As a kid, you always wanted the biggest, the most colourful and the most realistic toy car or bike you could get your hands on. One of the holy grails of childhood was a toy race track similar to those you see in movies. Now that I’m a parent myself, I understand the appeal. There is something magical about watching your child get engrossed in a game of cars or bikes that they can control through simple, repetitive movements.
But is it real? Is the magic of these toy race tracks still there? As a parent and a huge car nut, I researched the answers to these questions and came up with a comprehensive list of everything to look out for when considering purchasing a toy track for your kids.
Features
The first thing to check is the features. Does it have physical features that are still there in real life? For example, have the cars moved since the 1960s when they were first produced? Do they still have that wooden appearance that gave them their charm in the first place? Are they made of materials that are more environmentally friendly? Does it come with small cars that can be used as ride-alongs or do you need to purchase them separately?
Every aspect of these toy race tracks has been painstakingly engineered to give a real-life experience. But, the question is: are kids still having fun with these toys? In other words, does it live up to the real thing?
Build Quality
The next step is to examine the actual quality of the product. Put yourself in the shoes of a kid – it’s hard to balance fun and educational values when you’re a parent, but you want to make sure that what you’re purchasing is high quality and built to last. When it comes to cars and bikes, nothing beats the real thing. So, does it feel like a real car or bike event when playing with it? Are the brakes and steering responsive?
Kids grow out of toys faster than you can blink, so the build quality of these products determines how much fun you’re gonna have with them. A well-crafted toy that still has the attention of a child within seconds of use is what you’re looking for here. If it doesn’t feel right, then it probably isn’t. And what’s more, poorly made items with cheap materials won’t last as long as those that are more carefully put together. So, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Fun
Last but not least, we come to the most important question – how much fun is it? This is measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being no fun at all and 10 being absolutely perfect. When it comes to toys, the perfect score is always a 9. You want your kids to have fun with this item, and you’ll have fun with it too once you get the hang of driving. So, what is the overall rating of this product?
If you’re looking for a durable, high-quality item that your kids can play with for years to come, then go for it. But if you’re planning on using it to simulate a real racing experience then make sure you check the quality beforehand and have some spare parts on hand in case something breaks down. Otherwise, it may end up being a chore rather than an experience.
Durability
As a parent, you’re also concerned about the durability of these products. Will they last a long time? How much maintenance does it require? These are all very important questions that you need to ask before spending hundreds of pounds on a single item. There are so many different types of toys that come with metal frames, springs and solenoids, all of which have different levels of durability. Some items are built more solidly than others, so you have to make sure you know how durable it is before you buy it.
Also, when shopping for long-lasting toys, make sure that the parts are easily accessible. It’s annoying to realize that you’re searching for a specific part and can’t find it because it’s buried underneath all the other stuff. So, make sure you have everything you need before you start using the product.
Cost
Last but not least, we have the cost. Is it worth the price you’re paying? Even when times are good, prices fluctuate on items like this, so it’s worth knowing what you’re buying. If you want to buy high-quality items that will last your kids years of use, then you’ll have to pay for it. But if you want to have some fun with your children for a few hours, then this is the item for you.
As a parent who loves cars and bikes, it was really hard to decide what was important and what wasn’t. It’s not that I didn’t want my kids to have fun with these toys, but rather that I wanted to ensure that they had as much fun as possible while learning about cars and bikes. As a result, I crafted a complete list of important things to consider before buying a toy track for your kids.