The Best Ride-On Toys for Kids of All Ages
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
In this article
Ride-on toys span a huge swath of products, from a bouncy inflatable horse calledRodyand a horse on wheels called thePonycycletobalance bikes,scooters, and battery-powered ATVs, farm equipment, and luxury vehicles. The best ride-on toys for your family will depend on your budget (they can cost as little as $40 and as much as $700-plus), how old your kids are, and where you live. Some parents prefer lo-fi ride-ons powered by kids’ feet, Flintstones style, or a set of pedals; others delight in the joy a 12V miniature Lamborghini brings to their homes.
But according to occupational therapist andBrooklyn OTfounder Rachel Frizzell-Henige, “Anything that’s getting children to move and interact with their environment in a physical and tactile way is going to be good for their strength, their eye-hand coordination, and their imagination.” Ride-on toys help children develop gross motor skills like bilateral coordination (moving the left and right sides of the body in sync) and postural control, which helps with balance. These skills lay the foundations for all sorts of future activities like team sports, learning to drive a car, even tying a necktie. Just remember that, no matter which types of ride-ons you choose, children should wear ahelmetand any other relevant protective gear any time they are playing with a toy they could potentially fall off of.
To find the best ride-on toys for kids, I spoke to Frizzell-Henige, Toy Insider senior editor James Zahn, and Lucy Redfern of the U.K.-based toddler play groupRide-On Rascals. I also surveyed my fellow Strategist parents about the ride-on toys their kids have loved over the years and organized the resulting recommendations by age.
Babies and toddlers
For most children, the first ride-on toy they experience has four wheels and is stable enough for them to sit on and push themselves forward by scooting their feet. There are many that look like baby bicycles and just as many that are inspired byvintage roadstersor construction vehicles. Some even double as a baby walker.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Hape's wooden baby bike has soft wheels that won't mark your floors.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This excavator has a working (kid-operated) scoop.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Kids can use this little car as a ride-on and a walker.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The foot-powered Little Tikes Cozy Coupe has been around for decades and is appropriate for kids as young as a year old (it comes with a removable footboard so that parents can push kids who aren’t quite ready to propel the car by themselves). You can choose from a variety of fun characters like this Dinosaur,a ladybug, or aBlueygrannies car.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Very young kids love “driving” Step2’s smiley Push Around Buggy while being pushed by a parent, caregiver, or older sibling: The steering wheel turns, they can honk the soft squeaky horn, and there is even storage under the hood for a favorite stuffy. Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio has gifted it multiple times as a first-birthday present and says it was always a fought-over playground toy when her elder daughter was a toddler. Plus, the promise of getting to drive home makes it easier to convince a kid that it’s time to say good-bye to the swings and head out.
Tricycles introduce little kids to the concept of pedaling and steering while offering plenty of support via the two back wheels. My family received aRadio Flyer tricyclewith a detachable parent handlebar — a gift from my parents’ neighbors — when my son turned2 years old. It quickly became the first thing he wanted to play with when we visited Grandma and Grandpa’s house. TheDoona Liki Trikeis similar in that it also has a parent handlebar that can be removed as kids grow. It’s much more expensive, but it has extra features like a shade canopy that make it feel deluxe, plus it’s foldable and you can start using it earlier, with children as young as 10 months. I first noticed thisAngeles My Rider tandem trikeat a friend’s kid’s daycare and immediately googled it to find out more; I love the vintage look, and the sturdy, powder-coated steel frame will last for years and years.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This Radio Flyer trike comes with a bell and storage for special stones and other treasures.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This stroller-esque trike has a five-point harness, a shade canopy, and a kids' water bottle holder.
New! You can now save this product for later.
What toddler wouldn't want to ride on a tandem tricycle?
New! You can now save this product for later.
Kids will line up over and over again for a chance to zoom down the track of this toddler-size ride-on roller coaster. The steps on either side of the platform let kids as young as 2 get on the car all by themselves — and it is just as fun to ride on level ground for youngsters who aren’t yet ready for the roller-coaster experience.
The purpose of abalance bikeis to help children develop a sense of balance before attempting to ride a pedal bike, and over the last few of years, new models for children as young as 9 months old have hit the market. My son started riding theEarly Rider Bella Velioat around 18 months old; now, at3 years old, he has fully grasped the balance part and zips around on hisWoomwith his feet up in the air. My husband and I think he might be ready for a pedal bike (no training wheels!) in a matter of months.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Rody Horse
Rody is a classic bouncy ride-on toy that little kids love because of its friendly face and bulbous shape. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang says it’s a perfect gift for 2-year-olds who are mastering coordination and balance in their everyday lives as well as discovering the joy of jumping up and down.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Similarly, this adorable foam cow lets wobbly toddlers experiment with rocking back and forth without much risk. I love that it can be used in other ways, too, like as a lounger, a chair, or a play surface.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone has recommended this folding tricycle to me over and over again as a gift that grows with toddlers. “When my daughter was one she happily shuffled around on it, and by the time she was two she was barreling down hills at an alarming velocity,” she says. Malone also bought the Scuttlebug for her nephew’s first birthday. It’s incredibly light and fits in a tote bag when folded, making it easier than most ride-on toys to bring to the playground or even on vacation.
New! You can now save this product for later.
I included this 6V Minnie Mouse ride-on toy from Flybar in our guide to thebest gifts for 3-year-olds. It has a maximum speed of 1.5 miles per hour and a sidecar for dolls or stuffed animals.
