Is 2 years old too young to start with RC?

[McMacro]

Stupidly walked past the local model shop at lunchtime and saw the Tamiya Abarth 500 in the window and bought it. I don't really need another rc car, already have Schumacher fusion, MTA4, and another Tamiya, but thought my 2yo son would love it ("same as daddy's car" 'n all that) .

It then dawned on me that I had just spent £200 on a toy for a 2 year old kid who still plays with megablocks and wooden trainsets. Should I just hide it from him and keep it for myself or let him loose with it. He will be observed with it of course.

When is the correct age for starting kids on these?

Thanks,

Mr Compulsive Shopper.

[itsnotarace]

Did you possess the necessary hand/eye co-ordination skills at that age? Or would you have tried to eat it?

[McMacro]

itsnotarace said:

Did you possess the necessary hand/eye co-ordination skills at that age? Or would you have tried to eat it?

I can't remember that far back. Kids need to start somewhere, and he's great at working the iPad?

[groomi]

My little boy turned three at the weekend and I built him a banked oval Scalextric track with a reduced power pack so he doesn't crash.

He picked up the idea of holding the trigger down straight away, but his cousins who are six months younger couldn't grasp it and kept pulling and immediately letting go.

I suggest you put it away or play with it yourself. There are plenty of slow, cheap, small RC toys which will do less damage to your skirting boards and be more fun for him.

[fatpasty]

I wish I had you for a dad ...

(before you lot start, my dad is a hero so don't want to replace him but a rc toy now and again wouldn't hurt matters!! )

[McMacro]

Groomi, reduced power pack, you say? One of the reasons I didn't want to buy a Scalextric was due to the speed. With this I could maybe get a set for me my boy

Fatpasty, I wish I had me for a dad, mine was an arse.

[Blakeatron]

My daughter is nearly 2 and loves charging my losi micro rally around the lounge, she had a go on the traxxas summit which was interesting.

It took her a while to work out what to do but she has got it now, you do need to help her hold the controller though.

[groomi]

McMacro said:

Groomi, reduced power pack, you say? One of the reasons I didn't want to buy a Scalextric was due to the speed. With this I could maybe get a set for me my boy

I was inspired by the new Scalextric Start sets: http://www.scalextric.com/shop/sets/scalextric-sta...

But instead of spending lots of money, I improvised and got Dad to put modify a standard power pack to do the same thing:

[fatpasty]

Very nicely done.

[Beardy10]

groomi said:

McMacro said:

Groomi, reduced power pack, you say? One of the reasons I didn't want to buy a Scalextric was due to the speed. With this I could maybe get a set for me my boy

I was inspired by the new Scalextric Start sets: http://www.scalextric.com/shop/sets/scalextric-sta...

But instead of spending lots of money, I improvised and got Dad to put modify a standard power pack to do the same thing:

Interesting! Are the Start sets compatible with the bigger boys stuff ?

[groomi]

There are adapters for the track and all the cars are compatible (but not digital).

[andrewrob]

Ah yes but you need to learn how to drive it before you can teach him, its pure common sense!

I've just sorted out my old Tamiya car from when I was a kid for my 5 year old. Its been in the garage for years so taken a fair bit of sorting out due to rust everywhere! I've been "testing" the car whilst he's in bed just to make sure everything is ok.

[McMacro]

andrewrob said:

Ah yes but you need to learn how to drive it before you can teach him, its pure common sense!

I've just sorted out my old Tamiya car from when I was a kid for my 5 year old. Its been in the garage for years so taken a fair bit of sorting out due to rust everywhere! I've been "testing" the car whilst he's in bed just to make sure everything is ok.

Testing, yeah, away to pop out just now while he is asleep. Glad I fitted lights



We will find out tomorrow if 2 is too young for proper RC. I will report back with an update (and photos of the wreckage)

More pics on the "pics of your models, please" thread.

[Dirty Frank]

My eldest daughter did ok with an RC noddy car at 2, she didnt enjoy it much though

[Racingben]

Shelby is coming up to 2 and a half.

So far she has scalextric, tomy gx buggy (same size as losi micro t but has a controller small enough for little hands) and early learning centre radio controlled car.