There’s no doubt that scooting the school run is a great way to energise children to leave the early in the morning and to get their blood pumping ahead of a busy day at school. Driving near to schools can be a stressful experience and many parents find scooting to be a great way to start the day.
Did you know that scooting isn’t just about getting from A to B? Using a 3 wheel scooter or a 2 wheel scooter for journeys under a mile, builds upon some pretty important foundations that can set your child up for their day ahead.
Here we invited guest bloggers Micro Scooters, to explain how a simple scoot to school can help your child hit some all-important milestones (as well as fostering healthy habits that will last a lifetime).
Scooting doesn’t just empower children to travel from A to B under their own steam, it instills independence, boosts confidence and installs a positive ‘I can’ attitude, which are all pretty useful skills when it comes to tackling your education.
As if this wasn’t good enough, scooting on a Micro scooter helps to achieve some physical developmental milestones too, which are just as important for the classroom.
FIVE of these milestones include:
1. Core strength- strong tummy muscles will allow your child to sit still and concentrate for longer.
2. Coordination- strong muscular coordination will work wonders for PE, playing with friends and performing in drama classes.
3. Spatial awareness- experience of having to maneuver around obstacles will build a sense of personal space enabling children to move about without hurting themselves.
4. Reaction time- improving reaction time keeps children alert and connected to the task required.
5. Decision making involved in scooting can apply to other areas of life too. Is it a good time to go? What are the risks involved? Practice helps children become independent thinkers.
And last but not least, scooting is fantastic exercise. It burns energy and helps to clear the mind. Children who scoot to school arrive ready to learn.
Micro Scooters commissioned research with Brytespark- a team of experts in biomechanics and child development, who combined their knowledge with expert opinions from around the world. Brytespark confirmed that using scooters is a great way for children and parents to participate in deliberate play.
What is ‘Deliberate Play’?
When play is deliberate, it means that the parent actively engages their child in a game, with a clear aim: to assist in the physical development of the child.
Whilst the parent has a clear goal, the child is not aware of the intention. Meaning that infants are fully immersed in the positive experience rather than resistant to commands. Such games are specifically designed to not only help a child to achieve certain development milestones, but also to embed these skills. As a result, the child moves through their physical development stages more quickly and with more confidence.
What do you mean by developmental milestones?
Developmental milestones include all the things a child does for the first time, such as taking their first steps. Whilst all children develop at their own pace, not many parents realise that some infants are ready to scoot by the age of 18 months.
Some key developmental milestones at this age include:
Why does this matter?
Embedding and securing skills at each developmental milestone is very important as they give children confidence in their own physical ability. As a result, children can move with a better understanding of their bodies, their capabilities (and limitations) and therefore less likely to take unnecessary risks. Children also actively seek new physical experiences and will continue exercising and enjoying activities as they develop, instilling habits that last a lifetime.
Author: Vista, published 13-08-2024.
