In the early 1900s, scooters were used by children as a vehicle which they propelled by pushing and then jumping up on the flat board to free-wheel until the scooter lost it's velocity. Then they would push it again, gain some speed and then ride it once more until there was the need to push it again. It was considered to be a great way to travel around quickly, was great fun and would beat walking at any time.

Even though there were small factories that manufactured children's scooters, most kids took pride in assembling their own scooters from discarded wooden boards, old handles and small wheels.

Even after all these years, the principle of operating a push scooter remains the same. They are run by the user standing on the board and pushing the scooter with one foot, while holding a small handle attached to the front wheels for steering. Push scooters don't have motors attached, so the speed of the scooter is limited by the speed at which the user can push it. While there is not much chance of the rider getting hurt because of high speeds, the speed can increase dramatically while going downhill. Therefore it is always recommended that the rider use protective gear such as a helmet and kneepads and follow the safety standards relating to the design of the scooter being used. Push scooters are still widely used by children for recreation or to commute short distances.

Nowadays, push scooters (also known as kick scooters) are made out of light metal and feature wheels fitted with ballbearings. Manufacturers produce models with innovative features and competitive pricing to capture as big a portion of the market as possible. With the wide variety available, selecting a scooter for your kids may be a difficult task. There are so many features to choose from including but not restricted to removable wheels, rubber tires on the wheels, reflectors, adjustable seats, chrome fenders and many, many more.

Scooters are usually sold through retail outlets, although not all makes and models will be available everywhere. You will also be able to purchase push scooters on the Internet. Department stores may stock some popular makes and models. Whatever type of scooter you decide to buy for your kids, always remember to comparison shop and make sure that the safety standards have been complied with by the manufacturer.