The Original Kids Big Wheel

Remember back to the good old days when everyone’s favorite ride on toy was the Kids Big Wheel? I’ll never forget all that anticipation of waiting for my legs to get long enough to reach the pedals so I could ride with all the “big” kids. We used to spend hours of our day roaming around the streets and sidewalks.

The original kids Big Wheel became a member of the prestigious National Toy Hall of Fame (at Strong National Museum) in November 2009. What an honor for this age old goodie that let us skid all over while making wild moves at incredibly high speeds. This was all done without tipping over. We drove like race car drivers because the darn things handled so well!

The story of the design of the kids Big Wheel is very interesting. Ray Lohr (who was the head designer for Louis Marx & Co.) took apart an everyday tricycle, mixed up the parts, and created what looked like an upside down tricycle. What he created was a very fast vehicle that sat low to the ground and gave thrills at what felt like g-force speeds.

The kids Big Wheel is now being produced in its original form. It’s still got that big 16” front wheel and adjustable seat. There are still no hand brakes or fancy electronic buttons to play with, just plain old sturdy handlebars and pedals. The only goal with the Big Wheel is to gain speed so you can perform more tricks and spins.

The Big Wheel does a very good job of giving children a sense of independence. They learn independent play when they’re by themselves and learn how to better interact with others when playing in groups. Imaginations run rampant when you ride the Big Wheel. There are many, many types of games that can be initiated by a group. And there’s always the edge of competition that comes into play when they all compete to see who can perform the best trick or longest skid.

Let’s not forget that the kids Big Wheel will also increase both fine and gross motor skills. You’ll see increased hand to eye coordination, better balance, stronger core strength, and lots of healthy physical exercise.

There are many types of ride on toys out there that are very similar to the kids Big Wheel but there’s nothing like the original for that high speed thrill! Check out this oldie but goodie! I don’t know about you but this video brings back memories!

Originally posted 2010-01-21 08:20:19. Republished by Blog Post Promoter