Bicycles Vs. Scooters for Children

Buying a child her first bike or scooter is an exciting time.

If you have a young child, chances are he has pined away for a bicycle or scooter he's seen a friend or neighbor riding around the neighborhood. For children, whose only method of transportation is their parents' cars, the school bus and their own two legs, getting their first bicycle or scooter can be a very exciting time. To help determine which option is right for your child, you'll need to consider several factors.

Difficulty

When you're in the market for a bicycle or scooter, you may want to consider the child's age and her level of skill. For very young children, balancing on a bicycle can be a difficult task. Using a scooter can teach children the two-wheel balance, and because of their engineering, the child merely needs to step his foot down to stop.

A bicycle may work for young children as well, if you use training wheels. Though some claim that training wheels prevent children from ever learning to balance their bike, it can give them a sense of confidence to prepare them for further training.

Preference

One major consideration before buying a bicycle or scooter is the child's own preference. If he has friends who all ride scooters, he may not want a bicycle at all.

Likewise, if your child aspires to riding skateboards or surfing, you may want to start out with a scooter, while children who love the idea of road biking, mountain biking or motorcycles may prefer a bike.

Daily and Family Actiities

You may also want to consider your family's daily activities. If you're always on the go, you may want to buy a scooter, as they can often fold up compact enough to put in a car or other vehicle. If your family enjoys long bike rides together, you'll likely want to buy your child a bike, since the scooter will require more effort and the child may not be able to catch up.

For older kids, you may want to consider other transportation. While city and school buses often have a rack for bicycles, there may not be any way to transport a scooter.

Safety

You know your child best, so consider her safety when purchasing a bike or scooter. Young children may not be able to balance on a bike, but may be able to get the hang of a scooter rather quickly. You may be able to prevent spills and injuries by opting for a scooter as her beginner "vehicle."

You should also purchase a well-fitting helmet, along with knee and elbow pads if you think your child needs them. You can also purchase training wheels for most kinds of youth bicycles and scooters, which may be a good option to start out.

References

• Carilion Clinic: Bicycle / In-Line Skating / Skateboarding / Scooter Safety
• University of Minnesota - Steven Hauser: Free How-To - Learn to Ride a Bicycle
• Sheldon Brown: Teaching Children to Ride