Buzzillions Blogs

There are three categories of toys in my house: Toys that no one cares about, toys the kids play with, but can be persuaded to share… and toys that are so loved, so enjoyed and coveted, that some kind of smackdown usually occurs over who gets to play with it. In this third category, resides The PlasmaCar. The PlasmaCar was hauled off a low shelf at Target by my two year old son a few weeks back. It looked like a fairly standard ride-on toy. It wasn’t electric, there were no bells or horns, no fancy stickers. So I was a little perplexed. At home he has a Radio Flyer Tricycle, a Rallye Scooter and Power Wheels electric car, none of which he’s showed significant interest in. But within thirty seconds of trying the The PlasmaCar, he was thrilled, careening around corners in the store, narrowly missing shopping carts. The child who was otherwise shy and reserved, who clung to me like a drowning cat, was now hard to keep up with.

We got it home, and that’s when my other two children really took notice. His six year old sister wanted a try, then his twin sister. Everyone loved it. Why? According to the manufacturer it makes use of “…that most inexhaustible of energy sources, kid-power, by harnessing the natural forces of inertia, centrifugal force, gravity, and friction.” If you’re like me, I just blinded you with science, but the point is that it’s been designed to propel kids forward in a way they’ve never tired. It has no pedals, needs no batteries, and is blessedly free of any annoying sounds. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio awarded this their Platinum Award and it seems like parents agree… check out the reviews. It’s been about a month now, and since I’ve only got one PlasmaCar (something I plan to remedy soon) I have to hide it and bring it out only when I feel strong enough to referee the ensuing brawl. I’m also happy to report that adults can actually fit on it, which means I can go cruising down the driveway as the kids watch from the sidelines shrieking, “My turn next!”