We have been recommending Micro Kickboardscootersfor years, and I have heard from dozens of parents and kids about the brand’s superior quality and ease of use. They are so popular that children’s book authorBess Kalbdescribed them as standard issue if you have a kid in New York City. My son started ridinghis Micro Miniwhen he was 2.5 years old, and it’s still one of his favorite toys because of how fast he can go and how easily he can turn and stop using the rear foot brake. For even younger children, the brand also makes two convertible scooters: theMicro Mini Rock & Go, which transforms from a rocker with a parent handle to a mini-scooter, and theMicro Mini 3-in-1 Deluxe, which transforms from a scooter with a seat and a different handle to regular Micro Mini scooter.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The classic Micro Mini has adjustable handlebars and a rear foot brake that's easy for kids to use.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Six ways to ride for kids who start very young, including rocker with seat and scooter with seat.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This three-in-one variation comes with a removable seat and two types of handlebars.
4- and 5-year-olds
New! You can now save this product for later.
Nostalgic toys from the ’80s and ’90s are trendy right now, and lots of them are being rereleased, including the original Big Wheel Chopper that Toy Insider senior editor James Zahn recommends. It has an adjustable seat that can be moved back as kids grow and lowrider positioning that makes ripping down the sidewalk extra fun.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Wiggle Car Ride On Toy
Kids can power this wacky looking ride-on simply by turning the handles back and forth to create momentum. It’s become a favorite among the kids who attend regular car-themed play groups hosted by the Hampshire, England–based groupRide On Rascals. “Kids love the Wiggle Cars because they are easy to use and quite speedy,” says founder Lucy Redfern. Plus they can hold up to 110 pounds, making them fun for a wide range of ages.
New! You can now save this product for later.
If they’re too tall for the Wiggle Car, Radio Flyer’s Stingray is a good swap. It uses the same type of caster wheels that make it glide across pavement and other hard surfaces surprisingly fast. It can spin 360 degrees and drifts just by kids turning the handlebars and pumping their feet back and forth on the front axel. There is also a version calledthe Stingray Prothat has grips on the sides of the seat instead of handlebars.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For truly effortless spinning, racing, and foam-cushioned bumping, I suggest this battery-powered bumper car with real working head and tail lights from Flybar. It’s controlled by two joysticks that help kids practice bilateral coordination and provide amusement-park levels of fun without having to leave home or wait in line.
If you don’t want to encourage kids to bump into things, there are lots of other types of battery-operated ride-on toys. Trolio’s kids were gifted something similar to thisminiature Ford Broncoand loved riding in it until they couldn’t fit anymore. She says ages 4 and 5 were the sweet spot.Mini Vespasare another popular motorized ride-on toy that appeal to parents because of how adorable they are. But if you live somewhere with a big backyard, it’s hard to beat the charm and utility of aride-on tractor.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This beast can hold up to 132 pounds and go up to 4.35 miles per hour.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This mini-Vespa comes with removable training wheels, a working horn, and LED headlights.
New! You can now save this product for later.
A replica John Deere with FM radio, an adjustable seat, and two speeds.
6- and 7-year-olds
New! You can now save this product for later.
Years ago, I wrote about the growing popularity ofPonyCycle, a bike-size plush ride-on horse on wheels. And while it may not be the most talked-about toy anymore, it’s still one that kids and parents adore. To move the horse forward, kids pump their feet up and down on the stirrups. It can hold up to 88 pounds and now comes with a hand brake.
New! You can now save this product for later.
“My favorite ride-on toys are the ones that are the most simplistic because they can be used in the most ways,” says Frizzel-Henige, explaining that roller boards like this one help kids develop all different muscles depending on how they ride it. “I’ve also seen kids do imaginary play by putting their toys on this kind of board and pushing them to the ‘doctor,’” she says. The Gonge floor surfer is a step above simple roller boards thanks to its padded seat and smooth-rolling rubber wheels.
I included the three bikes below in my guide to thebest gifts for 7-year-olds. Depending on your budget, you could opt for REI Co-op’s two-wheeler, which we named thebest overall. Woom’s GO 3 or larger GO 4 bikes are more statusy with a durable design, easy handling, and high resale value. Trolio bought the Prevelo Alpha Three for her younger daughter and likes that it is lightweight with child-friendly geometry like a low stand-over height.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The Woom GO 4 has a small hand brake and upright geometry that helps young riders gain confidence.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For $69 extra you get a lifetime membership to the company’s “trade up” program.
8 years old and up
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For elementary-school kids, Zahn recommends the Razor RipStik Ripster and the more expensive RipSurf, both of which work by twisting your feet back and forth to gain momentum. He likes them because they’re an active toy with a unique feel, like carving through waves or snow.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Zahn also mentioned the motorized Huffy Green Machine, an updated version of the original from the 1980s, with dual-joystick-style steering that lets you pull off speedy 360-degree spins and epic drifting.
New! You can now save this product for later.
We included this two-wheeled scooter with LED wheels from Micro Kickboard in our guide to thebest gifts for 10-year-olds.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For parents thinking about buying a hoverboard, Trolio recommends also buying a go-kart-styleseat attachmentthat will make the hoverboard more accessible and safe for beginners and younger kids not yet coordinated enough to ride standing up.
More From The Strategist
- The Best Things Strategist Editors Have Bought This Year (So Far)
- The Strategist Summer 100
- I Replaced My Tretinoin With This $30 Retinal Cream
- My Hunt for Fisherman Sandals That Won’t Tear Up My Feet
The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
