As your child grows, he wants to explore new things and shows interest in activities where he can use his gross and fine motor skills; if your little one is in the same phase, it is the right time to introduce a scooter.
Witness your child enjoying this ride as he learns various skills like body balance, speed, and hand-eye coordination; however, simultaneously, you also need to take care of the scooter safety for children.
Indeed, when a child gets involved in a physical activity, there is always a fear of injury or mishap, which keeps mommies on their toes. Therefore, the best approach is to take appropriate precautions to prevent such incidents.
Prevention is better than cure is the mantra that every mother should adopt and must proactively take all necessary steps and discuss their importance with the child to make him aware.
Here is an attempt to help inquisitive parents like you by sharing valuable tips for protecting children on scooters.
Scooter Safety: 10 Tips for Protecting Your Child While Scooting
Do not expect your toddler to be very responsible since he is still learning to interact with the surroundings, and his intelligence is not mature enough to prevent injuries while riding a scooter. Thus, it would help if you take charge and be involved with the child as he rides around in the playground or with his friends.
1. Choose the right scooter for your child’s age and size
If you are planning to buy a scooter for your child, make sure you check the product specifications before placing an order, as there are several scooter models in the market and each caters to different child needs. We recommend you invest in a model that your budding explorer can use for a long time.
Some models can be folded for easy storage, and their handle height can be adjusted according to your child, which means the scooter grows with your growing kiddo. Investing in a kids scooter with limited age and weight criteria will make the ride viable only for a few months. Thus, you need to be vigilant and make the right choice.
2. Ensure your child wears a helmet and protective pads
Most parents neglect the importance of a kid-friendly scooter safety kit comprising a helmet and protective pads for elbow and knees.
However, we would like to highlight that in case of any accident, these body parts are most vulnerable to injury, so making your child wear the safety kit is worth it and will let the little one enjoy riding the scooter.
3. Teach safe riding techniques and rules
When you bring a scooter for your child, it is your responsibility to make him aware of how he should operate it properly, including guidance on safe speed, different terrains, brakes, etc., so that your child is well aware of the correct riding technique.
Please educate your child to avoid over-speeding even when playing with other kids, as this will keep him safe at all times and let him have fun to the fullest.
4. Practice in safe areas away from traffic
Before your kid starts riding the scooter in the playground or society premises where people usually walk or drive their vehicles, you should let him explore and master the riding technique in an area where no one would cross him.
This step will let him understand how the kids scooter works and what speed it would run at when he pushes it with particular intensity. Take him to parks with cemented pavements rather than letting him ride on rocky roads to let him learn the balancing skill.
If you feel that the scooter is an entirely new concept for your child, you may let him try smaller rounds inside the house as well before he ventures out in the playground to build confidence in handling the ride properly.
5. Always supervise young children
You may want your child to grow independent and manage things himself, but this is not the right time to let him ride the scooter alone.
It would help if you accompany your kid whenever he goes down to play and supervise in case he does something wrong; after all, they are kids, and you cannot expect them to be strictly disciplined at all times and follow the rules.
Sometimes, they may get naughty and want to experiment with something new, which can be risky.
6. Check the scooter for damage before each use
Even if you have bought the best and sturdy scooter for your munchkin, it is essential to take scooting safety precautions for kids, which includes checking the ride thoroughly for any damage or wear-out due to regular usage.
7. Avoid risky tricks, slopes, and streets
Even if your kiddo has mastered riding the scooter, ask him to avoid performing dangerous tricks just to impress his friends or ride on busy roads with vehicular traffic. Also, we recommend that kids should not ride on steep slopes as this may cause imbalance and injury.
8. Teach road safety and traffic awareness
If your kid is old enough to understand traffic and road safety rules, it is wise to let him know the correct behavior as he plays with his scooter.
Points like riding on the left side of the road, preferably on the pavement where there are no vehicles, and avoiding over-speeding on busy streets to ensure that he does not bump into someone are a great way of teaching road safety that the child will implement for a lifetime and stay safe.
9. Ensure the scooter is maintained and tightened
Regular cleaning and maintenance of the scooter is essential to ensure that the kid uses it for years. Whenever you notice some worn-out part, you should immediately replace it with a new one.
Also, tighten the bolts and joints on a regular basis so that the scooter remains in good condition.
10. Set a good example by modeling safe behavior
No matter how much you teach your child, somewhere, they try to follow you, and hence, you should always be very careful of your behavior. If you set a good example and follow all traffic safety rules, your kid will gradually become responsible without even the safety lessons.
Thus, whenever you ride a scooter or drive a car, ensure you do the right things and discuss the critical points with the child during that time. You will see a positive change in your child if you apply this technique.
So, it is better to invest in scooters from a trusted brand like R for Rabbit, who have been designing and innovating new products for the tiny explorers. You are assured of comfort, safety, and all the features when you buy a R for Rabbit product, and there are a variety of scooter models for different age groups and child riding capabilities that give you ample choice to choose one that matches your requirements.
Key Takeaways
We have listed all the vital child scooter safety tips that you should implement with your child so that he enjoys scooting for years without being hurt. Remember that investing in a good quality and stable scooter makes a lot of difference in the child’s riding experience and safety.
Hence, it would help if you were careful when buying one. You will find several scooter options, but choose the quality product as your child will be able to use it for several years to come. Good branded scooters have adjustable handles and wide standing decks, making them an excellent choice for growing children. The metal frame is sturdy enough to support the child’s weight and allows him to balance appropriately during the ride.
At R for Rabbit, a leading baby product brand, we are taking the initiative to educate young parents by rendering safety recommendations for children who use kick scooters, and hence, you get all the required guidance so that you see the cute smiles on the little faces and let them have the best time of their lives.
Also Read: Benefits Of R For Rabbit Kids Scooter