Suggestions for Toddler Car Enthusiast

[Terri]

I have a 4 year old who loves cars and on his own has learned MANY makes and models of cars. I am looking for christmas ideas to foster his love of cars. Realistic and inexpensive enough he can play with.

He amazes me in his knowledge, he knows more than I do about cars. He just turned 4 and well over a year ago is when we discovered his detail. We had a 93 taurus and my mom drove a 2000 taurus. For the longest time he would say thats like our car or that one was like nanas but I never realized he really knew the difference.

He knows the 2 different taurus (I don't really know what year the change starts but he does somehow)

Kia Rios

Ford Focus

Neon

Mustang

S-10

Ford Ranger (2 different types I know one is a 93 (He says its a ford ranger like dads) and the other is a newer year (ford ranger like woodys, a friend of his older brother. He says one difference is the tail lights he showed me once one of them has a red light in the middle or something)

Corvettes HIS FAVORITE

Camaro another favorite

Blazer

Dodge Dakota

Mitsubishi Galant

Dodge Grand Caravan

Pontiac G6

He always says what they are and says right mom, and most of the time I seriously dont know if he is, I have to look and read the car and 99% of the time hes right. He starts out by saying thats a car like "insert name" drives. Then from there I will tell him what the make is and then he goes from there. The only one that nobody ever drove was the corvette he just spotted those in a used car book and fell in love.

I'm sure theres more but I cant remember right now. But he amazes me the way he looks and pays attention to detail to a car. He also knows direction pretty well and can tell you how to get to most anywhere. Tells you when to turn left/right until we are there. Everytime we leave to go somewhere he grabs a frisbee he has and used it as a steering wheel until his twin brother broke it. I had to run out to the dollar store and buy him a new steering wheel he cried for hours over it and he doesnt cry over much.

He has tons of hotwheel cars but I am looking for something larger and more detail and something maybe to collect yet play with.

I know this is probably not the right place but hoping someone had some suggestions or send me in the right direction!! I am lost when it comes to this stuff.

Thanks,

Terri

[Jantrix]

Try some of the bargain stores - Big Lots fer instance. You can find some of the various diecasts there pretty cheap and most of them are tough enough for a kid to zoom around on the kitchen floor with. Glad to see a future gearhead in the making. You sure came to the right place for advice Terri, not a one of us has matured beyond age 12 when it comes to cars and toy/model cars.

Edited September 22, 2009 by Jantrix

[charlie8575]

Hi, Terri.

Most of the larger-scale diescasts (1/18, 1/24-25) are a little too fragile for a four-year old, because of all the little parts so I'd tend to stay away from those until he's much older, at least 8-10. If you do buy any, stash them away and give them to him for birthdays, Christmas, good report cards and so forth. For maximum value, don't have fun with them. For maximum fun, expect a lower return. I aim for in-between with the few I have.

At least when I was younger, Matchbox made some of larger-scale diecasts called King Size, that aren't small like the traditional +/- 1/64th scale Matchbox/Hot Wheels models; they're about 1/48 scale. I'd suggest starting at a good, well-stocked independent hobby or toy shop. If you don't have any in your area, hit the Internet.

I going to suggest one thing that isn't a toy, but he'd probably like (and it'll help get him to start reading) would be some picture books with different cars, such as you'd find in the adult section of the bookstore. Many of these books also have histories of different cars and stories about the evolution of the industry. For now, he might be interested in the pictures, as he gets older, he'll be able to appreciate the other aspects of the book. These "coffee table" books are great references and fun to look at. A lot of the time, you can find them on clearance racks for very short money.

In another year or so, I'd strongly suggest getting him a snap-together model car in 1/25. It'll be easy enough for him to put together, and it's something he can do with Dad. That's how I got my start, at about the age, going on thirty years ago. I never stopped. It'll teach him following directions, process, and patience.

I hope this helps you a little. I think I speak for all us here when I say we're all happy to help someone start in the hobby.

Charlie Larkin

[Trans Am Erik]

Seeing a story like this really hits home. It makes me happy to see a youngster with so much enthusiasum for cars. The biggest influence on me at that age was TV/ movie cars. Has he seen Herbie, The Dukes, or Smokey and the Bandit yet? Ertl makes a very dourable 1/24 die cast General Lee that I bought for my little cousin a couple years ago. Another cool thing would be to take him to a cruise night. There he could see and hear a bunch of really cool classic cars. I don't know where you are from but, every year my Dad and I go to the Detroit Autorama. It is very special to me. We first went when I was 3 and missed only once in 28 years since. This year my Dad had bunion surgery and couldn't walk. Next year my friends and I may be in the show with about a dozen REAL TV/movie cars!

[Terri]

I love all the ideas... So glad I came here. We are about an hour away from Louisville so I am sure I could find some car shows for him. He would LOVE that! He would also love the book idea too. I have a 16 year old and when we were looking for a truck for him I had some of those for sale books. He would look at those forever and question me about all the cars. A good book in color for reference would be great.

He has the patience and interest to probably do a snap model too. I just worry about his twin brother who is not so interested destroying it But I think I might give that a try along with some cars (still gotta do some research on price size etc)

We used to take our oldest two to Louisville Motor speedway before it shut down, and some races over in Indiana. It was lots of fun but we hadn't been anywhere like that since the twins.

Oh and he loves Herbie I forgot that one... He just calls them a Volkswagen but the knows that car too. Thats another great idea too for xmas some car movies. He hasn't since the dukes of hazard and I am betting he would love that.

Thanks so much for all the advice. I felt really silly posting here but glad I did. I try and encourage my kids interests as much as possible but cars really is not my area..

Well off to see if I can find some local car shows for him.

Thanks,

Terri

[Lyn]

Hi Terry,

Welcome!

Those are some great idea's the guys gave you. Though personally I think a dicast car would be fine for a 4 year old assuming he isn't into putting pieces in his mouth if they break off. Toys are meant to be played with not looked at I love the book Idea too.

I did a little ebay search and came up with one that looks good.. Now is the right time to buy because people are clearing out their old stuff to make room for the new Christmas stuff they hope to get LOL.

Maybe you can start out by getting some used Dicast, this link is for 1/24th Scale cars, he's charging to much for shipping but the auction is starting at 99 cents, you can find that often if you have the time to look. here is the link and good luck with what you decide on!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Maisto-Motor-Max-Funli...id=p3286.c0.m14