Safety Precautions for Riding Toys

Many parents often make the false assumption that a riding toy requires a safety gear to protect their toddler. On the contrary, riding toys require minimal or no safety gear at all because they are not built for fast speeds nor meant to travel long distances. The maximum speed that a pedal ride-on car can achieve depends on how well your child’s feet propel the toy and that takes place most often within the vicinity of your house. Nevertheless, there are several safety precautions to be taken seriously before allowing your child to ride on his/her riding toy.

Manufacturers put in a lot of effort and hard work to reduce the risk of wear and tear. Unfortunately, riding toys are subject to wear and tear just like any other mechanical system. Every time your kid goes for a ride make sure that you first check the dashboard, pedals, steering wheel and seat(s) for any exposed sharp edges as this may cause serious injuries.  These are the most frequently used parts and hence they are the most vulnerable ones for tear and wear. Moreover, in case any part gets disassembled or broken, then immediately fix it and if that is not possible then safely store the riding toy away from children to prevent any unnecessary accidents.

Always choose a safe playground for your children. Avoid playgrounds that are bumpy, rocky or muddy as ride-on toys are not meant for such terrains. An ideal choice would be a park as it has lots of playgrounds with flat terrains which provide a safe environment for your child. Never allow your children to play with their riding toys in a ‘hostile’ environment such as the street or near a swimming pool. Try not order your child about where he/she are allowed to play and where they are not allowed, rather try to motivate and encourage them to play in a safe environment such as the yard of your house or a side walk. If they fail to obey after been already warned, restrict them from playing until they realize the seriousness of the situation.

Avoid dressing your child in clothes that can get tangled with the riding toy. Choose clothes with button fasteners and shoes with Velcro fasteners or anything similar to that. Avoid shoelaces, ribbons and drawstrings…etc. as these get caught easily with the riding toy and can cause serious injuries.

Last but not least, there are several general precautions which must be kept in mind. First, make sure that your child is within the age bracket set by the manufacturer for that particular toy. Secondly, if the riding toy is a one seat toy then make sure that it is accommodated by one child only. Moreover, some riding toys come with adjustable seats; if so then adjust the seat so that the child’s feet can comfortably reach the ground. This could be a good chance to teach your children some fundamental traffic rules, such as not to bump into people, furniture or any other object.

Finally, following these rules ensures that your children obtain maximum fun in a safe environment and it also gives you peace of mind knowing that they are safe. This is supposed to be a fun activity that will give your children long term happy memories therefore, relax and enjoy it together.