| Young children absolutely love ride-on toys. As soon | | | | My personal favorites in this line are the vintage look |
| as they're able to master the coordination required to | | | | car pedal toys. The ™65 Ford Mustang in dark |
| make them go via foot to floor power, to pedal them, | | | | blue or bright red; the ™65 Ford Shelby GT-350; |
| or to negotiate the steering and foot pedal on battery | | | | the 1932 Ford Roadster - either in pink, red, or in black |
| powered ride on toys, they're off and running - err, | | | | with flames; and the 1932 tow truck, fire truck, or police |
| driving, that is. | | | | car all look incredible, and any parent who is a fan of |
| They can't get enough of them. Ride-on toys are like a | | | | vintage cars or antiques will want one of these for |
| ticket to independence for toddlers, and since many | | | | their child. Of the entire line, the American Retro Limited |
| also look like or mimic the vehicles adults drives, they | | | | Edition Burgundy Roadster impressed me the most |
| love to pretend they're "driving" just like mom and dad. | | | | with its appearance. |
| Floor to Foot Power | | | | Battery Operated |
| There are such a variety of ride-on toys these days | | | | And finally, after a child has reached 3 years of age, |
| that it can be hard to decide what to choose. Certainly, | | | | you may want to consider a battery powered ride-on |
| for very young children, like toddlers, a foot to floor | | | | toy. It's important, however, that these in particular be |
| ride-on toy is the best option. Toddlers can have a car | | | | operated only with adult supervision and that your child |
| all their own and become mobile via their own foot to | | | | has the skills necessary to comprehend the effects of |
| floor power, so you don't have to worry they'll go too | | | | moving the steering wheel a particular way and the |
| fast or injure themselves. There are blue foot to floor | | | | stop and go foot pedal mechanism before you let |
| ride-on cars for boys, pink for girls, and even princess | | | | them get on one of these. Chances are, if your child |
| cars and ambulances, but my personal favorite is the | | | | has had one of the pedal versions, he or she will have |
| adorable airplane. There are even foot to floor ride-on | | | | a good grasp of steering already and then you just |
| toys that look like a mouse, a dump truck, and a | | | | need to explain the foot pedal. |
| hummer. | | | | The variety of battery operated ride-on toys is just as |
| Pedal Power | | | | extensive as the pedal powered ride-ons. You can |
| As the child becomes more coordinated and learns to | | | | choose from many styles of cars, trucks, motorcycle, |
| pedal, three wheel ride-on toys like traditional tricycles | | | | crotch rockets, ATVs, go karts, Jeeps, race cars, and |
| or Big Wheels are the perfect next step. But there are | | | | dune buggies. There are modern sports cars - like the |
| lots more pedal ride-on options, as well - airplanes, red | | | | Jaguar, Ferrari, Porsche, and many more - as well as a |
| and green tractors, forklifts, construction loaders, | | | | classic car and even a baby "bug" (i.e., Volkswagen |
| tractors with front loaders, dump trucks, front loaders, | | | | Beatle). |
| and even farm tractors with trailers to haul dolls or | | | | Obviously, the battery operated models are also going |
| blocks or dirt or whatever suits their fancy at the time. | | | | to be the most expensive, but if you watch for sales, |
| There are also some very stylin' pedal automobiles - | | | | you can save a bit on these, too. If you're looking for |
| like the Mercedes, red Ferrari, and red BMW | | | | one really great gift for your child this year, a ride-on |
| convertible and an entire line of sports team themed | | | | toy makes a fabulous birthday or Christmas present |
| pedal cars. | | | | he or she will never forget! |