Are Electric Scooters Healthy for Kids?
Electric scooters are one of the most popular high-tech toys for kids. According to recent reports, the global market for e-scooters is expected to grow to $19.43 billion in 2024 and $50.15 billion by 2032.
This means sales for this electric scooter kids love won’t slow down anytime soon. However, with so many kids using these e-scooters, many parents raise questions about their safety. Are electric scooters healthy for kids?
Well, if you’ve got this concern, too, don’t worry because this detailed post has your answer. Keep reading to find out!
Usability
Generally, electric scooters for kids are designed to be safe and easy to use. For example, they have a wide and stable base so that your kid doesn’t fall. They also have sturdy brakes and speed control features to control how fast the scooter can go.
A child who is properly trained to ride an electric scooter shouldn’t experience any harm or safety concerns using it. However, according to recent reports, hundreds of children still get injured while riding an e-scooter.
This is primarily because they don’t wear helmets or protective gear. 10% of the injuries occur due to wrong usage. Children who use an e-scooter on uneven and rough grounds encounter obstacles that cause the scooter to disbalance.
Nearly 15% of the incidents also involve motor vehicles. These mostly occurred when kids were left unsupervised with e-scooters.
Fitness
Unlike most toys, an electric scooter allows your child to be more physically active. It breaks their unhealthy habit of using gaming devices 24/7 and engages their muscles. This helps promote muscle and bone growth – especially in kids of growing age.
Electric scooters also increase the amount of time your kid spends outdoors. The exposure to sunlight helps the body absorb vitamin D, which is essential for:
- Stronger bones
- Glucose metabolism
- Immune system
- Nerve function
- Cell growth
Besides this, riding the electric scooter also improves blood circulation in kids. It makes their heart pump better, which is crucial for an overall better body.
Mental Capabilities
Riding an electric scooter is not only about fitness. It also boosts your child’s mental capabilities and makes them sharper. The constant act of balancing and coordinating stimulates their brain and develops key motor skills.
It helps improve their muscle memory, too. Your kid learns to better control their bodily movements – especially when riding a vehicle. This can prepare teenagers for learning how to drive an actual vehicle.
Apart from brain development, riding an electric scooter also enhances your child’s mental well-being. When they learn to ride and find new routes, they become more and more confident in themselves.
They trust themselves to figure things out independently. This is a core characteristic needed for your child to develop a higher self-esteem. An electric scooter helps with exactly that!
The increased exposure to sunlight and the outdoors also has a positive impact on your kid’s mood. They feel more motivated, calm, and overall happier than when they would have spent a chunk of their day playing video games.
Socialization
Socialization refers to the act of interacting with other people. This can be people of your age or different ages. No matter who the person is, interacting with them is called socialization. And this is a very important part of every human’s life.
Electric scooters give your kid a chance to socialize with others. They can use the e-scooter to start conversations with other kids. They might even make friends and get to play different games with them.
If your child is older, you might find him joining e-scooter clubs. These interactions help your child establish friendships and strong communication skills. They also learn teamwork, cooperation, and a sense of responsibility.
So, What’s the Verdict?
It’s undeniable that electric scooters can result in injuries and accidents. However, they are usually caused by wrong and improper usage or irresponsible behavior. So, they are 100% preventable.
The design or product itself is in no way harmful to kids. Instead, an electric scooter is an excellent way to improve your child’s physical and mental well-being. This proves that electric scooters for kids are healthy – when used right!
