Even the youngest vehicle fans succumb to the allure of remote-controlled cars. full of enthusiasm take control of the mini versions of elegant ferraris and cool trucks, let them drive forward or backward, turn right or left. Children of all ages enjoy maneuvering around furniture and obstacles, racing, and playing with scale utility vehicles in a realistic way.
The various models challenge the youngsters with technical refinements, focus on speed, realistic functions or particularly robust designs suitable for stunts. Depending on taste and stage of development, sometimes one model, sometimes the other is in the lead in the rating of smaller and larger drivers.
when looking for a vehicle that matches your child’s imagination, a lot of questions often arise. What does the abbreviation RC mean?? Which functions are useful at which age? What are the differences between the various designs?? Take a look at our guidebook. He provides you with a lot of useful information on the subject of remote-controlled cars and helps you to decide on a model that suits you best.
1. What does remote controlled mean?
Whether it’s a fire truck or a truck, when the term remote control is used in connection with toy cars, it usually refers to products that can be controlled by radio technology. In addition to classic designs, this principle also applies to variants controlled by smartphone via bluetooth: the remote control transmitter sends signals in the form of electromagnetic waves to a receiving device- the vehicle. The term used for this operation is radio control. The term remote control is broader. It refers to all types of control that are located at some distance from the receiver. The control element can be attached to the vehicle by means of a cable, as is the case, for example, with the large construction cranes and excavators from dickie toys. infrared controlled toys are also an example of remote control because of their short range. Interesting to know: if we are talking about RC cars, we are talking about variants with radio control as well as remote control.
2. At what age are remote-controlled cars recommended??
Children as young as two can play with remote-controlled vehicles such as those offered by TOMY or revell. The beginner models are thematically and technically optimally adapted to the youngest target group and their motor skills. The handling is kept simple, the construction is deliberately equipped with rounded edges and few small parts. In addition to rear-end collisions, the compact toymobiles can also cope with minor falls without any problems.
More complex designs such as the convertible vehicles from spin master appeal primarily to schoolchildren and teenagers. They rely on special details such as an integrated drone or a headset that transports the driver inside the car with the help of a smartphone. SIKU’s 1:32 scale utility vehicles are also very popular in this age group because of their detailed functionality. As with all toys, the product chosen for rc cars should be optimally adapted to the child’s developmental stage. Only if the youngsters are neither over- nor underchallenged will they enjoy trying things out and keeping themselves busy. Use the manufacturer’s age recommendations as an initial guide and take a close look at the technical details of the products. Each child has individual strengths and abilities that he or she uses in the game. When choosing a car model, focus on your child and try to adapt the following points to his or her personal abilities:
2.1 speed
No question- youngsters enjoy high speeds. As a parent, however, you should not ignore one thing: the more speed a car offers, the more challenging it is to steer and keep it on track. Children up to the age of four are usually sufficiently challenged with models that travel at speeds of five to seven kilometers per hour. For school-age drivers, the cars can travel at speeds of up to 20 kilometers per hour. At this age, motor skills are usually sufficiently developed to master routes at higher speeds without a rear-end collision. A big plus for fast vehicles: racing with friends or family offers a shared activity that even gets teenagers out into the fresh air. If the little hobby pilots drive mainly indoors, they usually have to avoid many obstacles and concentrate more on steering. Here the speed can safely take a back seat.
2.2 remote control
Which control system the youngsters prefer is often a matter of pure habit. The classic console remote control is held with both hands and operated with the thumb. Pistol variants regulate the speed via the trigger, steering is done via a turnable wheel on the side. They lie comfortably in one hand. For the smallest of drivers, there are also steering systems that are particularly easy to operate.
Generally speaking, one channel must be controlled via the remote control for each function of the car. The more functions a technical device has, the more complex the control element becomes. Remote-controlled cars, which can only be maneuvered forwards and backwards, offer an easy introduction to the material, as the controls can be clearly arranged. But more advanced children will certainly not want to do without the ability to steer in all directions. Younger children and novice drivers are probably satisfied with a clear control console with full deflection: the speed and also the steering deflections are fixed with this variant. If the youngsters want to use finer gradations with increasing age and skill, they need a continuously variable remote control system.
