#wheelie bug

Wheely Bugs

Description: These are without doubt the last word in ride-on technology. Simple design, stunning appearance and it’ll keep your toddler amused for hours. Our five-year-old still plays with hers, three years on. The Wheely Bugs come in a number of designs, including a bee, ladybird, mouse and cow. They are available in two sizes – small (6 months–2 years) and large (12 months–3 years).

Pros: The reason I feel the Wheely Bug is such an important toy is its 360-degree capability. A huge fault with many of the push along/ride-on toys is their insistence on regular wheels, either fixed with bolts or connected to an axle, limiting the child’s directional options and requiring a considerable amount of practice and a fundamental understanding of physics to master. Quite a lot to ask from a child under two, don’t you think? Throw in the concept of a steering wheel and the toy may prove to be more frustrating than fun. With the Wheely Bug castors, your child can decide to change direction without thought. The Bug will comply and the net result is that there are fewer nasty falls and tantrums.

Cons: The only problem we’ve experienced is one of the castors falling off after some serious usage. Easily remedied with a spanner.

What’s It All About? The Wheely Bug works best on smooth surfaces – tiles, lino, laminate floors. If you’re a deep shag sort of a household you might find they stick a bit on carpet. As well as being available from specialist toyshops you can find Wheely Bugs reasonably priced on eBay.

Description: Whether you choose a wild animal or a vehicle or even a children’s TV character design, ride-on toys are a fantastic way to give your toddler confidence in taking his first steps and will provide hours of entertainment once they are able to ride unassisted. The design you choose will no doubt be based on something your toddler really likes, or else it will have been be bought and given by a friend or family member as a present. Either way, you are now on track to giving your toddler a taste of independence. Whatever the cost, bear in mind that eventually, in the years to come, they’ll be asking for a set of wheels themselves and then you’ll be looking at buying a car – or having to let them use yours – along with insurance, car tax and a whole heap of lessons.

Pros: Assuming you are not too precious about your freshly painted skirting boards, ride-on toys are great fun. Initially kids like to push them around. For a few weeks there will be the painful process of watching Baby trying to cock a leg and mount the toy which invariably results in him toppling over in a mess of limbs, but perseverance is the key and before you know it, Junior is negotiating corners, obstacles and insisting he should ride through the magic tunnel – your straddled legs – for months, and months, and months. They love it. You might have another opinion.

Cons: The early days of ride-on toys will result in a number of spectacular headfirst dives over the steering wheel or handlebars. After a few weeks this will be replaced with the occasional mere sideways fall resulting in nothing more than a scrape or a bruise. After a few months – assuming you don’t allow your child to try riding down the staircase – you are home and dry. Getting to grips with steering is something we have all struggled with – my wife would say I still haven’t quite managed it, given the number of passenger door mirrors we’ve had to replace over the years – and your toddler will roar with frustration when the ride-on toy won’t do precisely what they want.

What’s it all about? The appearance of ride-on toys in the house spells the end of a truly tidy house. No longer can all evidence of little ones be hidden away in boxes and cupboards of an evening – although you can park the vehicle or vehicles in a corner of the room, there’s no getting away from the fact that your toddler is making his mark on the landscape of your home. Next stop, the art gallery on the kitchen wall – that’s if it’s not there already.