Recommended ages: 18 months–7 years
Playing with cars and trucks can provide hours of fun and learning. With your help or independently, your child can:
- Create a parking lot for his/her fleet using a grid of painter’s tape or masking tape on the floor.
- Transform items found around the home into raceways, tunnels, ramps, and bridges.
- Explore concepts such as stop and go, fast and slow, up and down.
Older children can investigate more complex concepts such as friction and momentum.
- Observe friction by covering ramps or surfaces in different textures. Which surface lets cars go faster?
- Experiment with momentum by adjusting the angle of the ramp. Which ramp lets the car go farther?
Pro Tip: Let your child conduct a science experiment: measure the distance a car travels on smooth vs. bumpy surfaces or steep ramps vs. less sloped ramps. Compare and discuss the results with your child. Did it go as planned? Were there any surprises?
Stay safe (and at home) and take care.