Like many of you parents, I wanted to purchase the best first scooter for my little kids when they were old enough, but was overwhelmed by all the choices in the stores. But after reading a review of the Micro Kickboard Mini Micro scooter by our associate editor Christina ages ago, I purchased them for my own kids back in 2010. They even still have the pink and orange scooters I bought after they had outgrown the trikes and toddler bikes that kept them limited to our driveway. The second they hopped on these scooters, I was amazed at how quickly they could ride.

So of course, now I’m thrilled to be working with Micro Kickboard as a sponsor, since it’s a brand that’s done so many great things for so many of our kids for years now.

(Seriously, check out this video of my two-year old flying on her scooter a few years ago. Sniff. How she’s grown.)

CMP is an rstyle affiliate

Fast forward to today and I’ve got four kids now — 10, 7, 6, and 4 — all of whom ride like pros. My older ones are now on the two-wheeled Micro Sprite Kickboard, and my little ones on upgraded versions of their old Mini Deluxe, an upgraded version of their old Mini Micro scooters, with their beloved old ones still in rotation.

So if you’re looking for a first scooter for your child this holiday season, here’s why I’ve loved the Micro Kickboard scooters for my own children, and why I think they could be perfect for your kids too.

1. These scooters grow with your kids. 

Back when my children were toddlers, the Mini Micro 3-in-1 didn’t yet exist, though it would have been perfect for my youngest daughter–then just a year old–who was chomping at the bit to get on her brother and sisters’ bigger rides. This scooter gives your twelve-month-old a ride-on toy that can then be easily transformed into a regular scooter that’s great through about age five.

Considering we’ve had our Mini Micros for 4 years and counting, I’d say it’s a good bet that they’ll still be in terrific shape.

Even the bigger scooters, like the Maxi Micro and the Micro Sprite have adjustable handlebar height, which means my first grader and my fifth grader can ride the same scooter. You know, when they’re not fighting over it.

Lesson here: Get one for each kid if you can.

And recently, they’ve added some really cool teen and young adult models, which are awesome if you’ve got older kids who may prefer one to a bike or skateboard, but don’t want to look like they’re riding “little kid scooters.”

2. The colors! What a range!

These days, Micro Kickboard offers a huge suite of colors, including  limited edition combinations, seen above. They’re all bold and bright, with plenty of gender neutral options.  This makes it easy to hand your scooter down, which is something that’s important to me and my budget with four kids–and I guess reason number two-and-a-half.

But the huge range of colors also make the scooters so special because you can pretty much pick your kids’ favorite. And if your kids are like mine, they’ll be much more inclined to ride it if it’s just the right shade of aqua, orange, green, or coral.

3. Kids can actually steer their scooters. 

I’ve tried a lot of different scooters (and so have my kids), and I love that Micro Kickboard scooters are built to be ridden like skateboards or snowboards. You lean forward and backwards to cut turns, making them ridiculously easy to steer. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your kids will catch onto the concept, weaving in and out of obstacles in your driveway (our favorite pastime) or on city sidewalks for you urban dwellers.

This also means that if they do want to get into skateboarding or snowboarding, the concept of those turning techniques will be familiar.

4. The ride is smooth. As in, fewer skinned knees.

My kids have ridden these scooters on every kind of surface imaginable and their ride is always smooth. The special wheels are quiet and pretty much glide over everything–except for like a huge curb or some giant pothole of course–but you don’t need to worry about bumpy sidewalks or unevenly paved paths at the playground. I’ve found the Micro Kickboard scooters to be fabulous at handling any surface, even your kitchen floor. (Hooray for non-marking wheels.)

And hey, if you like to ride as a family, your kids will be able to keep up with you. In fact, they may even go faster than you. Check out my son up there. Speed demon!

5. You can assemble your scooter in under a minute. 

Who’s got time to assemble a scooter? Not me. You can pull these right out of the box, pop them together, and get riding.  With so many kids’ ride-ons that require a complex long instruction manual and tools, it’s such a pleasure to be able to just unbox and go.

6. Replacement parts and decks can make an old scooter feel new.

Perhaps what I love most about these scooters is that you can purchase any replacement parts from the company. So if a wheel gets worn down after years of heavy use, if you need new handlebar covers, or if you want to change your deck color (or make it larger for a big sibling), you can order everything from their repair department and do it yourself.

The color thing is actually a really big deal for me. Knowing that a scooter can be easily changed if your kid suddenly decides pink isn’t cool anymore, makes this a truly budget-friendly purchase.

In fact, you could potentially have the same scooter for lots of kids over many many years.

Now you see why I love them so much?

You can find  Micro Kickboard scooters for every age from our affiliate Amazon or your local indie toy shop.

Thanks to the awesome Micro Kickboard, also the sponsor of our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide where you’ll find loads of awesome holiday gift ideas for kids plus an amazing $800 giveaway. They kindly sent new scooters for my kids for this particular post. 

(Photos of Kristen’s children by Aaron Adler Photography)