9 best kids’ scooters for beginners and beyond, tried and tested

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Once they’ve mastered walking, many little ones are keen to get moving on wheels, whether it’s one of the best scooters or bikes. With scooters for children available for those as young as 18 months old, it’s easy to see why they’re such a popular choice for families. As well as being fun, scooting can help build balance, coordination and confidence while making getting from A to B a little more exciting.

From the school run to trips to the park, the best kids’ scooter can quickly become part of the daily routine. But don’t forget to include a helmet, as falls are part of learning to scoot, bike, and skateboard.

There are models for every stage, from sit-on designs for toddlers and three-wheelers for building confidence, to two-wheelers for older kids who are ready to pick up the pace or try some tricks. Short on storage space? A foldable scooter is easier to stash away and carry alongside a buggy.

I had a team of young testers put a range of scooters through their paces in everyday settings. Keep reading to see how we got on.

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The Liferyder infinity is the best kids’ scooter we tried, designed to be used from when your child is just starting school to when they’re in their mid-teens, and it’s certainly built to last.

Whatever your kids’ tastes, this scooter comes in a range of designs (about 40, in fact), so there’s bound to be one to suit. The designs come in the form of waterproof, removable stickers, which need to be applied after unboxing – this may have caused a few arguments among my mini testers, but the final result was impressive.

The scooter has robust, 12in, air-filled rubber wheels (making it suitable for all kinds of terrain), and a large footplate to accommodate growing feet. Meanwhile, the handlebar can be adjusted to three height settings (75cm, 80cm and 85cm). The scooter is designed for children 110-160cm tall, which might make it slightly too small for some teenagers.

A tool is included to collapse the scooter down, and this was very straightforward to do. Assembly took a little longer than anticipated, but the scooter felt sturdy and safe once everything was set up. At 5.5kg it’s a little heavier than others featured here, but this shouldn’t be an issue for older children. The only real issue is that it’s one of the most expensive scooters we tried, but you definitely get what you pay for.

Any scooter with light-up wheels is an instant winner, and the Zinc explorer is no different. Little explorers can light up their routes day or night with this wallet-friendly product. It’s another three-wheeler that is suitable for those aged three and up, and has safety features such as rubber grips on the handlebars and an easy-to-use rear footbrake.

My mini testers put the space-themed explorer through its paces, but a unicorn-themed design is also available. The scooter can be adjusted to four height settings (73cm, 77.5cm, 82cm and 86.5cm), but parents might feel a bit frustrated that their child will grow out of it quite quickly.

One of the main downsides to this scooter is that it’s tricky to take apart. It took two of us to remove the handlebars from the footplate. One of us had to press the button, while the other tugged them apart. This would perhaps put families off if they want a scooter to quickly shove under a buggy or in the boot of a car. However, I still think this would be a good choice for anyone new to scooting, looking for a budget-friendly option.

The SmarTrike xtend ride-on plus will grow and change with your child as they become more confident and independent. It’s an innovative four-in-one design that can join your family (as a parent-controlled ride-on scooter) when your baby is just 12 months old. Once your child is two years old, they can still use the ride-on mode, but they can start to move the scooter independently with their feet. For those aged three years old and upwards, this model transforms into a proper scooter for kids to stand on. The fourth element is that the handlebar extends, making this scooter suitable for children aged up to 12 years old.

My mini testers loved pushing each other on the sit-on trunk and storing their toys inside it. It was really easy to remove the trunk and push-along handle to make the transition to a scooter for older kids. The extendable footplate is a really great feature that I didn’t see on any of the other scooters tested. The boys also loved the large (142mm) LED wheels, which took them over bumpy terrain easily and even through the local woods.

The rear brake was very effective when scooter races between the boys were organised, and I loved the fact that this model was easy to fold down and store with just the push of a button.

Micro Scooters come in a range of bright colours, with helmets to match. They have easy-to-adjust handlebars, grippy footplates and are easy to fold down. The maxi is a three-wheeler but suits children aged five and over who’ve mastered scooting. My young testers had already used the brand’s smaller mini scooters, so they already knew how to steer and balance.

As such, my mini testers took to this scooter like ducks to water. They also loved the LED wheels, which make the scooter a great choice for trips home from school when it’s dark, adding a bit of fun to every journey.

This scooter comes in eight different colours and with the added option of personalising the foot plate. Micro also sells several accessories, including handlebar tassels, bells and baskets.

Micro’s scooters may be more expensive than some others, but this trusted brand has used anti-corrosive materials for its products, which means they’re built to last. I’ve handed down the children’s minis to family members, and the scooters still look like they’ve barely been used.

This remarkable Globber go-up foldable plus eco scooter does it all. It can transform from a sit-on bike to a walking bike and finally to a scooter when your child is ready. I enlisted a three-year-old to help test this one, and it’s safe to say it was a hit. The ride-on and walking bike modes are suitable for children aged 15 months to three years, and the scooter is suitable up to age seven.

