Looking for your child's first skateboard? This collection is built for beginners roughly 4 to 12 years old, not experienced riders chasing tricks. Whether it's a birthday gift or your child's been asking after watching friends at the skate park, you'll find shorter, lighter boards suited to smaller feet, plus the safety gear to match. Consider this your calm starting point.
Beginner Skateboards for Kids
A beginner kids skateboard is a different thing to a pro trick deck. Boards built for starters are shorter and lighter, with a narrower deck width that suits smaller feet and makes balancing a lot easier. Grip tape helps keep little feet planted while your child learns to push, turn and balance, so those first pushes feel steady instead of slippery.
Most childrens skateboard options here are complete setups. That means the deck, trucks, wheels and bearings come assembled and ready to ride, so you're not sourcing parts or building anything. Softer wheels are worth looking out for on skateboards for starters. They roll smoothly over cracks, footpaths and driveways, which is where most kids spend their first hours on a board. If you're looking for a skate board for kids who’re just starting out, a complete beginner board is usually the easiest place to begin.
Skateboards by Age and Size
Age is a useful starting point, but height and shoe size matter more. A quick guide:
- Ages 4 to 5 (toddler skateboard): deck around 6.5" to 7", often with a wider stance and sometimes a handle for confidence
- Ages 6 to 8: deck around 7" to 7.5", light enough to carry and easy to turn
- Ages 9 to 11: deck around 7.5" to 7.75", closer to a standard board as feet grow
The same sizing logic applies to a girls skateboard as any other board. Design and colour are personal choice, but deck length should match the rider, not the graphic. If you're browsing gifts more broadly, our toys for 6 to 8 year olds sit alongside this collection.
Skate Helmets and Safety Gear
A well-fitted helmet isn't optional for a first-time skater. It should sit level on the forehead, feel snug without pinching, and have a chin strap that your child can do up themselves. Pair that with knee pads and elbow pads. Wrist guards are genuinely worth adding too, because first falls tend to land on outstretched hands.
Buying the board and safety gear together means your child can ride safely from day. You'll find matching sets in our kids helmets and accessories, sized for the same age range as the boards on this page.
How to Choose Your Child's First Skateboard
Keep it simple. Match the deck length to your child's height and shoe size using the guide above, and stick with a beginner complete board rather than a trick deck. Trick boards have harder wheels and a stiffer feel that make learning harder, not easier.
Softer wheels (higher rebound, lower durometer) roll more smoothly and forgive rough footpaths. That's what most kids ride on first. A junior skateboard with a handle can help very young riders find their balance before graduating to a standard board.
If your child seems hesitant, some kids build confidence on wheels through kids scooters before moving to a skateboard. There's no rule that says one has to come before the other. And always pair the board with a helmet and pads from the first ride, not after the first tumble.
Shop Kids Skateboards at Toys R Us Australia
You'll find beginner-friendly boards, helmets and pads all in one place, with Australian delivery and click-and-collect available. Skateboards make a popular birthday gift, and if you're also weighing up bikes and riding toys, they sit within the same outdoor range. Take your time, size it right, and gear up together.
