scooters from Street Surfing is not as diverse as some of the other brands, but the products themselves are highly rated, high quality, and reasonably priced. Check out some of the most popular Street Surfing products below:

Micro Kickboard

Kids Scooters – Micro Scooter

Micro Kickboard is a very popular brand of scooters for kids. They have a large lineup of scooters in all categories and for all age groups. Their Micro Mini lineup of scooters is one of the most popular and highly rated lineup of small scooters for younger kids.

Even though their Mini lineup of scooters is extremely popular, they also have a large selection of stunt scooters and full-size scooters for all ages. Check out some of their most popular scooters below.

Madd Gear

Kids Scooters – Madd Gear VX7 Pro Scooter

Madd Gear is different from some of the other brands on this list simply because they are more specialized in their design and development of scooters. Their lineup of scooters is focused more on stunt scooter and pro scooters. Scooters from Madd Gear are high-end, high-performance and have a higher cost tag than most of the others. These scooters are for kids looking to step up their game and are into performing tricks or participating in competitions.

Madd Gear also sells scooter parts individually so sophisticated riders can build their own custom scooters (click here to view their custom decks, wheels, pegs, and other parts).

We put together the following list of the best of Madd Gear’s high performance scooters:

Kids Scooters – Safety

Choosing the proper scooter for your child wouldn’t be complete without considering some of the safety guidelines and precautions associated with scooters. The age guidelines mentioned at the beginning of this guide are the most important factors to consider; however, these are just guidelines and not absolutes. The key determining factor for kids scooters is your knowledge of your child’s abilities.

Parents are often caught in a difficult situation when it comes to buying scooters for children. On the one hand, you want to purchase the right scooter based on your child’s age, size, and physical capabilities. On the other hand, you don’t want to spend your hard-earned money on a scooter that they will outgrow and will be useless in a couple of months.

There are two ways to look at this problem. For younger children, our recommendation is to error on the side of caution and buy a scooter that is the correct size and style for your child now. While they may grow out of the scooter fairly quickly, it is far safer to get a scooter fitted to your child than to get one they are not ready to handle. You can also always re-sell the scooter once your child has outgrown it to recoup some of your money.

As children get older, you may consider buying a scooter that is a little more than what they currently handle and let them grow into it. While this isn’t ideal, as kids get older and stronger, they are more physically capable of refining their motor skills to use the different styles of scooters. Also, from a financial standpoint, as kids get older, the scooter designed for their age groups also tend to become more expensive so the longer your child can use the scooter, the better. Of course, you must make the best decision based on your specific circumstances when it comes to choosing a scooter appropriate for your child.

Proper Riding

A factor often overlooked when choosing a scooter is the type of surface the scooter will be used on. Scooters are designed to be used on specific surfaces. Most scooters for young kids have plastic wheels that are really only appropriate for use on indoor surfaces. As kids get older and ride more advanced scooters, they start to ride them on pavement and other surfaces. Most scooters are designed for this type of use. There are some other types of specialized scooters for specific surfaces as well. Dirt scooters can be used on concrete and pavement, but they also have larger inflatable tires so they can be used off-road. Stunt scooters can be used on concrete and pavement, but are also designed to be used on obstacles and ramps like those at skate parks. When buying a scooter, make sure you consider the type of surface your child will ride on when making your decision.

Kids Scooters – Triple 8 Helmet

Safety Equipment

Safety equipment is critical once kids start riding scooters outdoors. It’s a given that eventually, your child will probably suffer a fall at some point when riding a scooter. When they do, having the right equipment can prevent injuries and help keep them safe. The most important safety item is the helmet. Helmets protect they head during a crash to the ground and not only help prevent bumps, bruises, and cuts, but also are vital to preventing concussions and other brain trauma. As the research into concussions continues to develop and show the importance of brain health, protecting your child by insisting on helmet usage is critical. Here at Kids Ridez we will be adding a helmet guide soon, but if you are looking for a helmet for your child, there is a wealth of information and a large selection available at Amazon.

Aside from helmets, protective gear is available in the form of wrist guards, knee pads, and elbow guards. All of these items can provide the protection your child needs while still allowing them to enjoy their scooter.

Kids Scooters – Additional Information

This guide to kids scooters is a great place to start when considering purchasing a scooter for your child. For more information about scooters you can also check out our blog which we will be updating with some helpful posts including ‘Best Of’ and ‘Best Buys’ lists. We will also be adding product comparisons to our blog in the future to further help you choose the best scooter for your child. Be sure to like our Facebook page to be kept up-to-date on everything we are doing here at Kids Ridez. You can also use our contact form on our contact page to ask use any questions.

Kids Scooters – The Ultimate Guide