How to Choose the Right Skateboard for a Child ?
- Merlin Skateboards
- Dec 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Choosing a skateboard for a child is not just about picking a “mini” version of an adult board. For the experience to be fun, safe, and motivating, the equipment must be truly adapted to the child’s body type, age, and skill level. Here are the essential criteria to consider in order to make the right choice.
1 - A BOARD SIZE ADAPTED TO THE CHILD’S BODY TYPE
Board size is a fundamental factor. A board that is too long or too wide will be difficult for a child to control and can quickly lead to frustration.
For a child, it is recommended to choose a board that is:
shorter than an adult skateboard: 29" (73.6 cm) is a good choice,
with a width adapted to shoe size: 7.5" is generally suitable,
easy to maneuver at low speed: a wheelbase (distance between the two trucks) of around 13" is a good compromise between stability and maneuverability.
A well-sized board allows the child to position their feet correctly, turn more easily, and gain confidence quickly.
2 - WEIGHT: AN OFTEN UNDERESTIMATED CRITERION
The weight of the skateboard plays a decisive role in learning. A board that is too heavy quickly becomes a constraint: it is hard to carry, difficult to pick up after a fall, and less easy to control—especially for younger children.
A skateboard designed for children should therefore be:
lightweight,
easy to carry independently,
easy to handle from the very first pushes.
For this reason, it is preferable to choose a board made from 6 plies of Canadian maple, rather than the traditional 7-ply construction used for adult skateboards. This reduces the average deck weight from around 1.3–1.5 kg for an adult board to approximately 900 g to 1 kg for a children’s board. The components are also adapted: narrower trucks and sometimes slightly smaller wheels further reduce the total weight without compromising performance.
Choosing a 6-ply construction does not mean sacrificing strength. The design is specifically intended to maintain a good balance between durability and resistance. In addition, a child’s lighter body weight naturally limits the stress applied to the board.
A lighter skateboard promotes independence, confidence, and riding enjoyment—essential elements to motivate a child to progress and keep practicing.
3 - STABILITY AND MANEUVERABILITY FOR CONFIDENT BEGINNINGS
During the first sessions, a child’s main goal is to find and control their balance. A stable, properly set-up, and well-balanced board is essential to allow safe and confident progression.
For beginners, it is best to prioritize:
good stability at low speed,
sufficient maneuverability to turn without effort,
a forgiving ride that tolerates the small mistakes inevitable at the beginning.
These qualities result directly from the choices mentioned earlier: appropriate dimensions, controlled weight, and consistent components. It is also important to note that it is unnecessary—and even counterproductive—to equip a children’s skateboard with high-end bearings. A child must first learn to ride at low speed, without being challenged by a board that is too fast. Good-quality mid-range bearings are therefore more than sufficient and far better suited for learning.
A well-balanced setup allows the child to gradually develop coordination, balance, and control, while riding without fear.
4. A SKATEBOARD DESIGNED FOR LEARNING, NOT A TOY
Not all children’s skateboards are created equal. Some entry-level models are often too heavy, too stiff, or equipped with unsuitable components, which can quickly hinder learning and reduce enjoyment.
A good children’s skateboard must be:
robust, to withstand regular use,
carefully assembled, with consistent components,
designed as a real skateboard, not merely as a scaled-down toy.
Build quality has a direct impact on the board’s durability and riding comfort. It is therefore important to avoid skateboards labeled “for children” solely because they are smaller. Likewise, beware of boards chosen only for their appearance: an attractive graphic can sometimes hide poor manufacturing quality.
It is better to choose a truly high-quality board designed specifically for children, ideally made in France. Relying on the expertise of a shaper helps meet these requirements for quality and adaptation, while also benefiting from real follow-up and supporting the local economy.
5. WHICH SKATEBOARD FOR WHICH AGE?
Although there is no universal rule, age remains a good indicator when choosing a suitable skateboard for a child.
In general:
from age 5, a child can start skateboarding with a board specifically designed for them,
up to around 10–12 years old, a children’s skateboard is usually more appropriate than an adult model,
after that, the transition to a classic adult format happens gradually, depending on the child’s height, weight, and skill level.
The key is to choose an evolutive board that can accompany the child for several years. From this perspective, a board around 29 inches long, 7.5 inches wide, with a 13-inch wheelbase, built from 6 plies of Canadian maple, is perfectly suited for children aged 5 to 12—and in many cases even from 3 to 14, depending on body type.
Only when the child approaches an adult physique or commits to more intensive practice (club lessons, regular training, competition) does this choice need to be refined, ideally with advice from a skate instructor or specialist.
6. COMPLETE SKATEBOARD OR CUSTOM ASSEMBLY ?
For a child, it is strongly recommended to choose a complete skateboard. This option offers several advantages:
a coherent setup, with components that work well together,
adjustments suited to the child’s size and level,
immediate use, without requiring technical knowledge.
It is also a simpler and more reassuring choice for parents. Later on, the board can always be upgraded as the child progresses: faster bearings for more speed, harder or softer wheels depending on terrain and riding style.
CONCLUSION
Choosing the right skateboard for a child is above all about finding the right balance between appropriate dimensions, controlled weight, stability, build quality, and riding enjoyment. A board truly designed for learning allows the child to progress gradually and confidently, while developing balance, coordination, and independence.
It is with this philosophy that The Little Rider by Merlin Skateboards was designed. By bringing together all the criteria discussed—adapted format, lightweight 6-ply construction, consistent components, and French artisanal manufacturing—it naturally stands out as an ideal board for children aged 5 to 12. A skateboard created to support young riders through their first years of practice, before a smooth transition to an adult-sized board.
Discover the full range of children’s skateboards developed by Merlin Skateboards by clicking the following link: children’s skateboard range.
