2012 Gift Guide - Ride-On Toys

Last year, I wrote my gift guide by ages.  This year, I'll be doing it by category.  Today, I'm starting with ride-on toys for children from babies to elementary-age.

Playskool Walk 'N Ride
Convertible push toys are great because they're multifunctional and can be used for a relatively long period of time.  I really like the Playskool Walk 'N Ride because it can entertain children from infancy up until 2-3 years of age.  Infants can play with the spinners, roll it back and forth, and open and close the door on the front.  Older babies can use it as a push toy to practice walking with support.  I like the fact that this particular toy allows a baby who is learning to walk to use a narrower base of support and does not extend so far backward that the child needs to lean too far forward to walk safely.  Young toddlers can use it as a ride-on toy to help with balance and lower extremity strengthening.  Both my 9-month-old and 3-year old enjoyed playing with it last year and my now 21-month-old still uses it frequently.  Our Walk 'N Ride stays indoors and has survived 3 very active boys.

Kiddi-O Smoovy
     The Smoovy is made by Kettler, so you know you're getting a good quality, sturdy toy.  The price can be a bit off-putting, but Kettler products last a very long time, so if you plan to use this with more than one child, it's a worthwhile investment.
      I like the Smoovy because it's sturdy and stable.  It's a great ride-on toy for toddlers because there is less risk of toppling, it rolls smoothly, and it was designed by Physical Therapists.

Pewi Ybike
The Pewi Ybike is another multi-functional ride-on toy.  Like the Walk 'N Ride, it can be used both as a push toy for beginning walkers and a ride-on toy for toddlers.  The caster wheels allows the Ybike to roll in any direction, so it will offer more of a challenge to beginning walkers as they need to control its direction.  As a ride-on toy, the caster wheels will allow kids to roll in any direction, challenging their balance and trunk control in several planes.  The narrow seat also allows children with impaired hip mobility to sit on the seat safely.

Wheely Bug

Like the Ybike, the Wheely Bug has caster wheels that allow it to roll in any direction.  It's also super-cute and comes in a bumblebee, ladybug, mouse, tiger, pig, and cow.  The seat is a bit wider, so it would provide a nice stretch for kids with tight hip abductors.  The Wheely Bug also comes in two sizes, so you can select what is most appropriate for your child.

PlasmaCar
Similar to the Roller-Racers of the '80s, the PlasmaCar relies on a turn of the handlebars to roll.  My kids love riding their friends' PlasmaCars because they provide a smooth ride on hard, level surfaces.  These are great for building trunk strength and balance as children control the direction by both steering and leaning.  These can get going pretty fast, so make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a PlasmaCar.  I have seen less-expensive versions of PlasmaCars, but am unsure of their quality.

Balance/Strider Bike

These are basically small bicycles with no pedals that allow children to practice balancing on two wheels with the security of being able to place their feet on the ground.  They are a bit expensive, but if you're handy, you can buy a small bike and remove the pedals while your child is learning to balance.

 

Weplay Pedal Walker

This is a fun toy for older kids that they can ride standing up.  As their balance and control improves, the handles can be removed to provide an additional challenge.