I was letting my 4 year old pilot the sled, the 2 up, with me or her mom on it, did that for a while, then let her ride it on her own, got her a 440 cat when she was 11. I think a 120, cepending on child, 5 woild be fine. Kids are either gonna pin it, or be timid, either type of kid shoild be pretty safe on a lake on a 120.