By: P.Tharyan / Joshua David Luther / Photography: Afsar Baig
Apr 16 2016
Do you know how many people die in
road accidents in India every year? Around 200,000. And do you know how many
people die in road accidents all over the globe every year? Around 1.25
million. These figures have been stated by the World Health Organisation (WHO)
in a report titled “Global Road Safety Report” in 2015.
Even though today Indians have
the choice to drive some very safe and well built cars, they have a dismal
record when it comes to observing traffic norms and driving safely. Enthusiastic
fathers can often be spotted with their toddlers on their laps while driving
around, with the hands of the kids on the steering wheel. At Motown India we insist, there is no better way to endanger the life
of your child. Rather it would make a lot more sense, if such enthusiastic kids were made to sit
behind the wheels of vehicles their size!
Yes, welcome to the world of
toy cars and bikes. Toy cars and bikes come in different shapes and sizes, from
ones so tiny that you can clasp them in your palm and some so big that a child
can actually drive or ride it. Yes, these toy cars carry the badges of BMW,
Mercedes, Jeep, Lamborghini and Ferrari, to name a few.
Now a dinky toy car or bike can
cost anywhere from a few rupees to several thousands of rupees, depending on
its quality and make. The ones that can seat kids can cost anywhere from a few
thousand rupees to as much as Rs 25000 and above. Here too, it all depends on the
quality and performance. So whether it is a dinky die cast toy or a radio
controlled toy car or bike, these serve one major purpose in the lives of
children: Entertainment!
Coming to these toy cars and
bikes for kids, you can directly order them from any of the e-commerce sites
that have sprung up all over the internet space or you can walk into an
upmarket mall in your town or city and look for the right store for kids.
The Motown India editorial team
spent a considerable amount of time with a couple of kids and their toy
vehicles in a farmhouse in Delhi. The stars they were observing were young
Aveer Hans and Viaan Ambawata.
To begin with, letting kids
play with their own vehicles is the best thing a parent can do to entertain
their kids. Also, when it comes to safety, there is no better way to keep the
kids occupied, yet thoroughly entertained. All one requires is a bit of unhindered
space and an adult to supervise the kids. Adults, at best can help a kid when
the toy vehicle experiences a wheel spin or gets stuck in the thick grass or
topples over for some strange reason.
India is today flooded with
Chinese toy cars and bikes of varied quality. Since these vehicles run on
battery, it’s important to ensure that these batteries are original and that
the toy is made of good quality. Once
this is done, you can then get them to hear their favourite nursery rhyme:
Driving, driving in my car,
Going very far,
Down the street in my car.
Driving, driving in my car,
Feeling like a star,
Bouncing down the street in my
car.......