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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) – Remember that Christmas morning when you found your first set of wheels under the tree? For our parents and grandparents, the choices were few and simple – bike, trike or wagon.
Today’s parents, however, have a multitude of ride-on options to choose from. Finding the one that’s right for their tot can seem an overwhelming task.
Robert Pasin, chief wagon officer at Radio Flyer – the company founded 90 years ago when Pasin’s grandfather, Antonio, created the first little red wagon - offers the following holiday shopping advice for parents looking for children’s toys that encourage active play:
* Consider your child’s age, size and developmental level when considering a toy. If it requires more sophisticated motor skills than your child has developed yet, her enjoyment – and safety – may be compromised. Likewise, if a toy employs only skills your toddler has already mastered, or he’s too big to use it comfortably, he may be bored with it.
“The Big Flyer is a good example of a toy that is appropriate for older children, as they have developed the coordination and strength to enjoy a low-riding, chopper-style trike,” Pasin says. “However, young toddlers are still developing their motor skills and may do better with a more traditional toy, like the Classic Walker Wagon, which helps beginner walkers with balance and stability.”
* Look for a toy that stimulates a tot’s mind and exercises his body. “While battery-powered toys may help develop hand-eye coordination, they can’t help a child develop arm and leg muscles the way a wagon or tricycle will,” Pasin says. “Physical activity not only helps stimulate a child’s imagination, it’s a great way to keep children healthy and happy.”
* Try to find toys that get the whole family moving. The Ultimate Family Wagon is an example of a toy that allows parents to participate in physical activity while enjoying quality time with their children. The patented flip and fold seats allow a child to draw or color, and parents can use this time to educate their children about the plants and animals in their neighborhood.
“Also, think of new ways to incorporate physical and imaginative activities into your child’s daily toy routine,” says Pasin. “A simple afternoon ride in the wagon can become a nature safari, a game of ’I Spy,’ or a chance for your children to create artful masterpieces.”
* Seek a product that offers you the chance to connect with your children on a nostalgic level, like the newly re-released Inchworm. The popular bounce-powered toy first premiered in the 1970s and went out of production in the ‘80s. Radio Flyer re-introduced the toy for a new generation of toddlers this year.
“If you played with the toy when you were a child, you’ll know how it works and remember the fun you had,” says Pasin. “Your child’s enjoyment of the toy, as well as your own, will be enhanced if you can share the experience.”
* Last but not least, keep product quality and reputation in mind when shopping for an active-play toy. Recent headlines about toy recalls serve as a reminder to parents that quality and safety should be top of mind when choosing products for children.
When purchasing a trustworthy toy, parents feel more secure and allow their children to play freely and develop new skills. Pasin, whose family-owned company has been creating high-quality toys for 90 years, says Radio Flyer frequently hears from customers who are still using the little red wagon from their childhood with their own children and grandchildren.
To learn more about high-quality, classic and innovative toys for children that encourage active play and foster imagination, visit www.radioflyer.com.
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