Is Your Child Ready for A Ride On Toy?

Is your child ready for a ride-on toy? And if so, what type should you buy? There are a lot of pint sized vehicles available to choose from. Most fall into one of two categories—battery powered and kid-powered. Battery powered ride on toys are just what they sound like—toys that your child will ride in or on, that move via battery power. Kid powered toys range from pedal cars to bicycles, and your child has to pedal, push, or rock to make them go.

When you feel that your child is ready for a ride-on toy there are a few things to consider:

- The age of the child: Typically the right age to begin looking at battery powered ride on toys is around toddler age. Assuming there is adult supervision, kid powered ride-on-toys can be given at a fairly young age, and can promote mobility and walking in young children. The youngest riders will probably enjoy a simple foot powered form of transport, one they can simply sit on and propel forward with their feet.

- Room to grow: Look for adjustable seats and pedals. Toddlers grow very quickly, and a toy that is adjustable for size or difficulty will last a much longer time. Look for durable construction and materials—kids can be hard on any toys, and ride-on vehicles generally have some moving, working parts that could be damaged with rough play.

- Portability: As strange as it may sound, you want to find a toy that can be easily folded. Ride-on-toys can be very bulky and hard to transport. This can prove to be an issue on outings such as picnics or days at the park, and you can be sure your child will want to bring it along. Keep portability in mind when you buy, and you'll save yourself a great deal of stress later. This also helps with storage if you do not have a large amount of garage space!

- Take a test drive: Even though you may be looking at making the ride-on toy a surprise for your child, when choosing one it is best to bring them along. The reason for this is that the feel, style, and drivability may vary depending on the type of ride-on toy you are looking for. Let your child take a test drive—or at least test out a friend's vehicle before buying.

- Ride Safely: Once you have the toy the important thing to do is to go over boundaries with your child. Let them know where they can and cannot drive the toy and what the range is. Make helmet use mandatory, and be sure that your child's helmet fits properly. Stress that ride-on toys are not for the street, and that they will need to make way for pedestrians.

Keep the above tips in mind, and shop with care to choose a ride-on toy that is strong, safe, and appropriate for your child.


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Denise Sanger is the owner of NewCoolToysOnline.com which features a great selection of ride-on toys and outdoor toys for kids of all ages. The company may be reached at 877/950-7665.