Power Wheels Barbie - This Years Must Have Girls Gift

After spending a good 3 hours searching frantically through the toy store shelves for the perfect gift for my 3 year old daughter I finally chanced upon one item that really caught my eye and was something that I would have died for at her age; a power wheels Barbie electric car. At first I thought this was just a simple pedal cart, but when I saw a young girl giving it a test ride through the toy store aisles I knew that I had to get my hands on one. Though which one? I knew that my daughter was a big fan of Barbie so I settled on that type of car, but there was more than one power wheels Barbie vehicle and each looked better than the last.

Power Wheels Barbie - This Years Must Have Girls Gift

Power Wheels Barbie - This Years Must Have Girls Gift

---

Power Wheels Barbie - This Years Must Have Girls Gift

Power Wheels Barbie - This Years Must Have Girls Gift

I realized that there were 2 versions of the Barbie power wheels cars; one was single seat vehicle with a slower 6 volt battery which was designed for children of between 1-2 years old, so those were out of the question. The other type was designed for children of 2-6 years of age, these power wheels pink colored Barbie themed vehicles came as regular cars, jeeps, quad bikes and even top of the range 4x4 luxury cars. I knew that she would love to have any of these Barbie power wheels vehicles, but I really wanted to pick the perfect one to put a smile on her little face. In the end I finally settled on 2 choices the Barbie jeep and the Barbie mustang.

Barbie Jammin Jeep: This is probably the most popular of all the Barbie power wheels series, it comes in a bright pink and lilac finish with all the details that you'd expect on a real jeep. It has the large 4x4 wheels that roll over rough surfaces, side mirrors, windscreen wipers, a movable foot pedal and even working side doors; everything that a child needs to make believe their an adult. The motor runs on a 5 volt rechargeable battery that runs at a top speed of between 2-5 mph, though if you think this is too Fast there is a safety break feature and an adjustable speed control.

Power wheels Barbie Ford Mustang: This is the most stylish of the Power wheels Barbie series, modeled after the original classic mustang it has the same sleek sporty feel that will definitely make her the talk of all her friends. It comes in a bright pink color with a cool tan seating and additional Barbie designs down each of the sides. To add a fun edge to this car it has a little built in radio that plays a number of preset sound affects and a number of flashing lights that blink on and off when the key is turned. To add a little more realism to the play, the seats can be adjusted back and forwards, plus there is a small drinks holder on the inside. Similar to the Barbie jeep this ford mustang runs on a 5 volt battery and goes at a top speed of about 5 mph, though it is more suited for driving on flat smooth concrete surfaces.

Power Wheels Barbie - This Years Must Have Girls Gift

Lightning McQueen Power Wheels: The Need for Speed

The Lightning McQueen Power Wheels is a small car specifically designed for kids and modeled from the famous character Lightning McQueen that makes a great gift for children 2½ years old and up. These Power Wheels run at speeds slow enough to pacify worried parents yet Fast enough to elicit delighted squeals from children. The rides have buttons on the steering wheel that play popular phrases from the movie when pressed. Another button will emit race car sounds that will make your child feel as if he is really speeding on the tracks.

Lightning McQueen Power Wheels: The Need for Speed

Lightning McQueen Power Wheels: The Need for Speed

---

Lightning McQueen Power Wheels: The Need for Speed

Lightning McQueen Power Wheels: The Need for Speed

Great Features

The design is made easy to comprehend. Most children learn the car's ropes after 30 minutes of fiddling on the wheel. Parents can lock the speed and control the pace of their kid's driving. The Fisher-Price version can go as Fast as 5 miles per hour when the speed lock is disengaged. However if you are uncomfortable with this speed set it at 2 to 2.5 miles an hour. The locks are child-proof so you don't have to worry about them racing off without your permission.

You can also upgrade the car's battery from 6v to 12v to 24v. This also affects the speed of the car. The car can go Faster as the battery volTAGe goes higher. You can make these adjustMents as your child gets older and as they learn to maneuver more skillfully. It's advisable to go with more expensive brands if you want the car to last and to grow with your kids.