2.3 transmitter range
The younger the youngsters are, the more they want to be close to the action. The sports cars, trucks or tractors do not need a long range. The child steers them in a certain radius around him or follows them. For play inside the home, wired construction vehicles or track-based racecars are suitable, as are cars whose controls do not cover long distances. The situation is different if the offspring want to let their vehicle cover a little distance sometimes. The control system has to cover a greater distance. Factors such as transmitting power, antenna orientation and also possible obstructions must be taken into account, as they can affect the range of a transmitter.
2.4 driving time and power supply
When the next generation steers sporty race cars around the track or rugged jeeps through the terrain, the limited driving time of remote-controlled toys is sure to seem short to them. Depending on the drive, the size and the speed of the car, it can last between five and 45 minutes. Provided they are not gasoline-powered models more reserved for adult riders- either the batteries or accumulators have to be changed before the ride can continue afterwards. Take a look at our table below. It gives you a quick overview of the characteristics of the different power sources.
Easy to handle
Rechargeable and therefore more environmentally friendly
Even younger children can exchange the small power storage units under supervision
Charging time must be waited for
The game can go on immediately
More cost-effective in the long run
Don’t forget: the remote control also needs power!
3. Where to drive the vehicle?
Before your child decides on a stroller, you should decide together on the main place where it will be used. indoors, slower and more compact remote-controlled cars have a clear advantage. They unerringly make their way between the sofa, the dining table and the bookshelf. A smaller turning circle makes maneuvering easier. Tires with good grip have sufficient adhesion even on tiles, laminate or parquet flooring.
RC cars that are mainly driven outdoors should be much more robustly constructed. In addition to sturdy workmanship that can withstand the odd rollover, it makes sense for the model to have a larger ground clearance and good suspension. All-wheel drive is a good choice for trips over rough terrain. You can recognize it by the 4WD marking, which stands for 4 wheel drive.
4. What designs are available?
Striking off-road vehicle or sleek runabout? The various models differ not only in their appearance, but also in the way they are used. Racing cars are designed for speed, just like their larger counterparts. Lightweight materials such as aluminum and plastic and the aerodynamic design allow the sporty cars to travel fast. Their low center of gravity ensures a good road holding position. Buggies are models specially designed for off-road use. Large tread tires, shock absorbers and a minimalist appearance are among its features. jeeps or monster trucks also have similar details. The elevated body is perfect for stunts and jumps with extras like roll bars and flexible antennas. Certain themed series, such as fire engines or police cars, construction vehicles, or heroes familiar from TV series or movies, are particularly popular with younger children. It is not uncommon for them to enrich the little ones’ play with sound and light effects, like the variants from mattel or dickie toys. For hobbyists and tinkerers, remote-controlled cars are available not only as prefabricated ready-to-drive (RTD) or ready-to-run variants, but also as model kits. Putting the individual parts together is not only an exciting pastime, but also a way for youngsters to immerse themselves in how the car works. At the same time, the sets also make it possible to give the vehicle an individual touch and encourage the child’s patience and creativity. A great advantage of the kits is that if something does break, the next generation can generally repair the problem or replace parts on their own.
5. The play value of remote-controlled cars
Regardless of whether your child goes to great lengths to build a course in the field or gets creative and builds a race track: playing with remote-controlled vehicles promotes a variety of competencies. Since the car is always moving in a different direction during the journey, the offspring must also constantly change the perspective in their thoughts. If the toy is moving towards him and he wants to turn right, he must steer to the left and immediately adjust to the new position in his mind. The ability to concentrate and spatial awareness are thus trained in a playful manner. The child trains its fine motor skills while steering and develops an understanding of cause and effect. If you take into account the limited driving time of the various car models, you can also talk about a learning effect in this context: the youngsters have to use limited resources when driving the RC cars. Playing together with friends also demonstrates social skills such as the ability to work in a team or to compromise.
6. Remote-controlled cars as a gift
Christmas, the next birthday or other celebrations are a great opportunity to delight the offspring with a remote-controlled car. Regardless of the choice of model, we have put together a few practical tips to make the gift a real success.