It seems that kids were way ahead of us adults on this one. Having an electric-powered car is where all the fun is at. All joking aside, though, it’s important for parents to pay attention to how the toy is getting used in order to get as much life out of the battery as you can before you need to replace it. There are a few ways to ensure this happens, so we’ve created a guide on how to maintain your child’s ride-on car battery.

First Charge Out of the Box

Before your kid even gets to test drive their stylish new toy, it’s imperative to charge it first. It’s a good idea to leave it on the charger for at least eight hours or so, but follow the manual’s suggestions before all else. Regardless of how long you charge it, this vital step cannot be ignored since you don’t know how long it’s been since the last time the battery had a full charge.

Don’t Drain It Completely

If you notice your child’s ride-on is starting to slow down because of a low battery charge, it’s a good idea to tell them that it’s time to be done for the day. Letting the battery drain to zero percent can damage it, allowing it to deteriorate quicker than it typically would have. It’s a good idea to teach your child that it’s time to give their ride-on a break once it begins slowing down. That way they can watch for it in case you don’t notice.

Fully Charge It Before Use

Doing this helps with the overall battery life of the ride-on as well as allowing your child to enjoy their toy for as long as they can before it needs to charge up again. It’s a win-win situation for both your kid and the car’s battery.

Buy a Ride-On With a Bigger Battery

This tip on how to maintain your child’s ride-on car battery is one to remember before you even start shopping. If your kid’s car has a larger battery to begin with, then all of these previous points won’t be as significant of a concern, although you will still need to keep an eye on them. We offer a handful of 12v UTV ride-ons in our online store that we’re sure your kid will love. One of our models even comes with a 24-volt battery for even less stress about battery drain.

Shut It Down When Not in Use

Once winter hits or your child is taking a break from using it daily, you’ll still need to maintain the ride-on’s battery. In general, you should charge the battery every two to three weeks in order to keep it healthy, but we know that remembering to do this is the last thing on parents’ minds. That’s why we recommend fully charging the battery and then unplugging it if you know it’ll be a while until it gets used again. The best way to unplug it is to remove the positive terminal from the battery. Once your child is all set to ride it again, simply plug it in, and it will be ready to go.