subject: Choosing an electric toy car for your child [print this page] Choosing an electric toy car for your child
Choosing the right Ride on Toy' for your child!
The look on your child's face when they realise you've bought them (Santa's delivered them etc.) a shiny new ride on toy car is truly priceless! "Mum and Dad can drive a car and so can I"
It is never to early for your child to get a feel for how a car is controlled and how it moves, electric toy cars are not only incredible fun but teach your child motor skills which will stay with them for their entire life.
Safety is of course the number 1 concern for any parent. Shopping around for that quality ride on car is important, there are a lot of cheap imitations on the market which any concerned parent would be well advised to stay away from. Saving a few pounds might sound appealing but when your child hurts their leg on the pedal assembly or the chassis cracks and causes injury then that cheap deal seems just that, cheap!
My top 5 checklist for shopping for electric toy cars:
Where is this ride on toy being made?
Electric toy cars made under license from the major manufacturers are you best guarantee for safety and quality. These toys directly affect the manufacturers name; they really can't afford to get it wrong. The retail website/store should be displaying this information as a matter of course, if not move on, don't take the risk.
Is your child old enough for a ride on toy?
Children come in all different shapes and sizes! Age ranges can be misleading but do generally offer a good guide. If you consider your child to be old enough for this sort of toy but are unsure whether your kid will be able to reach the pedals etc. then ask your retailer, dimension information should be readily available.
Pedal, Electric 6v or Electric 12v?
This of course depends on your budget but there are other considerations also.
Where is your child going to drive their new toy? If you have a very large drive or plenty of hard surface land then the electric 12v might be ideal. If the toy car will be limited to house/small driveway use then maybe a pedal version will be more appropriate.
Speeds differ but as a rough guide, the 12v electric toy cars can reach speeds of 5mph (8km/h) whilst the 6v version reaches 3mph (5km/h).
Buying the pedal version!
Some pedal cars use a classic chain arrangement to propel the car forward. The chain could have the potential to injure your child or damage clothing, even when a chain guard is in place. Its worth considering looking for a pedal toy car which uses push pedals rather than rotary ones (chain assembly).
By alternately pushing the pedals, the child moves the car forward without using a chain.
Check the guarantee and after sales service!
No matter how well made a toy car is, at some point the after sales service will be tested! Are you offered a guarantee with your purchase, what exactly does this cover? Can the wing mirror be replaced, what about those unwanted scratches and dents? Your retailer should have the answers for you!
It really pays to shop around for these specialised toys. Start your search early and ask the retailers about anything you are not sure about! How they reply to your question and how long it took could be a very good indication on what their future customer service is going to be like.
For more information on Kids Electric Toys, please visit http://www.regaltoys.co.uk
