Choosing a Kids Motorized Scooter
One of the top gifts for kids on the market today is the motorized scooter. Your son or daughter may have been thrilled with the kick scooter that was hot a few years ago, but now they’re into jazzier rides. Motorized scooters can give your kids what they’re looking for, whether they’re gas-powered scooters or the electric models. But choosing between a gas-powered or electric scooter can pose a bit of a challenge. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re making this decision.
photo credit: ThrasherDave
A lot of parents regard safety as the highest priority in a child’s gift. One of the primary safety concerns with scooters is the speeds the gas-powered models can reach. On average, a kids’ gas-fueled scooter can travel at up to 30 miles per hour. You may want something for your child that isn’t so fast. And if so, an electric scooter may be the better choice, as they top out at about 15 to 20 mph. Of course your kids may have something to say about the choice of an electric scooter, because as a rule, kids are looking for speed above all.
In a perfect world, your son or daughter would be responsible for taking care of the scooter. But many parents have learned from experience that they’ll probably need to lend a hand with their kids’ daily chores and responsibilities. Keeping a scooter maintained is no different. So it’s important for you to give some thought to whether you want to take it to the gas station every couple of months for a fill-up or if it would be easier to charge it at home. The choice that best suits your schedule is the one to go with.
In general, prices are comparable for kids’ gas-powered and electric scooters. The average prices for either of these scooter models run from $300 to $600. The big gap in these prices is usually due to the annual energy-source costs of either gas fill-ups or electricity charges. Given that gas prices are continuing to rise, the gas-powered scooter may ultimately be the costlier choice.
A motorized scooter can be a great way to help your child learn how to handle the responsibility of a possession that has specific maintenance needs. So electric scooters may offer more teaching moments for kids than gas-powered scooters, due to their constant need for re-charging.
All of these various considerations may make it easier for you to choose between the two kinds of motorized scooters available for your kids. Regardless of your choice between gas and electric, the scooter you ultimately pick will be a hit with your kids and put to use as soon as possible.