How Scooter Riding Develops Children Physically and Mentally

Physical activities help with aspects like lung capacity, cardiovascular fitness, endurance, lower risk of disease, and can also have positive effects on the cognitive parts of development.

The rise of digital technologies has encouraged a focus on mental development, but this has caused neglect in the physical part. The ancient principle of mens sana in corpore sano, a healthy mind in a healthy body; should be the cornerstone of any parent’s philosophy for raising their children.

Why choose a scooter?

When choosing a form of transportation that can both exercise and entertain a child, there are several popular choices and each one has its own pros and cons.

For instance, a bicycle may help to teach a child how to maintain balance; but the bicycle can easily attain speeds at which a kid could get hurt. A skateboard, on the other hand, cannot reach high speeds on flat ground; but the shape and necessary hardness of the deck could cause the kid to injure their leg, and a loss of balance may mean a face full of concrete.

This is where the kids’ scooter comes to shine. It relies on the same pushing as a skateboard, so speeds are manageable. It is a flat surface, low to the ground, so balance is not a big issue, and the handlebar lets the child hold on for extra balance. The shape of the scooter also makes fall into harmless tumbling.

A child using a scooter will learn how to keep their balance and maintain their speed, will start to manage spaces for speeding up or braking, and in the inevitable crash; the simple design means that the only injuries might be a scrape on the elbow from hitting the ground or a little bruise on the arm from the handlebar.

There are different scooters and you need to choose one for your child.

As the child becomes more confident and able in their use of the scooter; you will see them improve their dexterity and hand-limb coordination by using their stunt scooter, pulling tricks that rely just as much on precise movements as on speed. This translates into a child that can handle multiple variables on the fly in order to achieve a result.

A freestyle scooter is lightweight and more flexible than a standard, meaning the handlebars can twist fully independently of the deck, allowing for the rider to perform tricks like a 360, where they hold the bars and have the deck spin a full rotation.

This, of course, has led to many a smacked ankle, but considering how lightweight they are, it is more a source of frustration than injury. But one of the better lessons to teach a child is that in order to succeed, you will first fail over and over until you finally master it; no pain, no gain, and scooter riding presents a safer alternative while still keeping it fun.

Healthy benefits about the use of a freestyle scooter

The real benefits of using a freestyle scooter can show themselves in ways that affect both the body and the mind, such as:

• A better posture, since the child needs to stay upright to maintain balance.
• Stronger legs; as they both push and support the body on a moving platform, leading to stronger bones and muscles.
• More stamina and resistance; as they perform demanding tricks or use it for longer periods of time.
• Better spatial awareness; from learning how to judge distances, speeds, and spaces for moving, maneuvering, or performing tricks.
• More independence: The first few times, the child will need their parent to help balance, but as they learn how to handle the scooter, they will feel more comfortable doing it on their own.
• More proactive mindset: The child will start experimenting with both of their own initiative to improve, but also from creativity, something you might hear as an “I wonder if I can do X?”

• A healthy dose of creativity and inspiration, as the child first desires to imitate tricks from other stunt scooters, and then decides to create their own, helping them become more innovative and driven to succeed.

You must still take precautions, though with scooter riding

Just because scooter riding is a comparatively safer option, does not mean it is not safe from the inherent risks of physical activity. A particularly nasty fall in the wrong place can still mean serious injury for a child. As such, you need to keep their safety a priority, while still letting them enjoy the world, bruises and all.

An essential part of any stunt scooter gear is always the helmet. You need to ensure they always wear it when riding and you must remind them that it is not for show. Falling on grass is one thing, but the concrete of a skate park the little rider may go to is something far more dangerous.

Also important are the knee and elbow pads, as they can be the difference from a fall and a tumble leading to a crying child, to a child who is just mildly annoyed at screwing up the trick. Still, these cover important joints, crucial for physical activity, so they must be well cared for.

You also have to be aware that if there is one thing children are universally excellent at, is getting hurt. They might land wrong and twist their ankle. They might land hard on their butts on the concrete, or in the worst cases, they might even end up dislocating their shoulders. They might hurt themselves in a part you did not even think was possible, and yet they manage to.

This is an unfortunate part of being a parent you must be ready to, so be sure to know how to respond if that is to happen. If you want to feel extra cautious, you can carry a small kit with band-aids and other such items to help your child.

If you are careful enough, your child will have a very enjoyable hobby in freestyle scooters, which will keep them active and healthy for many years to come.