Do you have a 6-10 year old that's completely set on skateboarding? Or perhaps it's mum or dad that's set on it... either way, if you're keen to give them the right start then Santa Cruz skateboards have got you covered with this Mini Screaming Hand.
A great example of a classic brand still doing things right, 50 years on from their beginnings - this Santa Cruz kids range has got every age covered, and not just by making decks a bit shorter!
The Mini is the third-smallest option in the lineup at 30" x 7.75" - easy to handle for little legs, whilst offering a comfortable platform to keep the confidence high whilst learning.
But that's not all - it also has significantly softer bushings than your standard skateboard. In short, this means that even with their low weight your child will be able to turn this board: the most fundamental skill in skateboarding and the precursor to every trick in the book!
There aren't many brands thinking on this level and normally we offer to do the personalisation for you - we're stoked that in this case we don't have to, and that Santa Cruz are getting the little ones off to the best start possible.
The wheels on this setup are also softer than your standard skateboard wheel. Softer wheels roll much better on tarmac than harder ones (which excel on perfect concrete or wood) - so you can take the first steps comfortably on the driveway, outside the house, or down at the local park n ride on a Sunday. No pressure to get into the skatepark right away, but they'll work just fine there once you get there.
One thing that may be obvious is that this really is a skateboard, designed for skating street and skateparks, learning tricks. If you think that cruising the neighbourhood or bike path, pushing to school and carving down hills is more what you're after then we'd recommend getting started on a cruiser board instead. It has softer wheels still, and places more emphasis on the fun of rolling around than on learning technical tricks.
The Santa Cruz Mini is a proper bit of kit - this toy is not just a toy! If you're keen for them to enjoy themselves on a skateboard then we highly recommend giving this one some thought. Start them off right, and they'll never stop...