Aibu to think that 6 is too young for a skateboard?

[Fruitteatime]

My 6 year old is desperate for a skateboard. I'm a bit reluctant, I'm fairly concerned about injuries and wonder if she's a little too young for one. She's not exactly the most physically able child, struggles with climbing mainly. Are there even skateboards out there that she would be able to manage? There doesn't seem to be much of a size difference in adult and smaller boards. If you have a similar aged child what skateboard do they have and how old were they when they first used it? Neither dp nor I have ever had one so are quite ignorant on the matter.

Yabu- a skateboard is perfectly ok for a 6 year old.

Yanbu- skateboards are far too dangerous/wait until she is older.

[GreyishDays]

Ours had these at that age.

www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/outdoor/skateboards/55cm-black-shortboard-with-led-wheels/p/185966

[MrsWooster]

As pp's said, go for a longboard with wider softer wheel to start with. Ds thrived on his whereas his best mate got a 'normal board' with harder wheels and found it much harder and less fun. Ours came from Smyths and seems like a great starter board- not to fast and doesn't skitter away.

[Camomila]

We got DS1 a child size one for his fourth birthday. He wears knee/elbow pads and a helmet and is fine with it.

Its been no worse than the bike or scooter for falling off of.

(I'm not sure if its a penny board - it was a paw patrol one)

[Aquamarine1029]

My kids had them at 4 with helmet and pads. They absolutely loved skateboarding. I did have to enact a rule about putting them away under their beds, though, because I nearly killed myself tripping on one in the living room. If the board wasn't put away they lost it for 2 days. Never had to do it because they loved skateboarding so much.

[MorganKitten]

I had one at 6, I now skateboard, play roller derby and love that sort of thing. Don’t go for a penny board. They aren’t great to learn on at all.
Make sure you have wrist guards, knee pads and a helmet.

[ilkleymoorbartat]

I was just thinking of getting my 4 year old dd one, so I would definitely say YABU!

[Coseynightin]

Skateboard all the way. Brought my girls penny boards in the summer best 60 quid I spent. Never seen them all summer out cruising the drive lol

[jellyfrizz]

When I was about six I asked Father Christmas for a skateboard and got a stupid scooter. I was gutted. My mum said that He thought a skateboard would be too dangerous for a little girl, like that made it any better.

[Fruitteatime]

@Sevensilverrings

Second a penny board. Well made, bomb proof and not too expensive.
Skating helmet better than bike, but bike better than nothing. Always always wear a helmet. My son skates, and you can have some fairly extreme tumbles, but helmet does it’s job! Wrist and knee guards less needed unless on a skatepark...but nice thick jumper at the very least!
A wobble board is great for learners, it helps find balance and also makes them use their arms...you can also make one cheaply from wood and pipe, or the mini ones are about £10. Good for rainy days!!

Do you have a link for the wobble board? The mini ones I've come across seem to be way too small to stand on.

[Fruitteatime]

@lottiegarbanzo

I feel like skateboards are safer than roller skates, because you can jump off. I'd be keen to get one for DC, as I think it will improve balance and spatial awareness. I'd definitely follow the interest. How much it gets used is another question of course!

Thank you, I really hadn't thought of it this way!

Now the other problem is her two year brother is keen on every thing his big sister has...

[Sevensilverrings]

Second a penny board. Well made, bomb proof and not too expensive.
Skating helmet better than bike, but bike better than nothing. Always always wear a helmet. My son skates, and you can have some fairly extreme tumbles, but helmet does it’s job! Wrist and knee guards less needed unless on a skatepark...but nice thick jumper at the very least!
A wobble board is great for learners, it helps find balance and also makes them use their arms...you can also make one cheaply from wood and pipe, or the mini ones are about £10. Good for rainy days!!

[Toocold]

My youngest had hers at 3, her 15 year old sister teaches her tricks. I think notcycling is right and have always encouraged my children to give it all a go, great for confidence.

[LynetteScavo]

The one in the decathlon link is exactly the board my DC started with.

[LynetteScavo]

I'd get her a copy of a penny board first. Penny boards are ace, and my DS went to school and back on his for the whole of secondary school. DD also wanted a skateboard, but more liked the idea of a skateboard than actually riding it. I refused to buy her a penny board until she'd at least tried on the cheap version we had. she bought herself a very expensive longboard which she carried around with her for a couple of years, but can't actually ride

Get her a helmet and elbow and knee pads and she'll feel like she's an ace rider, even if she just carries it to the park and back.

[Dowermouse]

My dc have little ones

[user17425642134531]

Describing a skateboard as dangerous is slightly odd. Bikes have handlebars but that doesn't stop anyone of any age falling off! You sound a bit over anxious.

Aside from that, my only contribution now you plan to get her one would be to say that your dominant / leading foot on a board is almost always the opposite of your dominant hand.

So if she's right handed she will probably be "left foot forward" and find it much easier and more natural to ride and control her board that way. That is, left foot standing static on the board and right foot hitting the ground to propel herself along. Or vice versa if she's left handed.

[Dishwashersaurous]

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/kids-mini-plastic-skateboard/_/R-p-160794

[lottiegarbanzo]

I feel like skateboards are safer than roller skates, because you can jump off. I'd be keen to get one for DC, as I think it will improve balance and spatial awareness. I'd definitely follow the interest. How much it gets used is another question of course!

[Dishwashersaurous]

The small decathlon one is a perfect introduction and not expensive

[sbhydrogen]

Get her the skateboard! 👌

[Ronia]

Check this girl out!

www.instagram.com/p/CHyy73bnqPv/?igshid=c7e8p5i2ez2m

She's 3 and 1/2 apparently and skateboarding while wearing a tutu

[SimonJT]

My five year old loves his, he falls off it all the time, but it doesn’t bother him and little bruises and grazes are part of childhood.

Get a childrens skateboard rather than a penny, pennyboards are too narrow and high for a beginner.

[Fruitteatime]

@notcycling

Girls, between the ages 8 and 14 lose 30% of their confidence. This is the reason why, we don't let them try things, worry they are not capable, keep telling 'be careful' and don't let them take risk.
Get her a skateboard, pads and a helmet. Tell her she's awesome and definitely can do it. And when she falls, tell her she did well and to try again.

I feel like this is a bit unfair. I never said she was too young because she is female. In fact we encouraged her to do a lot without help when she was toddler (climbing at the park, balancing along walls, getting down from where she has climbed rather than lifting her down), she's just not really taken to it. In fact I am very careful not to say be careful to either of my children (usually I say what's your plan or watch where you are going to put your feet). She does swimming, football and gymnastics so we absolutely do encourage her to try things and always tell her that practice is what's needed to get better at something. It's the skateboard that feels like it is dangerous because there's nothing to hold on to and as I've not ridden one I'm not sure on the age that would be appropriate.

[Fruitteatime]

Thank you everyone, I guess that's her Christmas present sorted. Specific links are really helpful. She can't actually ride a bike yet and isn't overly confident on her scooter but time will tell. She did have a balance bike from age 2 and a scooter from age 3. I'll definitely get some elbow and knee pads and a helmet of course. Is there any reason why she can't wear her cycling helmet or do I need to get a skate helmet?

[Passthecake30]

My sons skate board was used only as a tool to sit in and scoot around the living room, he never even managed to get braver than that. Just because a child asks for them... it doesn’t always directly lead to hours at the skate park!