10 Best Kick Scooters for Kids in 2022 (Razor, Mongoose, and More)

Rear brakes are a key safety feature a kick scooter can offer. They allow your child to use their heel on the back brake to stop the scooter. This way, your child can stop or slow down their scooter while keeping both feet on the deck rather than putting one foot on the ground to stop.

If you have kids that like to ride when the sun goes down, you should check out light-up scooters. A light-up scooter will either have a frame or wheels with lights, but both work for sunset or night riding. However, if you want the lights to prioritize safety over design, you should get one with a light-up frame.

As an added point, some scooters will offer shock absorption. For example, your child may like to jump off the side of the curb with their scooter, and the shock absorption springs will prevent the scooter from landing hard or bouncing off the ground.

Since the springs give the scooter some extra room for landing, they will help your child stay in control of the scooter. Even if your child doesn't like to jump with the scooter, the shock absorption will provide an extra layer of comfort.

Look for a scooter with a full deck grip, so your child can avoid slipping while using it. If you want to find good material for your deck, you should search for ones that mention grip tape or anti-slip material. When you look into your deck options, you should consider scooters with a wide deck.

If you want a wider deck, then start with five-inch options; though some can be as wide as seven inches. If a scooter doesn't mention its deck width, then you should go for ones that mention wide or extra-wide decks. A wider deck will help your child maintain their balance on a scooter.

Most scooter frames will be made out of aluminum, but you may occasionally come across steel or other metals. Aluminum is a great option since it is a lighter metal, so your child won’t have trouble picking up or moving the scooter. 

Also, the lighter weight can help the scooter move faster for kids who want to pick up speed. As an added note, while metal frames will be more durable, they will heat up quickly during the summer, making them a safety hazard for burns.

Some scooters will have two wheels while others will have three, so you need to decide which one will be better for your child. Two-wheeled scooters can be more difficult to get used to since your child will need to maintain their balance to go straight.

On top of this, your child will need to get over the learning curve of how to turn the handlebars. However, once your kid gets used to the handlebars, they can make sharper turns, making these scooters great for kids who want better control. 

On the other hand, three-wheeled scooters are great for children learning how to ride them. The two front wheels allow kids to go straight without balancing. Three-wheeled scooters are more restricted in their turning, so kids will need to move slowly while using them.

If you have a toddler or child who struggles with balancing, you can purchase a scooter with a seat. These seats usually attach to the front bar, so your kid can sit near the front of the scooter while holding onto the handlebars.

This way, your child can easily balance with their feet and kick the scooter forward. This makes the seat a great choice for younger kids that want to ride scooters with their siblings or friends. On top of this, you can remove most of these seats, so once your child gets older, you can start to train them to balance on a scooter.

Many scooters will include adjustable handlebars to make them taller or shorter, depending on what your kid needs. When your child uses the handlebars, they should be at elbow level when possible. Adjustable handlebars work great since you can make them taller as your child gets older.

Some will have notches that lock into specific positions while others will use clamps that let you choose the perfect height. If your child tends to get frustrated with adjusting the handlebar, you should stick to the notches. On the other hand, if your child grows quickly and consistently, the clamp might be the better choice.

If your kid takes their scooter everywhere, you should look into folding scooters. Since folding scooters bend in half, kids can easily take their scooters into different buildings without taking up space. This way, your child won’t have to leave it outside when they go somewhere.

If the scooter can’t fold, then you should at least get a kickstand to prevent it from falling over. Otherwise, you will need to leave the scooter on the ground. Not only does this pose a tripping hazard, but the scooter will take up lots of floor space if left on the ground.

Children should have handlebars with cushioning to keep their hands comfortable as they ride. The added grip will also help your child stay in control of their scooter. If a scooter doesn’t have handlebar cushions, you should stay away from it.

Otherwise, your child could get blisters, and the metal might be too hot to grab during the summer.