The best scooter for little kids? The one that's the best for big kids.

The best scooter for little kids? The one that's the best for big kids.
There is no question in my three-kid household that one of the favorites in our fleet of ride-on toys is the Mini Kick scooter. From the moment they could balance on the stable footrest, my kids were cruising the driveway and declaring it "best scooter ever." But now, even the youngest kids can fall in love with their own Mini Kick without having to wait until they are "scooter ready." And, even better, this Mini Kick is made grow with them, making it a toy they'll use for years. The all new Mini Micro 3-in-1 Scooter is basically the same Mini Kick scooter my kids know and love, but with a couple of new accessories that make it useable for kids as young as one year old. Just clip the O-Bar and Seat in place, and the Mini Micro 3-in-1 becomes a ride-on toy for kids up to 36 months (or 44 pounds, whichever comes first.) Toddlers can get used to the lean-to-steer wheels, and also get used to the push off and wheeeeeee across-the-floor feeling. This is one of the few ride-on toys I've let into my house in the winter since the wheels don't scratch the floor, so there's no need to wait until spring to get them rolling. Once their legs are stronger, remove the seat and let them grip the O-Bar while they get the hang of real scootering. The O-Bar is a little shorter than the traditional T-Bar, so they can feel more in control and have more grip with their little fingers. The final transition is when the O-Bar comes off and the regular T-Bar slides in its place. If you already own a Mini Kick scooter, you can just purchase the Mini-Seat and O-Bar accessory and pass it down to your younger kids. Or if you have your heart set on an orange or aqua scooter, grab whichever color you want and then purchase the additional seat accessory separately, instead of buying one of the complete sets which only come in pink or blue. Given how long our Mini Kick scooters have been in use, this could probably be passed on a couple of times...provided your older kids are willing to part with their beloved toy. -Christina Check out the Mini Micro 3-in-1 at Kickboard USA. Also find great prices on them online at Magic Beans

More in KidsView all picks →

Avenleur Climbing Wall

Avenlur climbing wall: An indoor adventure course for kids

A holiday gift that encourages active, adventurous play for kids • Described as a larger, more substantial Christmas gift • An indoor play space that brings playground energy into the home • Open-ended design encourages imaginative play in different scenarios

A Q&A with author Jamie Sumner about her new book Wish You Well

Q&A with middle grade author Jamie Sumner

Jamie Sumner is a best-selling middle grade author who often writes about the disability experience. • Wish You Well follows three kids who feign friendship to scam a wish-granting foundation.

shannon hale princess in black book and author

Q&A with children’s book author Shannon Hale

Shannon Hale is the bestselling author behind The Princess in Black series. It's a favorite early chapter book series for kids ages 5–8 and boys love it as much as girls do. Her newest book, Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble, comes out just in time for Halloween. We talked with her about it as part of our Q&A author series and asked about a few of her favorite things too.