5 Best Electric Scooters for Kids (Mar 2023 Review)

Electric Scooter for Kids Buyer’s Guide

With regular scooters such a popular hobby, it was only a matter of time before someone modernised it! Electric scooters are becoming popular all around the world for a range of reasons. They allow you to reach those top speeds and get where you want to go with minimal effort on your part, but they’re generally safer than bicycles. These scooters come equipped with an accelerator, brake and powerful motor. They boast all the great qualities of regular scooters – plus a whole lot more!

Children’s motorized scooters are readily available, but finding the best one for your child can be tricky. With speed, safety, range and battery life all needing to be taken into account, shopping for a kids’ electric scooter is a minefield. Follow my speedy buyer’s guide to help you find the best electric scooter for your child.

Pros of Electric Scooters over Kick Scooters for Kids

There’s only so long your child can kick for before they get bored, and electric scooters allow them to zoom around town with their friends without exhausting themselves! Kid’s electric scooters are seriously fun and often more stable than standard scooters. They are the perfect step up from a 2 wheel scooter, and many kids around the world are now using an electric scooter for their journey to school. While kick scooters are usually just thought of as a bit of fun, electric scooters are becoming a respected and safe way of getting around.

Although the best kids electric scooters are more expensive, they are usually built to exceptional quality. The cheapest kick scooters won’t stand the test of time, whereas electric scooters are usually very durable, build with safety and quality in mind.

Electronic kids scooters are thought of as more dangerous, but they are actually safer. With both feet on the deck, riders are usually more balanced and they are able to concentrate more on their surroundings. Many electric scooters have a manual mode, meaning if it runs out of battery you can simply use it as you would a normal scooter.

Safety

As already mentioned, kids electric scooters are generally safe. What’s not safe however, is driving recklessly in busy areas. While buying from a reputable brand and keeping on top of any maintenance will help keep your child safe on their electric scooter, you should also teach them the rules of the road.

Ensure you always check the brake and the accelerator before they head out onto the road. Check that both are performing at their best. Rear brakes are generally thought of as safer than front brakes as a front brake may cause the scooter to flip. Ensure you don’t regularly exceed the max weight limit, and you only ride on the surfaces your electric scooter is designed for.

A kids electric scooter with LED wheels or a reflective deck can be safer in the winter months when there’s less light. This will add to the price but being well lit will make your child infinitely safer.

Speed

The best kids’ electric scooters with a good motor and quality batteries can reach some pretty impressive speeds! Most will reach around 10mph, while top of the range electric scooters can get up to around 15mph. There’s a few that might reach over 20mph which will feel seriously speedy.

Bear in mind that the max speed will be in optimum conditions. This means on a flat, smooth surface with little wind, a full battery and a lightweight rider. Heavier riders will be unlikely to reach those top speeds so may want to buy a model with a higher weight limit.

Remember that the faster the speed, the harder the scooter will be to control – so younger kids should go for something a little less powerful.

Range

Running out of juice halfway to school is no one’s idea of fun, so the range will of course be a consideration for parents. This is generally measured in miles but also sometimes in time. Bear in mind that if your child is a heavier rider, or they are tackling hills, the range will be less. Most models will give up to 45 minutes of continuous use for a lightweight rider on flat, smooth surfaces. Models with bigger batteries might run for an hour, but it’s unlikely to be any more than this.

If your child is simply planning a quick zoom around the neighborhood, a shorter range will be sufficient, and these should cost a lot less. However, if you’ll be using your scooter for work or the school run, ensure it has a long enough range to get you there and back.

Charging Time

Unfortunately, kids’ electric scooters do take a long time to charge. The best electric scooters for kids will charge within 8 hours, but the average charge time currently is around 12 hours.

Remember that you will pay a lot more for models with powerful batteries that have quicker charge times. Follow all the instructions given by your manufacturer, as regularly overcharging or undercharging can damage the battery.

