What age can children typically begin to operate powered mobility devices safely?

Children typically begin to operate powered mobility devices safely around 18 months of age. At this developmental stage, many children have reached significant milestones in gross motor skills, coordination, and cognitive understanding necessary for manipulating mobility devices effectively.

At 18 months, children are often able to grasp the concept of cause and effect, which is crucial for learning how to control a powered device. They can understand basic commands and exhibit the physical ability to control the speed and direction of the device to navigate their environment safely. This age also coincides with a phase where children's curiosity is heightened, encouraging exploration and engagement with their surroundings, which powered mobility devices facilitate.

Younger than this age, such as at 12 months, children typically lack the motor control and cognitive skills required to handle these devices safely. As children grow and develop between 18 months and 24 months, there's considerable variation in individual readiness based on physical and cognitive development. However, by 24 months, most children will have advanced in their skills but are often still refining their abilities to manage powered mobility effectively. Thus, 18 months is recognized as a more appropriate starting point for safely using powered mobility devices.