The only thing consistent about my son’s interest in toys over the years has been the inconsistency. His preferences changed every few months for the first year of life. Now that he’s a toddler and not a baby, I can pretty much sum up his favorite type of toy in one word: cars. Anything with wheels strikes his little two-year-old fancy. Luckily, there are many products that meet this requirement. Toddler boys love things they can push around and ride on, so cars are really the perfect toy for this stage. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and styles. No matter what your price range, there’s something for you.
Little Tikes Push & Ride Racer
This toy is $24.99 new. It has black wheels, a red handle bar, a blue body, and a yellow handle in the back. Your child can push this toy from behind or sit and ride on it. Your child will propel it by kicking off with his feet. I purchased my son’s at a garage sale for only $5. He’s had it for over a year and still plays with it every day. If you have a little girl, there’s the Little Tikes Doll Walker in more classic feminine colors.
Little Tikes Cozy Coupe
These will run you $49.99 new. This is an actual car with a red body and yellow roof. Your child will enter through a door that opens and closes. It has a steering wheel and horn, as well as a little bit of trunk space. There’s a real gas cap, and Little Tikes also sells gas pumps to go along with the car. Your child will move it by sitting it in and moving his feet as if he were walking. I’ve always called it “the Flintstones car.” If you want to pay extra you can get the red and white Ride & Rescue cop car for $59.99. For little girls, there’s the purple and pink Princess or yellow and green Dora the Explorer editions. I purchased my son’s at the flea market for only $20. It is another toy that he plays with every single day.
There are a lot of different brands of matchbox cars. No matter what brand you buy, you won’t pay more than a dollar per car. Over the months my son has collected vans, jeeps, SUVs, trucks, sports cars, even a motorcycle and helicopter. We keep them in a little bucket that he dumps out several times a day. They are fun in the car and on airplanes, because your son can drive them all over the seats. They are small, so they fit in pockets, purses, and are great for on-the-go. They are easy to lose but inexpensive to replace. You can also buy racecar tracks to go along with them. If you don’t want them all over your house, buy a rug that is decorated with roads and parking spots that your son can drive his cars on.
This plastic little red wagon is a lot of fun to push, pull, and ride in. It sells for about $70 new. My son received his as a birthday gift from his biological maternal grandmother. He couldn’t wait to get the wheels on it and start playing with it! My son hates being confined to a stroller, but he loves riding in his wagon. There are two seats so two kids can sit facing each other, and it even has seatbelts. The seats fold down to convert it back to a regular wagon. It has a long handle for mom’s comfort, which locks into place, so you can push or pull it.
Train Sets
The Thomas the Tank Engine train set is very expensive, but Wal-mart has a set that’s much more affordable. My son loves putting together and taking apart his wooden train tracks, connecting train cars of various types together, and driving them all over the tracks–and house. You can buy a train table to go along with your tracks and trains. If you can afford Thomas the Tank Engine, they offer a larger variety of train cars and track attachments. I’m not so well-endowed, so I purchased the $15 kit from Wal-mart!
These electric cars go when you push a button or pedal. Some have a reverse mode. Your son can feel like a big boy with his very own real car that goes just like mommy’s and daddy’s cars do. They will usually run you a hundred dollars or more, even if you buy second-hand. The nicer cars, like the mini Cadillac Escalade, can cost $300! There are even some that seat two people. I managed to find a little Spiderman quad for $65 at Wal-mart. It’s like a mini four wheeler. My son loves driving it around in the house and outside. All I have to do is charge the battery a few times a week. My son’s car should last him at least another year, and then I’ll have to buy him a larger one with more power!
Cars Merchandise
You’d have to have been on a deserted island the past year or so not to know about the hit movie Cars. It has inspired a lot of merchandise that will just tickle your car-loving kid. If your child likes cars, not only will he enjoy the movie but also the merchandise. From little toddler chairs to bedding sets, there’s enough Cars movie stuff out there to please any kid.
Cars come in all kinds of designs. My son has a hydraulic car that bounces up and down, goes on its own, and plays music. He has a pair of twin monster trucks that talk when you press a button. He’s got one made entirely of rubber that revs up and has lights. Dump trucks, fire trucks–there’s a whole world of cars out there! These are the things, though, that my son never gets tired of. I’m sure they will entertain your little boy just as much!
