'Scooting' to school

[supersop60]

On my commute, I pass 2 infant and junior schools, and I see more and more children on their scooters. On a surface level it's cute.
In reality - the parents will have to carry the damn things back with them (unless, I suppose the school has a scooter park).
Also - the children are getting LESS exercise than if they were walking. I saw a small child today standing with both feet on the scooter while the poor mum was bending over at an awkward angle, pulling him along.
AIBU to think it's unnecessary hassle?

I live near enough that the faff of getting scooters out and putting helmets on overrides the benefits of speed, plus my DCs have a good jog on them anyway.

Generally they are a good way to get young children moving out and about. They're a good glute and quads work out too, and can feel it if I've been on mine for the first time in a while. I find mine useful for getting around the neighbourhood saving local car journeys.

I suppose if I could get mine to scoot to school I would tbh but unfortunately that will never happen I will always HAVE to drive...even for secondary 🤣🙈

Mine are too young for scooting, but I have a question- doesn’t it make you lopsided? Serious question! Presumably the children always stand on the same leg, so after 2 miles or whatever a day for months, are they not stronger on one side...?

YABU

AIBU to think it's unnecessary hassle?

I know you’ve agreed to stop moaning, but only on the basis that it’s better than being driven.

I don’t understand why you feel this is any of your business, and are patronising parents who choose to allow their children to scoot to school.

Who are you to think you know better than the parents actually doing this?

Well said @AmelieTaylor

I don’t mind them but it really peeves me to see children on them without a helmet.

We love the scooter. my kid has motor issues that make biking very frustrating. We bought her a serious scooter and now she can keep up with her friends on bicycles.

Also, little ones can walk super slow. A 3 year old on a scooter might be much less frustrating for a parent, even if they have to carry the scooter home.

It can’t possibly be fewer calories to scoot as the child still has to move their body mass over the same distance. The difference in friction will be out weighed by the energy taken to move the scooter along with themselves.

I'm very doubtful about this. If you got me to run at the fastest pace I can sustain over an extended distance, then got me to cycle at the same speed, I'm pretty sure I'd get a lot less tired on the bicycle. I think you must be missing something. Perhaps if people had springs in their legs (like kangaroo tendons?) that enable us to recycle all the energy when our feet hit the ground, we'd be as efficient as something with wheels.

Our school has bikesheds (don't most schools?) so no need to carry home. As for pulling along - I used to do this when my DD was younger and tired - much easier and quicker than dragging a tired child along. Obviously in that case it is less exercise but if they are actually scooting I can't see it is less exercise? They certainly get more exercise than the DC brought to school in a car.

Walking or running down a hill burns more calories than just coasting down on a scooter or bike. I would say that the kids are more active on days where we walk or run to school, but scooting is definitely preferable to travelling by car and burns off more energy.

@Goostacean - mine swap legs!

I loved it when my dd had a scooter as I used to scoot home on it after morning drop off and scoot to school for pick up. No way would I have used it otherwise but somehow the school run gave me permission!!

Great fun.

In my DC's school they get points for scooting or cycling but not walking

The majority of children who scoot or cycle arrive in a car and travel about thirty seconds on a bicycle or scooter and get a house point. It's ridiculous.

We usually walk but I do let mine scoot sometimes, I find it a pain in the arse tbh but when it's really rainy it stops the kids complaining.

I see parents carrying scooters after drop off... why not just ride it? It’s better then carrying it