Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Smart Scotting to school
Smart Scooting to school
More and more children are scooting to school and there are many benefits to children’s scooters. They are environmentally friendly and a fun way for kids to get to school with their parents, plus they can make the journey a little bit quicker than walking. Scooting to school can also help keep children fit and active without them realising, which in turn can contribute to their 1 hour a day recommended physical exercise.
NHS guidelines state that it is important that we encourage children to have at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity a day. Moderate activity could be walking to school, playing in a playground, skateboarding, rollerblading, walking the dog, cycling and of course scooting. Vigorous activity could be running, tennis and cycling up hill. More information can be found here
Scooting helps to develop confidence from an early age, it also helps to develop steering, stopping and balancing skills which will help children with their next mode of transport – cycling.
Some schools hold scooter training where they introduce scooter skills to pupils who regularly scoot to school. The training will often cover the importance of scooting safely and basic scooter maintenance checks. Check with your child’s school to find out if they are running or planning scooter training in the near future.
It is advised that scooters should not be used where they could cause a danger to the person riding them or others. Scooters are not allowed on roads although most scooter users use pavements and the legal position of riding a scooter on a pavement is still unclear. 
Safety Scooter tips
- Stay on the path/pavement
- Stop for people walking
- Go slowly around corners
- When crossing a drive way check for cars
- Get off the scooter when crossing a road
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RSPA) advice is to wear bright or fluorescent clothing during the day and reflective material in the dark. You may also want to consider protective clothing – a cycle helmet, knee and elbow pads. Cycle helmets are a really important piece of safety head wear, they can prevent minor head injury but it’s important to choose one that fits. Guidance on head wear can be found on the Department of Transport website