If you think your child is ready for a 24v battery make sure to add some fans to avoid the car from overheating. You can make it a gift from the enTire family if you think the price is too steep. This is certainly a ride on toy worth having even if your child isn't a big Lightning McQueen fan.

AdvanTAGes of Cars

Learning how to manipulate the miniature car teaches your kids about the importance of care and attention to the environMent around them. It teaches them motor skills and stimulates their Mental developMent. Giving them a car also teaches them the joys and responsibilities of ownership.

Playing with trains, cars and trucks develop their ability to navigate and take directions. You can help by giving them simple Jobs to complete, like hauling stuff around in their car and transporting them to another place. This also stimulates their imagination and creativity as they pretend to be race car drivers or as they drive around the neighborhood streets. Enabling them to learn how to drive their car gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Racing cars with other children also develops their ability to socially interact with kids of their age. This is an important skill to develop as your children grow. Making them outgoing and friendly will open many doors to their development. Maneuvering a car also builds their vocabulary. You can instruct them to go forward, backward, slow or Fast and you tell him the meaning of various road signs. These are activities that stimulate his mind and widen his understanding of the world. And these are just a few of the reasons that the Lightning McQueen Power Wheels are so much fun.

Lightning McQueen Power Wheels: The Need for Speed

ATV Wheel Guide - Choosing the Right ATV Wheel

The ATV wheel is a rim made of metal composites or pure metal that is meant for use on any all-terrain vehicle. The wheels propel your vehicle forward using an axle and they are protected by Tires that withstand passing through terrains that are sandy, muddy, and rocky. Having the right wheels allow you to make the most of driving your ATV and be confident in letting it pass through any type of road. Here is an ATV wheel guide to help you achieve those benefits.

Kinds

The size of the wheel should have the same diaMeter as the Tires and they are usually 12"x8" at the back 12"x6" on the front. We'll also discuss the kinds of wheels you can choose for your ATV in this ATV wheel guide. Here are your options.

*Metal: The most common and standard type of ATV wheel comprised of 2-piece materials made of aluminum and steel that are welded to the center. Metal wheels have a diaMeter of 10 to 12 inches and you have to be careful with them since they easily bend upon landing from 30-foot jumps, when rocks hit them, or if you get a flat tire. When that happens, you need to replace them.

*Composite: More durable than metal are composite wheels that can resist fatigue and absorb more energy. Aside from that, they are lighter and last longer because they are flexible. Glass and carbon fiber mix make up these composite ATV wheels.

Choose the right wheel

To conclude this ATV wheel guide, choose something that is resistant to rust to avoid Fast corrosion. If you have metal wheels, replace them immediately once they bend. Just make sure to buy high quality ones if you are replacing them so you can also upgrade your ATV.

---

Power Wheels Lightning McQueen Electric Car - Hours Of Racing Fun

The Disney movie "Cars" was an undoubted hit as was its main character the shiny red race car Lightning McQueen, children around the world were hooked.

Well, Fisher Price have once again come up trumps for all Cars fans with their Power Wheels Lightning McQueen electric car for children between the ages of 3 and 8 years of age. (This age range is dependant on the individual child's height and weight.)

This slick, speedy, bright red electric car is powered by a 6 volt battery which, I have been told will last for around 3 hours of constant riding when fully charged. To be confident that you do have a fully charged battery it is best done overnight. Having a back up battery which is always charged is a useful idea because all you need to do is swap them over and the fun can go on! Removing and replacing the battery is not difficult to do.

You will find that the Power Wheels Lightning McQueen really is a race car - it can get up to 5 mph - for a 3 year old that is pretty Fast! I should point out at this sTAGe that 5 mph is actually the Fastest speed setting. The slower setting will allow your little racer to get up to 2.5 mph which is way fast enough for any novice. Parents - you can actually lock out the higher speed setting until you are sure that your child is ready. Naturally there is a reverse gear as well and the car is fitted with power lock brakes.

One of the most loved features amongst the children I have spoken to is the race car sound effects and the well known phrases from the movie said in a real Lightning McQueen voice.

Power Wheels Lightning McQueen Features at a Glance:

*2 speed settings.

*6 volt battery.

*Sound effects and real phrases from the "Cars" movie.

