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.

My dc have little ones

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.

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

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.

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!!

@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!!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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)

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.

Ours had these at that age.

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