Guide to Buy Battery Powered
Ride On Toys

Since battery powered ride on toys are expensive, you have to decide carefully whether your child needs it or not. I personally think that these toys are fun but not crucial. In fact, I prefer pedal toys to motorized riding toys. In order to make your own decision, here are the comparison between pedal toys and battery powered ride on toys. The choice is yours:

Motorized ride on toys:
1. Expensive.
2. One or two speeds, forward and reverse functions.
3. Automatic brake.
4. Need recharging regularly.
5. The toys closely resemble to the real life objects, so your child will be able to imitate adults in particular setting, for instance: pretending to go to work in a car, pretending to go shopping in a car, and so on.
• Pedal toys:
  1. Less expensive.
  2. Do not need battery, so it can be used anytime.
  3. Provide your child with energy outlet. So it's useful for a fun physical exercise.
  4. No automatic brake.
  5. Any speed, but there is no reverse functions.

There are mainly two kinds of battery operated ride on toys for young children:

• 6V ride on toys.
  The 6V riding toys are good for preschoolers (3-5 years old). These toys only have one speed, i.e. 2.5 mph for both forward and reverse and are only suitable for hard flat surfaces or indoors. For older kids who need more power and speed, the 12V ride on toys will fit the bill.
• 12V riding toys.
  The 12V battery powered ride on toys have two speeds that will travel at an average of 2.5 and 5 mph forward, and 2.5 mph reverse.These toys are suitable for a variety of surfaces including low grass and small hills. But be sensible and don't let your kids use them continuously on non-hard surface with too many obstacles.

Battery powered ride on toys come in a variety of different forms. You can get a battery powered tractor, battery operated cars, or plane. Radio Flyer and John Deere are the makers of such ride on toys. Shop around and see which one sparks the delight on your children's eyes before you buy one.

Driver education

After you buy a motorized riding toy for your child, you need to teach your little one to drive her battery operated ride on toy a couple of times until she masters it. The followings are instruction you can give while teaching your child how to drive her new electric ride on toys.

• Start by letting her know about safe driving. Teach her to buckle up (if the ride on toy has a safety seat belt), wear the helmet and let her know where she can or cannot take her new battery powered ride on toy. If the toy has adjustable seats, adjust it so that your child can drive comfortably.
• If the toy has two speeds, lock the high speed. Then explain that the brakes are automatic which means that when she removes the foot from the accelerator, the toy will stop.
• Ask your child to step on the accelerator and ask her to move towards you. Be close to her until she gets her confidence in driving. Ask her to turn right, left and make a circle. Practice go and stop and also don't forget to show her how to do the reverse.
• For more fun, you can add more obstacles and ask her to manouvre her way to avoid those obstacles.
• Don't raise the voice if your child hits something by accident. Like other things in life, you can expect trial and error from driving. Give your child encouragement if you see frustration.
• If your child's ride on toy has a higher speed option, explain to your child that she can use it after she's comfortable in manouvering the vehicle.
• At the end of the day, ask your new driver to park the battery operated ride on toy in a designated place.

And for parents, don't forget to check on the battery once your child finishes playing with it. If it needs recharging, hook up the battery powered ride on toys to the charger. You don't want any dissappointment the next day, do you ?

Have a safe and fun driving!

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Related articles:

Riding toys buying guide

Ride-on-toys by age:

• Toddler riding toys buying guide
• Guide to choose child ride-on toys for preschooler (3-5 years)
• Guide to buy kid ride-on toys for school-aged children and preteens (6-12 years).

Ride-on toys by type:

• How to choose pedal toys and guide on operating these toys
• Guide for buying rocking toys, including toy rocking horse