Parents told to stand firm over illegal electric scooters

Parents should stand firm when children ask for illegal electric scooters, DR reports. Some scooters can travel well above the legal limit of 20 kilometres per hour, children must be at least 15 to use them alone, and an accident could result in a substantial compensation claim.

Several police districts say illegal electric scooters are increasingly popular and that they are seizing more of them from children and teenagers.

Mother says parents must trust their judgement

Stine Mannik from Gjerlev is the mother of 14-year-old Julius, who previously had an electric scooter capable of travelling faster than permitted. She initially allowed him to buy it, but began to feel uneasy after he started riding it.

“I spoke to him about how we needed to find another solution. At first he became very upset, but the next day he came to me and said he did not want to make me upset,” Mannik said.

Her advice to other parents is to trust their instincts and remember their responsibility.

“We have knowledge that our children do not have. I think it is important to stand by your decision, especially when it concerns something that could cost our children their lives,” she said.

Despite several conversations between mother and son, Julius recently bought another scooter, this time one capable of travelling up to 70 kilometres per hour.

Mannik had another serious conversation with him and said she may not have made her position clear enough the first time.

“This time I had to make it clear that as long as you live under my roof, you are not going to ride a scooter. He understood that,” she said.

The scooter was put up for sale before Julius had even unpacked it.

Psychologist says parents should not negotiate

Julie Bek, a psychologist at Børns Vilkår, advises parents on difficult conversations with their children. She said discussions about illegal electric scooters are similar to conversations about alcohol, social media and gambling.

The most important thing is not to turn the discussion into a negotiation, she said.

“Children should not feel that they have to convince you that it is acceptable to get a scooter. You must stand firm that there are rules, and that it is your responsibility to ensure that the child follows them,” Bek said.

If a child becomes angry or upset, parents should not doubt that they have made the right decision, she said. Children need to learn that they can be disappointed and upset but still move on, and that their emotions should not determine their parents’ decisions.