*High speed lock out.

*Power lock brakes

Along with many other ride on toys the Power Wheels Lightning McQueen car
sports shiny plastic wheels which appear to cause some problems with traction, particularly on smooth surfaces and grass - particularly if it is wet. However the instances of this seem to vary some people claim to have no problems whilst others state that the wheels just spin. On a positive note, there is a solution, it is possible to source and fit rubber bands to the wheels which immediately resolves any problem.

Another two or three niggles pointed out by parents/grandparents the Lightning McQueen racing car does not have doors which open and close, nor does it have seat belts or a storage area so kids can take their other favourite toys for a ride. As for the kids - non of this seems to matter.

What Do You Get For Your Money?

* Power Wheels Lightning McQueen Race Car

* 6 volt Battery

* Battery Charger

** Batteries for Sound Effects NOT included

The car does require some assembly but I am told that this is simple and straight forward even for those parents who find such tasks a challenge!

On the whole kids and parents alike just love this Power Wheels Lightning McQueen race car. It is safe, durable and well worth the money because it will give its proud owner hours of fun and adventure.

One thing which is probably worth Mentioning a racing helmet would make a great addition to the whole theme and ensure that your little one has some protection should any mishaps take place.

---

Razor Ground Force Drifter - Drift Your Kids Away From The Console Games

Have you get bored of seeing your kids spend hours in front of the TV, playing PS3, PC or XBox 360? Have you got no other way to capture your kids' attention away from those console games? Well, you should try the all new Ground Force Drifter from Razor. It's freaking awesome and will get your kids off the couch onto the action. Razor Ground Force Drifter Go Kart is an electric go-kart, specialized at drifting action. You could easily power slide through the corner, perform Fast 180s and even throw Fish tales. It's a perfect toy for some serious go-kart adventure.

Razor has years of experience creating both conventional and electric go-kart. One thing that sets it apart from the competitors is the design and functionality of the products it produced. Ground Force Drifter is not an exception. The chassis design actually derived from the actual racing go-kart, but has been fine-tuned to suit the kids' needs. The rear wheels are super slick, designed to get you a smooth riding experience. Durability is also another important aspect to be noted from the design aspect. Broken go-kart, during a race, may cause the riders more than minor injuries. As such, Razor had designed this go-kart with sturdy steel construction which able to support riders weighing up to 140 pounds.

Well, design is not the only aspect Razor put attention to. There are several more interesting features in Ground Force Drifter, such as the hand-operated rear-brake and thumb-trigger acceleration control. Durable bucket seat with shoulder seat strap is available to keep your kids attached to the go-kart while they do some Fast drifting action. All features are designed to give the riders both safety and entertaining racing experience. Since this is not a racing go-kart, Razor designed it to run up to 12 miles per hour (12 mph). It's quick enough to pump your kids' adrenaline but not at a considerably dangerous level. Above all, safety is one of the most important aspects to be considered by parents prior to buying any toys.

All in all, Razor Ground Force Drifter may prove to be the good alternative you need to drift your kids away from the console games. Parents, are you ready to see your kids in some serious drifting action this Christmas? Get your Ground Force Drifter now and surprise your kids with this action toy.

fisher price power wheels ford f150

---

Heavy Duty Trucks and Construction Toys

A popular misconception is that trucks and construction toys are for boys only. If you grew up with a single mother who would fix the cabinets and do the landscaping by herself, you know that building and fixing is a gender neutral territory. The producers of Bob the Builder seem to understand, hence the character of Wendy, Bob's on-the-Job colleague.

The vast majority of trucks, construction toys, toy toolboxes and so on are marketed more for boys, but the basic skills and interests that these toys encourage can certainly be put to use by both boys and girls.

We live in the 21st Century now. In the past, a girl would grow up hoping to marry young and not have to worry about how to fix the sink or change a flat Tire. Things have changed, and a basic understanding of how to put a power drill to work is something everybody has a right to.

Besides, boy or girl, we can all appreciate the empowering nature of a yellow dump truck with big fat wheels!

