Micro Scooter - Mini or Maxi for 4 yr old DD?

[lulamoo]

Hi I'm looking to buy my 4 and half year old DD a Micro Scooter for Christmas. Just wondered whether anyone to could recommend to go for the Mini or Maxi version. I don't want her to grow out of it in a few months time. Thanks in advance.

Difficult one. Do you have any other dc to hand it down to? If not, I think I would go for the maxi, personally - as I like to get my moneys worth out of stuff! I've ordered one for ds1 for Christmas - he will be nearly 5 and a half then. As far as I can tell the lowest height setting of the maxi is about the same level as the micro but I guess the weight is different.

Having said all that though, ds1 has got the micro at the moment and it would last him for a while yet, I think, except ds2 has his eye on it and it is starting to cause a few arguments! So you would probably be fine with that too.

Sorry, no help at all !

I'd go for the Mini. The Maxi isn't much taller, as bamboo says, but I've had a good look at it and it is much heavier and more 'chunky'. The Mini is so light and easy to manoeuvre.

My tall 5 and a half year old dd still uses her Mini every day - she's had it since she was 3 but has only really become totally confident on it in the past year or so. I was thinking of getting a Maxi for Christmas but she is so brilliant on the Mini I think we'll hold off and maybe get a Maxi for her birthday in the summer if she's grown again by then.

Plus the Maxi is so flipping expensive!

Tricky one.

DS1 is 5 and has a new maxi-micro (with the ball top). He alternates between that and his mini micro. We got him it when he was about 4 and a half.

DD is 7 and has a maxi micro.

You're right that there isn't much of a difference between heights when the maxi is on lowest setting. They are heavier though. Not significantly, but I do wonder whether ds1 still retains a fondness for the mini micro because he finds it lighter to manoeuvre.

However, about half of the reception children in DS1's class (so all aged between just 5 and 4 and a half) scooter to school, and ALL have the micro scooters. I'd say about 75% of them have the maxi-micro version rather than the mini-micro ones.

Anyway - after all that (!) I think I'd go for the maxi for reasons of longevity of use. If she hasn't had one before, then she won't hanker after the lighter mini one.

Another advantage of the maxi is that you can have a go on it yourself when DD isn't looking.

Can she use a scooter well already? DS could as he had his mini from 2nd birthday and when it broke when he was just over 4 we got him the maxi, which although he was a bit too small for, he was thrilled with and it will definitely last longer.

If she can't use a scooter yet then a mini will be better to get used to. I think most parents would agree they get amazing value for money out of these types of scooters even though they seem expensive when you first buy them. If she takes to the mini you should still get at least a year's good use out if it and it could also be handed on perhaps?

Hi there thanks for the advice. Think I will go for the Maxi even though it's more expensive she will get a lot longer out of it.

Although they're about 50 quid new, decent condition Mini Micros can go for around £30 2nd-hand on ebay, so as long as junior is told that it's not to be used for hammering tent-pegs into the ground or left behind the wheels of M&D's car, you should be able to recoup around a third of the price of a Maxi.
Although about the same height, (at Maxi's lowest handlebar setting) the Maxi is a good deal heavier (2.5 kilos as opposed to 1.5) because of slightly larger board, extra metal tubing for telescopically-adjustable bars, and a much larger rear brake to stop a heavier, faster, and more daring child. So if a small child is on a Maxi and their friends are all on Minis, the kid will soon realise that they're being outrun, outmanoeuvred, and are having to work harder too; so prepare for complaints!