Getting the perfect toy for your child makes a lot of difference. The toys your kids use at the early stages of development tend to make a huge impact on their emotional and physical growth. Playtime is important for kids but playing with the right toys is absolutely crucial.
Ride-on toys have been a source of entertainment for kids for ages. Electric ride-on toys are just an upgraded and modern version of the ride-on toys some of us grew up with. However, getting your child the perfect electric ride-on toy will require some research. We will save you the effort of looking through multiple websites to find the best electric ride-on toys for your kids.
History of Ride-On Toys
When it comes to children’s toys, ride-on toys have been around for a long time. Rocking wooden horses were a popular toy that many people will be aware of. However, in the 1960s the world of ride-on toys took a turn for the better. The simple manual rocking toys were now replaced with battery-powered ride-on toys.
In the 1960s, Peg-Pegero an Italian company came up with the concept of battery-powered ride-on toys that were modelled after automobiles. These toys gained popularity in the 1980s and still remain popular today among children everywhere.
Benefits of Ride-On Toys
It is important to encourage healthy habits during your child’s physical and mental development period. Ride-on toys can be very beneficial for your child’s physical, social, emotional and mental development. Here are a few benefits of ride-on toys:
- Improved motor skills: Whether it is a ride-on or electric ride-on toy, your child will be pushing, pulling or pedalling just like they would when using a kids’ bicycle. Moreover, they will be steering the toy. These actions will allow your child to improve and develop their motor skills.
- Increased physical activity: Most ride-on toys can be used outdoors which encourages your child to get out of the house. It is important to encourage outdoor activity for your child as it helps them develop social skills when mingling with other children. More importantly, it gets them out of the house and participating in activities outside the comfort of their home.
- Spatial awareness: When your child is old enough to ride their toy outdoors, it gives them the opportunity to learn a little more about their surroundings. Just a little exposure to the neighbourhood can make a big difference in how your child perceives the world around them.
- Sense of independence: Every child’s dream is to behave like an adult and there is no better way to give them that sense of control than with a ride-on car. The freedom of being able to steer and drive your own automobile as a kid can be very good for your child’s emotional and cognitive growth.
- Learning basic driving etiquette: While your child won’t be driving on the roads any time soon, you can create an environment where they can learn traffic rules while driving their ride-on toy.
Appropriate age for Electric Ride-on Toys
There is a huge variety of electric ride-on toys in the market to choose from. A good way to narrow down the options is by your child’s age. For kids between the age of 0-2 years old, we recommend staying away from electric ride-on toys. This is because at this age kids are vulnerable to falling off the toy and don’t have enough control over their own body movements. In such an early stage of development, it is better to avoid major falls. You can opt for ride-on toys that are remote-controlled or ride-on toys that are only meant for indoors.
Most electric ride-on toys are meant for kids above the age of 3. However, you still have to consider factors such as safety, durability, battery size and the number of motors, before buying the best electric ride-on toys for 4-year-olds, 8-year-olds and so on.
Best Electric Ride-On Toys For 3-5 Year-Olds
Always consider the age of your child before you look into other features of electric ride-on toys. At the age of 3, your child has developed motor skills that allow them to use electric ride-on toys with a 12V battery. A 12V battery is considered ideal for an electric ride-on car and can easily be handled by a child within the age group of 3-5 years old. However, you can consider getting a ride-on toy with a 6V battery if your child has a small build.
Another factor to consider would be the number of motors in the toy. Instead of a fuel-run engine, these ride-on toys work on battery-operated motors. For children between the age of 3-5 years old, a single-motor electric ride-on toy would be ideal.
Best Electric ride-on toys for 8-10 year-olds
For this age group, we would recommend going for a 12V to 24V battery. A larger battery means that the ride-on toy will go faster. This age group has well-developed motor skills and can easily handle a bit of speed on their ride-on toy. However, 24V batteries are large and would usually be found in big ride-on cars or on a ride-on toy that can accommodate more than one person.
Larger electric ride-on toys mean higher-end models, which also means that you need better functionality. Ride-on toys with a 24V battery would often need dual motors for a smoother ride. You can get an electric ride-on toy with dual motors to accommodate a kid weighing between 20-25 kg or two kids at once. The dual motors will allow for a smooth ride despite the weight.
Things To Consider Before Purchase
Along with a thorough look at the size of the battery and the number of motors in the electric ride-on toy, you need to consider a few more things.
Size and Safety
Just like any other children’s toys, safety should always be the top priority for these toys. Always make sure that the ride-on toy is easy to control and can be stopped by your child. The batteries of the toy should always be inaccessible to your child. Additionally, it is important to ensure that you buy the appropriate size so that your child’s feet can touch the ground when they’re seated on the toy.
Tip: You can opt for an electric ride-on toy with an adjustable seat allowing it to last longer even when your child grows a little.
Extra Support
Electric ride-on toys come in a variety of types, electric ride-on bikes being one of those. The design of a bike requires you to have perfect balance. However, this is not something you can expect your child to perfect. Just like tricycles or the support wheels on bicycles, always go for electric ride-on toys that provide enough support. Additionally, these ride-on toys should have a lower centre of gravity along with being extremely durable.
Different types of Ride-on toys
As mentioned before, there is a large variety of electric ride-on toys you can choose from. Once you have taken all factors mentioned above, we recommend having a conversation with your little one. It is important to take your child’s opinion when buying such a precious toy. Consider their preferences such as colours, characters they like, activities they would use the ride-on toy for and models.
Toy Diggers, Excavators & Tractors
Better known as construction ride-on toys, these vehicles are ideal for children who love a good old construction site. You can get your child an electric ride-on tractor toy as a way to recognise the farmers who regularly use tractors in Australia. On the other hand, you can opt for ride-on toy models of bulldozers, cranes, dump trucks or excavators. The best part of these ride-on toys is that your child can actually use the other attachments on the model. For example, an electric excavator would come with a mechanism allowing your child to use the scoop at the front of the vehicle. This also helps in improving hand-eye coordination.
Electric Toy Cars
These battery-powered miniature automobiles might be the most attractive ride-on toy for your child because these models might be the closest to your own car. Sports cars, SUVs, trucks and jeeps would be the models commonly found in this category.
Electric Go-Karts
Even as adults, we all enjoy go-karting. With these electric go-karts, you can give your children the opportunity to enjoy this activity under your supervision. If you are buying electric ride-on toys for more than one child then these go-karts are a great option. They are an excellent way of incorporating some healthy competition among your children.
Electric Ride-On Bikes
Let your child enjoy the speed and the feeling of riding a bike with these electric ride-on bikes. If you’re looking for some cool electric ride-on toys for your child then these bikes are your best option. Modelled after well-known bikes from brands such as Harley Davidson and BMW, these ride-on bikes will quickly become your child’s favourite toy.
Electric Quad Bikes
Just like real quad bikes, these electric quad bikes are equipped with foot pedals, handlebars and throttle that allow your child to control the vehicle with ease. These electric quad bikes can go off the road, so you can take these with you to the nearest park and let your child drive around the uneven surface.
Hoverboards
These are very popular among kids nowadays. However, hoverboards require some skill and a lot of balance which is why it is better to buy them for kids between the ages of 8-10 years old.
