Ready, steady, go!
When your little one transitions from being a cute baby to becoming a boisterous toddler always on the move, you will need the best ride-on toys that develop their motor skills and overall physical and mental development.
Both fun and useful, the best ride-on toys are a great choice for kids who love moving and running around, and great for parents who want to burn up their children’s excess energy!
If you have started shopping for the best ride-on toys, you will have seen the many choices in types, colors, models and makes. Too many to choose from?
No worries – we have some great tips to help you choose the best ride-on toy for your toddler.
Categories for the Best Ride-on Toys
Age
If your child has learned to walk and appears quite confident, then ride-on toys can be a fun way to further help them develop their mental and motor skills.
Some basic ride-on toys are safe to use from the age of 18 months, provided that your child is already walking confidently. They can either ride them or push them, and can help encourage walking skills.
More sophisticated ride-on toys are available for kids aged 3 or older. These usually feature a pedal function, enabling faster movement without walking or pushing. They are a great way to introduce your little one to activities like riding a bike, which they will be able to master more quickly, due to safely learning on a toddler ride-on toy.
Outdoor vs Indoor
You might think that most of the best ride-on toys are only suitable for outdoor use, but you may be surprised to learn that, actually, a lot of them can be safely used indoors, too.
Naturally, you will need to have enough space available for your child to ride their toy safely.
Even though outdoor-friendly ride-on toys are usually made of sturdier and more weather-resistant materials, you will still need to store them somewhere safe and dry.
Price
Many parents are reluctant when it comes to buying a ride-on toy for their child, as they are cost-averse and worry the toys are expensive. The good news is this is not always the case! There are plenty of great, safe, and fun ride-on toys for all ages and budgets.
Ride-on toys for younger toddlers tend be cheaper, less-expensive ride-on toys. They feature less functions and are often meant for indoor use.
Ride-on toys for older children, on the other hand, can be slightly more expensive, because of additional features and functionalities, and their greater versatility and sturdier materials. Fortunately, we always have great deals at Aosom.com to help you stay within your budget!
Having said that, most ride-on toys start from around $50, which is an affordable price for such a fantastic toy that your child will love and use over and over again!
How Do I Select the Best Ride-on Toy for My Child?
Now that you know how ride-on toys are generally categorized, how do you go about finding one that is perfect for your child?
In this next section, we will go a bit more in-depth to guide you towards the right choice for your little one!
First things first: you need to consider how old your child is. As we have mentioned before, ride-on toys are generally suitable from the age of 18 months. Usually children at this age have learned how to walk and move around in a steadier and more confident way.
However, if your 18 month-old child is still not walking, or if they have only just started taking their first steps, you may need to wait a bit longer before buying them their first ride-on toy. Even if ride-on toys for 18-month-old kids do not always feature pedals, children still need to be able to safely control the direction and speed of the toy while getting out and about. Ensure ensure that they are always supervised by an adult, regardless of how confident they might seem!
From the age of two or three, the ride-on toy selection expands, as many more appropriate models for this level of development become available.
If you have an older toddler, you might want to gift them a more sophisticated ride-on toy with pedals and other functions that will make the whole experience more fun and challenging – while, of course, still staying safe and supervised.
Similarly, if you aim to let your little one play mostly outdoors, you will want to look for more durable materials and a sturdier construction, like this powered ride-on car
The good news is that most high-quality ride-on toys actually offer all these options at the same time, which makes them perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.
Selection tips for Children’s Ride-on Toys:
- Always wait for your little one to be able to walk and move around steadily and independently, before buying a ride-on toy.
- Remember that ride-on toys for younger toddlers are usually cheaper and feature fewer functionalities. On the other hand, ride-on toys for older children can be somewhat more expensive due to the addition of more sophisticated features.
- Always make sure your child is properly supervised while they are playing with their ride-on toy, regardless of how confident you think they are.
- Consider whether your child will be using their ride-on toy indoors or outdoors. While most of these toys are suitable to both uses, check the manufacturer specifications.
Are you ready to spark your little one’s imagination and support their healthy and happy development? Shop our giant inventory of ride-on toys today!