Toy cars will always be a favorite for kids; anything that “goes,” really. But what to pick? So many options include small parts that break, require batteries, have nooks and crannies that pinch small fingers, it can be hard to find a good fit. Plus, you want something that helps teach your child even while they are having fun.
Toy cars are a wonderful way to improve your child’s fine and gross motor skills. Choose toys that are developmentally appropriate, durable and fit into your home environment. Toys that are nontoxic, durable, easy for small fingers to manipulate and will grow with age are best.
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Best Boats for Bathtime: Green Toys Ferry Boat with Mini Cars
If your child could only bring one toy to bath time, this should be the one (though it’s fine to play with out of the tub as well).
The ferryboat has a pontoon design, keeping it steady and afloat in all kinds of seas. It has a drop down ramp for loading real cargo (such as the two cars it comes with or any other small toy) and is made of 100% recycled plastic. Even the packaging it comes in is made of recycled paper and plastic. Green Toys’ products are Phthalate and BPA free, dishwasher safe and manufactured in the US.
Best Large Trucks for Small Hands: Green Toys Fire Truck
These large trucks are the best in their class because in addition to their recycled production (made from BPA Free plastic and recycled milk jugs) they are easy for small hands to manipulate and are well made.
They do not have small pieces that offer choking hazards and require imagination and motor skills to power them. The fire truck has a ladder on top that swivels 360 degrees and has two removable ladders that snap into place and really stay put once there. There is also a dump truck and and a recycling truck in this series.
Best Cars for Teaching Shapes and Color: Shape Sorting Dump Truck
By fitting the shaped object through the corresponding slot, your child fills up the dump truck, which can be tilted back like a real dump truck, to drop the cargo out again.
This process teaches fine motor skills, sorting, as well as shape and color identification- all important skills for preschool and life. The truck itself is durable and made of wood, as are the 9 shaped pieces and 2 people figures that come with it. No batteries required for this one!
Best Wooden Cars: Lakeshore Learning Hardwood Community Vehicles
High-quality wood cars like these are a great option because they will last for years. There are no cheap parts to break off, the paint is durable and nontoxic and best of all- they don’t require any batteries! The community vehicles set is a fun look at different cars in the community.
The collection can be expanded with more kinds of cars, road signs and construction vehicles.
Melissa and Doug makes a similar set that are available on Amazon if you prefer to shop there.
Best Racetracks for Toddlers: Top Bright Toddler Toys Race Track
Top Bright is a must-have if your toddler loves race cars. The design is simple enough for a one year old to manage (with supervision) but will be fun for a couple of years.
The design is simple and sturdy and does not require batteries or have any additional sound effects. It is made from BPA free plastic and wood, so the construction will last and won’t have any small parts breaking off. It was also tested for safety by ASTM, so you know it was deemed sturdy and safe by an actual testing facility.
Best for STEM Learning: Magformers XL Cruisers Set
Magformers is a unique product combining both the fun of a vehicle and STEM learning in one package. The edges of each shape are magnetic allowing your kid to build any kind of vehicle, using either one or both sets of wheels the kit comes with. This set will grow with age as your child can learn to build more complex things. Eventually you can add on other kits or expand the basic shapes to make larger things.
Building a car like this improves fine motor skills, teaches your child about magnets and science as well as the creativity and critical thinking skills needed to build the car. Plus it’s ABS plastic and tested by ASTM for safety so it is safe and durable.
Best Cars for Baby: O Ball Rattle and Roll
This is a very simple, very inexpensive toy for your 3+ month old baby, which makes it a great pick for baby. It is easy to grasp due to the wide holes in the top which helps improve the pincer grasp of fine motor skills.
It can be wiped clean with nontoxic sanitizing wipes, but unfortunately cannot go in the dishwasher for cleaning. Buy a couple and keep them everywhere, or buy a few for gifts!
Best Push Car for Toddlers: Radio Flyer Deluxe
A trike-style push car is a great way to develop gross motor skills in your little one even if they are not walking yet. Your child can peddle, or not, while you push the the trike along. The UVA protectant top comes down to shield your child from the sun. It also has a removable tray and cup holder, as well as compartments for extra stuff.
All of those things can be removed to create a standard style trike as your child grows. It also collapses easily making it simpler to transport, but if you want to save a little money because collapsibility doesn’t matter for you, then this one is basically the same.
Best Self Powered Rideable Car: Prince Lionheart Wheely Bug
The Wheely Bug is a the classic Flinstone’s-style rideable car that requires gross motor skills (legs and feet) to move the car. We think it’s the best version because it can be used in the house as well as out doors. It comes in two sizes, you can choose the best one based on your child’s height and weight. The wheels roll in any direction, much like the wheels on a suitcase.
If you’re not into the ladybug you can also try the minimalist cow, plushy hedgehog, mouse with big ears, pink pig, or the cute tiger. All the products are nontoxic and tested by the ASTM for durability and come with a one year warranty from the manufacturer.
Best Unique Racetrack: Dinosaur Tracks
These Dinosaur Tracks are very similar in construction to Magic Tracks and can be paired with the original set or can be used on their own.
This set offers more variety and unique options than the regular Magic Tracks or the dinosaur Magic Tracks, so we like this off-brand kit better. It provides more tracks and add-on features that allow for more creativity and time spent on critical thinking and fine motor skills. Plus, they’re much cheaper, which we also appreciate.
The biggest pros to this version is that it is half the price of the name brand and is more creative. The downside is that it will require either some dedicated space once set up, or dedicated time to take apart and put away.