Besides toy tools and construction vehicles, just about any kid can appreciate actual construction toys like Legos and other building sets. The way they sell building set toys these days is with construction plans and a predetermined building or pirate ship or whatever it is printed on the box. We all know that those are just suggestions, though. It can be fun and challenging to try and match the blueprints, and certainly educational, but what has made building sets so popular for about a hundred years is that you can come up with your own ideas, and then try to figure out a way to piece it together.

Playing with Legos is definitely an educational experience. If you just go nuts and try to build whatever crazy thing pops into your head, nine times out of ten, it's going to fall apart with all the extra little parts hanging off the side, suspended by a single point of contact. So it's back to the drawing board, and you try to come up with a new design for that idea, something that'll hold together a little better. This isn't just directly relevant to kids with a future in construction, it's directly relevant to anyone who's going to have to learn how to make sensible plans in life (and that includes just about all of us).

Playing as a child is important for that child's adulthood. When you see kittens tackling each other, they're not just having fun, they're also learning how to hunt. Being able to build your own castle or robot or whatever it is you want to build is definitely empowering. That you have to come up with a smart way to turn your idea into a real toy helps kids to develop instincts that will be imMensely helpful later in life. Put them together and it teaches a very valuable lesson: You can accomplish anything you want to accomplish in life, so long as you first figure out a sensible, practical way to make it happen.

fisher price power wheels ford f150

---

The Top Ten Christmas Toys

From the first funny shaped rock or stick that was used to keep a child busy or entertained, toys have come a long way. Today, they are a billion Dollar industry, with new toys - Faster, brighter, smarter - come out all the time. It is difficult for some parents to keep up with all the latest trends and fads. (Silly Bandz, anyone?) To help with this, we are going to look at some of the ways to research popular toys from the past so you can do a better Job finding the top ten toys of Christmas in 2010.

For example, what is going to be the must-have toy this year? While many people are going to attempt to answer this question in the months ahead, there is another way to look at the top Christmas toys question. For example, what about popular Christmas toys from 1947? Or the top toys for Christmas 1977? By going back in time and looking through history, we can come up with some guidelines for helping us pick the most popular Christmas toys of all time.

How to Find the Top Ten Christmas Toys of All Time
The Internet - While the world wide web is a wonderful way to look up information on the history of toys and which ones were popular in the past, you are going to see a lot of the same information tossed about as people try to sell you products. That said, there are many good places to research the most popular Christmas toys online - for the current year as well as years of Christmas Past. Print Media - You may have to go to a physical library (remember those?) to get this information, but microfilm is a wonderful thing for looking up old articles in magazines. This can enable you to see what the print magazines and newspapers were saying about the most popular toys whatever year you want to know about.

The Top 10 Christmas Toys of All Time

Without any further waiting, here is our pick of the top 10 Christmas toys of all time.
LEGO Blocks - No matter the set, these have been a Christmas favorite for many years now. Currently, the LEGO Universe is one of the "must-have" items. Hula Hoop - Even today, this is a popular toy. It's a little more expensive than the original toys, but kids still love it. Barbie - Going on 50+, Barbie still looks great and is one of the top Christmas toys of all time. Red Wagon - With Red Flyer being the most popular, the classic red wagon is still a great gift for kids of all ages. Video Games - It started with Pong, moved to the Atari 2600, then was dominated by Nintendo for many years. Today, video games are more popular than ever before. Today, the X-Box is on the top of a lot of people's list. Lionel Trains - Every child probably has a memory or two of getting their first Lionel train set. Today, the trains are still desired by children everywhere, making this a top Christmas toy. Board Games - From Candyland to Memory, board games are some of the most popular Christmas toys. Risk is probably one of the more popular games for older children. Little People - From Fisher Price, these large "Little People" have been around for many decades. They're still a favorite of small children, making them a top Christmas toy. GI Joe - While this soldier has had his ups and downs over the years, he's still in our top list of Christmas toys. With a recent movie, these toys are more popular than ever. The Empty Box - Oh yes, the lowly box. How many young children have had hours and hours of imaginative fun with empty boxes after Christmas morning? Quite a few, I would imagine. Because of that, the empty cardboard box is our pick for the top Christmas toy of all time.

Disagree with our list? Leave a comMent below!

fisher price power wheels kawasaki

---