Everything about this scooter is designed to keep children safe and happy and minimise stress for parents. It’s easy to switch between the three modes, without needing any tools, and a push button makes it easy to fold down the scooter for storage. The steering lock is a really useful feature if your toddler hasn’t quite got to grips with balancing and control yet.

My mini tester was perhaps a little too old to sit on it, but he enjoyed being pushed around by his older cousins. The three-height adjustable handlebar meant all of my young testers had a play, and the overwhelming conclusion was that it is an excellent introductory scooter.

The chopper-style handlebar of this scooter turns it into a sportier version of Micro’s other two-wheeler options. My mini tester had never used this kind of handlebar before but found it made it easier to turn without feeling like they were going to fall off, even when going at quite a pace.

Like the maxi scooter above, the LED wheels, powered by the scooting movement, are a fun feature that brightened up the trip home from school. I also like the fact that this scooter has a kickstand, making it easier to park at school, while the foldable stem helps with storage.

The 200mm wheels glide smoothly over pavements while also absorbing any bumps or dips. The cruiser was quick to assemble, and I love the bright aqua colour. The only potential downside is that I think it’s more suitable for the 5-10 age range than for older children, as the maximum height recommendation is 146cm, and the handlebars do feel quite low.

You’ve probably seen children whizzing through airports on Trunki’s cute wheeled suitcases but the brand makes scooters, too. The brand has two scooter sizes – the small version is suitable for three-year-olds and above (up to 50kg), while the larger size is for those aged four years plus (up to 75kg).

The scooter is easy to use with its lean-to-steer design and extra-wide rear wheel. I loved the fact that, when folded, it can be kept in a storage bag, and it also has a carry strap, which can also be used for towing tired children. Similar to other scooters on this list, Tunki’s has a non-slip footplate and can be raised to four height positions. The footplate is larger than some other scooters on this list, which kept our testers safe when whizzing around bends. At 2.75kg for the small version and 3.5kg for the larger size, it’s a little heavier than some others on the market, but the strap makes life a lot easier.

ELC is a trusted brand when it comes to products for young children. This scooter is cheaper than others on this list but it makes a great first scooter for children still mastering their balance and coordination skills. My young testers were slightly too big for this model but loved putting its rear brake and stability to the test.

The non-slip footplate will give parents peace of mind that their child is safe, and the three-wheeled design mean toddlers can easily get to grips with the basics. The scooter is really lightweight (1.7kg), too, so it’s easy to chuck in the back of the car, or carry on a buggy when little legs get tired of scooting.

However, the price does reflect the quality. The wheels are plastic rather than rubber, so they may not hold up that well. Given that your child might outgrow this scooter quite quickly, it still makes a good choice for a young child who’s ready to roll.

This is a really stylish scooter made from 100 per cent recycled plastic. I loved the fact that it’s made from repurposed items such as bottles, bags, cups and fishing nets, but this is also an attractive scooter that’s easy to ride for those aged three and up.

The T-shaped handlebar can be adjusted to 70cm, 75cm, and 80cm, and there is a wide footplate on which children should feel safe and stable. While it’s a very lightweight scooter (2.5kg), my mini testers didn’t find the steering as smooth compared to other scooters on test. This model doesn’t fold down, either, but this wasn’t too much of an issue, as it’s so light to carry.

This would make a great starter scooter, which can stay with your child as they grow, while also helping to reduce plastic waste.

The Liferyder infinity is my top pick of the kids’ scooters. This is a product made in Britain by a family-run business that knows what parents and children need. Decorating your scooter is a really unique and fun feature, and I love that this scooter is sturdy yet stylish. The big wheels made it suitable for off-roading as well as the school run. It’s just perfectly built for adventures.

If you need something more budget-friendly, the Zinc explorer kids’ scooter is a good choice under £30, but it may not hold up that long. For a longer-lasting scooter, the SmarTrike xtend ride-on plus will last from 12 months to 12 years.

Special mention also goes to the Micro cruiser, which is a really great scooter from a brand at the top of the industry. The chopper-style handlebars are rare on kids’ scooters, and they made ste There’s a reason why this brand is a reliable go-to for so many families.

In particular, my mini testers and I considered the following key criteria:

Safety is the most important feature to consider. You need a scooter with solid parts and durable wheels to help prevent accidents. Until your kids are around 5, a three-wheeled scooter is the safest option, because the extra wheel gives them some more stability. You also need an adjustable scooter. The best models have adjustable handlebars and footplates to adapt to growing kids. Some even convert from push-along toddler scooters to more independent scooters for older kids. If you’re tight on space, a folding scooter is essential for storage, and it makes it much easier to put the scooter in the boot to take to the park or to visit family.

Kat Storr has been a freelance journalist for more than 12 years. She began her career in digital news before her journey into parenthood shifted her interests more towards parenting, relationships, and health and well-being. With a little help from her three sons, Kat has tested everything from the best remote control cars to the best kids’ toothbrushes, and knows how to spot a worthwhile product that will stand the test of time.

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