Weight and Portability

Kids’ electric scooters are much heavier than normal scooters as the motor usually weighs a lot. Scooters with a motor weigh anything from 20lbs to 60lbs, which is a lot to carry round with you all day!

If your child is going to be using their scooter to travel to school, ensure they have somewhere to store it during the day. While electric scooter manufacturers are working towards lighter electric scooters, these will be much more expensive due to the smaller motors and lightweight deck materials.

Foldable vs Non-Foldable

While non-electric scooters can be folded up nearly and slotted into a backpack, electric scooters don’t usually have this feature. That’s because the motors and batteries are usually quite bulky, and the scooter is heavy.

Foldable electric scooters for kids are beginning to come onto the market, although these are currently quite expensive. However, these do allow you to pack it up compactly meaning you don’t need to park it, and it can be easily stored in a closet or locker when not in use. Foldable electric scooters are much better for taking on public transport – as they can be neatly tucked away without annoying anyone!

Weight Limits

Kids electric scooters can usually withstand a lot of weight, although riders at the higher end of its weight capacity will find they struggle to reach the top speeds. Most can withstand a weight of around 220lbs meaning kids and the majority of adults should be fine. Those designed for younger kids that are very lightweight will have a lower max weight. Regularly exceeding the max weight will not only mean your scooter doesn’t perform as well as it’s designed to, it also won’t last nearly so long.

Batteries

Most electric scooters for kids have either lead acid or lithium based batteries. Lead acid batteries are much cheaper and have a longer lifespan. However, they are very heavy so will add to the weight of your scooter. Lead batteries are also not very consistent, and eventually the power of your scooter will decrease.

Lithium batteries on the other hand are much more expensive but they are very lightweight. They don’t decrease in performance. While lithium is the preferred type of battery for kids’ electric scooters, lead batteries are fine for casual riders.

Brakes

The braking system is an important component for all of the best electric scooters. The brakes need to be efficient, easy to use and reliable. Kids should be able to slow down gradually, but they also need to perform sharp stops in case of sudden traffic.

Brakes in electronic kids scooters are usually in the form of disc or V brakes in the front and rear wheels. A brake in only the front wheel can cause the back of the scooter (and your child!) to flip forward while stopping suddenly. The brakes should be applied by hand (similar to a bicycle) to allow your child as much control as possible.

FAQs

What protective gear should I get my child?

The best electric scooters in 2023 can reach some pretty impressive top speeds, so safety gear is very important. A fall from an electric scooter at 10mph can be fatal, so a helmet is an absolute essential. They should wear their helmet every time they ride. Other safety gear includes elbow and knee pads that will prevent grazed limbs. More serious riders might want wrist guards and gloves.

The best way to prevent your child getting hurt however, is to prevent the accident in the first place. Don’t buy a scooter that’s beyond your child’s abilities or experience, and teach them to be safe on the roads. Ensure you are around your child while they are learning to ride – if possible, have them practice on a regular scooter before moving to electric.

What surfaces should they ride on?

Electronic kids scooters are generally designed for smooth surfaces, but those with bigger wheels will be able to tackle something a little more bumpy. The issue isn’t really the ability of the scooter, and more the comfort of the ride! Cruising at speed on concrete is far more comfortable than taking on a rocky path through the woods.

How long do they take to charge?

Unfortunately, quite a while! Depending on the make and model, electric scooters can take up to around 12 hours to charge! The high end scooters with more powerful batteries can charge fully in 10 hours. If your child is commuting to school on their scooter, they can easily charge it overnight.

What is the youngest recommended age for kids?

While standard 3 wheel scooters can be used by kids as young as 3, electric scooters are different. The higher speeds mean that if your child does have an accident, they are more likely to get injured.

Most manufacturers will recommended their electric scooters be used by kids no younger than 7 or 8, but some scooters are specifically designed for kids as young as 5. As long as you keep an eye on your child and buy a scooter that has a very low top speed, there’s no reason why your youngest kids shouldn’t also get in on the action.