Are electric roller skates safe for 10year old with adhd?

[Daffodils2023]

**
Hi, 10 year old son was given electric rollerskates by his dad for his birthday. He didn't want them and seemed a bit surprised to be given them. I'm not even sure he likes them very much, his cousin has normal ones (his aunts daughter), his dad has been encouraging him to use them - not sure if he's scared or if he thinks they're for girls. He didn't get a helmet or any safety gear for elbows and knees. I've googled but can't find any information online for the UK only the States. Are they safe? Does anyone have any? Son has ADD and possible autism and is fearless (has no sense of danger or consequences), already broken his elbow and his arm.

Anyone know if they're safe? I'm not sure I understand the point of them? I dont have a civilised channel of communication with ex so not sure exactly if I can "do" anything about it but just wondering how best to keep son safe from this end. Thanks.

You need a helmet

Tbh they sound a bad idea for anyone

I wouldn't let a ten year old use these, ADHD or not!

And definitely non-negotiable to wear a helmet while using them if you can't stop Dad making him do it.

They don't sound safe for anyone!

You definitely need to get a helmet if he's going to use them though. Kneepads, gloves with palm protection and elbow pads would also be worth having.

Do these really exist, I imagine they have an extremely high injury rate if true

Ordinary skates are dangerous enough whilst learning!

Sound like an accident waiting to happen, I wonder how you stop. Tell his dad to give you all a demo.

As an aside I hate all the electric transport kids are given these days, loads of kids at my dc primary school have electric scooters, it's like we want kids to be obese.

Sell them on EBay they sound dangerous

I have inline skates myself and am an avid skater.

I have NEVER seen electric roller skates for sale. I thought they didn't meet h&s standards?

When you're skating amd hit a tiny stone, it trips you up; you're able to maintain balance due to muscle tension and the position of your weight (and experience of it happening many times). When you're GLIDING - like electric skates - your muscles are relaxed and weight is held in the wrong place. If you hit a stone relaxed like that you'd go on your face.

In summary, might be okay for experienced skaters, on a very flat surface like roller rink or skate park. Absolutely not good for learners.

They sound very dangerous for anyone, I wouldn't buy for my child.

With your child's additional lack of fear, I'd perhaps find that they'd 'broken' and buy him a replacement gift.

Stick them on eBay and buy something else. They sound insane

They don't sound safe for anyone.

Why does anyone need electric roller skates??

I play roller derby and frankly those sound so dangerous!!

They are not legal on pavements or in parks so unless you have private land what are the point

They sound so dangerous. Bung them in the back of a cupboard until they are out grown.

I wouldn't even allow an electric scooter in my house. Not long after they first came out a young girl maybe about 9. Shot across the road in front of us on one. DH wasn't going fast, we'd just pulled away from the house, but he needed to slam on the brakes.

I wouldn’t give any children an electrical anything. They don’t have the common sense to stay safe. In my lifetime I’ve known two people who lost their children due to them driving out onto the road on little vehicles. It broke them. I’ve always been unbelievably cautious about those things with my own children.

Do you know where I can find that information on an official website so I can forward to ex?

Unfortunately they’re not at my house, they’re at exes house. He’s made a big thing about them.

@UnravellingTheWorld thank you, thats a really useful and helpful insight, I had a feeling it was something like that but havent skated for a good few decade and never inline skates. Thanks a lot. Can you point me in the direction of any websites that give any official advice about not using them, dangers, illegality etc? Thanks.

Do they fall within this legislation

information-sheet-guidance-on-powered-transporters

Whatever the legalities etc your son should be able to say “No thanks Dad I don’t really want to have these” and his Dad should accept that.
What’s his Dad gonna do? Hold him down and force the skates on?

Unfortunately not, I'm only going from my own experience of many faceplants! As I say, I've never even seen them for sale so I've not thought of looking in to them. I remember talking with a friend (who's a pretty reckless skater himself - for context: he once held onto the rim of a moving taxi and let it pull him along on a skateboard because he was racing a cyclist) and even he agreed it's not a great idea! He did see them once on a Go Fund Me, but they never became a purchasable product. They just don't have the years and years of development that other products do to become safer for general use. I mean, cars require a license to use as a motorized vehicle - there are even plenty of safety concerns over e-scooters.

Can your son just use the skates without the motor? Honestly he would need to be comfortable skating and braking before he even thinks about zooming around safely.