Now that your children finally have their favorite power wheels, are you still worried about their safety? Naturally, as parents, that’s the first thought.
While it’s delightful to watch them happily zoom off on the porch or driveway, as parents, we’re often anxious about things taking a wrong turn. Although these toy vehicles have come a long way since they first surfaced, and manufacturers follow stringent guidelines to ensure high safety and protection, you can never be too careful.
That’s why to help put your mind at ease, we have listed some tips on how to make the ride enjoyable and accident-proof for children.
Without further ado, let’s get rolling.
Essential Power Wheels Maintenance
Before we get to the safety tips, it’s important to make sure that the power wheels are in the best shape. Perform the following checks regularly before letting your little one climb into the toy vehicle.
Battery
Check the charge on the battery from time to time and make it a point to recharge when the vehicle is running low on juice. However, recharging is not enough as you have to replace the battery when it’s finally depleted.
Wheels
If your child and his/her power wheels are inseparable, you should also supervise the condition of the wheels. Primarily because prolonged driving sessions, especially over uneven surfaces, can eventually loosen the wheels. Therefore, make sure that they’re perfectly inflated and not wobbly.
Malfunctioning Parts
You cannot expect children to drive their vehicles without hitting a thing or two. So it’s best to keep an eye out for malfunctioning parts that could come in the way of a joyful ride. However, refer to warranty information before replacing any part and get in touch with the company for suitable replacements.
Other than these precautionary measures, you can additionally take a look at power wheels maintenance tips on carsymphony.com.
Safety Measures You Should Take
Lock out the high speed
Your little first-timers do not need high-speed options – they need safety and fun. Many models come with a lock mechanism to help your child learn how to use this new technology without the ill-effects of excessive speed.
Foster good habits
If your child’s ride-on toy comes with safety belts, teach them to buckle up before each ride. Children learn by repeating actions and consistent monitoring; also, starting these habits early on will help create a lifetime of vehicle safety.
Adjust to each rider
If more than one child is riding on the vehicle, make sure to adjust the seats to a comfortable position for each child. This way, the driver will be able to easily reach the accelerator pedal and push it without trying too hard. Also, when you do this, the chances of jerking and bouncing are greatly minimized.
Know the toy parts
We cannot stress enough how important it is to familiarize your child with the toy. When you introduce the power wheels to your child, point out the steering wheel first and explain how to steer and move. Furthermore, teach them how the accelerator functions and mention other key parts.
Create a safe environment
Just like you’d care for your child in a regular car, you have to bear precautions in mind here as well. Before letting your child take off, make sure that he/she is headed onto friendly terrain. Allow them to ride on flat surfaces and remove obstacles that could turn into a crash hazard.
Watch out for trucks with the tailgate down, sharp bends, water bodies nearby, low branches, curbs, etc. Long story short, establish a protected area where your children can play without encountering any mishaps.
Guide your child
Toy safety does not end with undertaking a few precautionary steps. You should also be actively present while your child learns to control the vehicle. Help them out with instructions and watch them as they go on their first few rides.
Encourage them and cheer them as they slowly get the hang of it. This will not only help them control the acceleration better but also increase their confidence and hand-eye coordination.
Anticipate some bumps on the way
Your child can be nervous and excited about this adventure and newfound freedom. That’s completely normal, but you can help them focus, so they overcome their initial failures. Naturally, they can get caught up in the forward and reverse mechanisms or find it difficult to steer through narrow places.
Keep guiding them and let them explore the different settings on the vehicle. It won’t be a smooth drive from the beginning, but they’ll get there eventually.
Enjoy the journey
As we said, it may not be all great right from the beginning, but remember that this is supposed to be fun. Therefore, it’s important that you stay patient and be prepared to mention the same things multiple times until your child finally picks up.
Focus on the positives and the toy safety part while your child gradually learns the ins and outs of the power wheels.
Conclusion
Although several power wheels are designed to sustain on rugged terrain, never let your child drive over steep and uneven places. Also, do not leave them unsupervised under any circumstances as the toy can fail or malfunction, just like any other piece of equipment.
Besides, your child would prefer to have you in their sight while doing something advanced and potentially scary. On that note, we’ve come to the end of this guide, and we hope these tips come in handy.
That being said, let your child enjoy the thrill of power wheels while you can follow these measures to keep them joyful and safe.
Till next time, keep super-parenting!
