Kids - they can’t get enough of all things automotive. If it’s got an engine, if it makes a noise and if you can pull or push it along, it’s bound to entertain.
 
But why? Well there’s lots of reasons, but research suggests that kids love to move toys around and they are intrigued with how fast or slow they can go as well as how much pressure they can apply. They like the interaction it provides and the satisfaction of a train rolling up and down the tracks. These in turn happen to be rather useful for developing fine motor skills (no punt intended!) as well as coordination skills.

This kind of imaginative play is also great for helping with engineering and maths based performance. Building ramps and racing cars against each other can help improve these skill sets too. Just as well for all those car toys lying around the house.
 
In the world of education, these types of toys would be considered as part of STEM. This stands for science, technology, engineering, and maths - it's an approach that integrates more than one of these disciplines.
 
When you think of the cool girls and boys toys on offer, there’s a large amount with a mechanical/automotive theme.
 
Thankfully, we are moving away from the old-fashioned view of ‘girl’s toys’ and ‘boys toys’ and becoming more gender fluid in our approach. There’s a range car toys for girls emerging in the market, although we look forward to the day they are just marketed as ‘toys for kids’ rather than by gender.
 
If you’re keen to support your child’s interest in planes, trains and automobiles, then here’s a couple of movies they are sure to love.
 
For aviation lovers

• Disney Planes
• Those Magnificent Men in their flying machines
• Disney Plane: Fire & Rescue
• Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
• Paper Plane

 
For Trainspotters

• Thomas & Friends: The Great Discovery
• The Railway Children
• The Great Locomotive Chase
• Stand by Me
• The Polar Express

 
For little petrol heads

• Back to the Future
• Disney Cars
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• The Muppet Movie
• Herbie Fully Loaded

For kids that love toy cars, check out the Munchy Play Vroom-Vroom kids car plate with a built-in track