WHEEL TOYS

Good, solid wheel toys are basic in every child's play; versatility, durability, and safety are important factors to consider in selecting them. Children under three years of age should not be given little cars and trucks which have small removable components or which may easily break into pointed, jagged pieces. Best for toddlers are the lightweight, flexible vinyl vehicles which will do no damage if thrown. A well-chosen wheel toy will provide hours of fun.

High in popularity again are basic, die-cast mini cars. These little cars give hours of pleasure, and children often involve other toys like building bricks and basic wooden blocks in the play.

Radio-controlled cars are extremely popular, but you may want to consider the cost of this type of toy well before you buy. The cars take a lot of batteries, and battery life is often no more than half an hour. Rechargeable batteries are the obvious answer, but buying the requisite number of rechargeable units and a charger that can hold them all at once may be expensive. Even if you make this investment, the length of play time will still be limited to thirty minutes, followed by recharging for four hours to overnight. The off-road style of vehicle takes a great deal of punishment, and breakages to the body and chassis are almost inevitable, as is eventual deterioration of the motor. Sophisticated RC models are also very popular, and have the advantage of parts availability, but this is a maintenance intensive hobby only suited to those who like to tinker.