| Rocking horses still rock. This traditional gift has | | | | seemingly take up little space, but once a child begins |
| sustained popularity for hundreds of years literally, | | | | putting that toy into action, it grows in size. Consumers |
| despite the light flashing and noise blurting games of | | | | should carefully consider which room has enough |
| today. Historically the rocking horse has sustained the | | | | space to accommodate the wooden horse. He should |
| test of time. Consider how often you see pictures of it | | | | find a place where the horse will not collide with other |
| in old photographs with children. Additionally, well kept | | | | toys and yet a place where he can quickly stow the |
| horses have become family keepsakes, passed down | | | | horse in a spot to put it away. The careful parent will |
| from generation to generationConsumers must | | | | want to keep the horse far away from the stairs and |
| consider a variety of details when purchasing a rocking | | | | from yielding areas like throw rugs that will make the |
| horse, starting with the child for whom they are buying. | | | | horse unstable.Rocking horses literally come in all |
| The size of the child matters first as far as safety on | | | | shapes and sizes. The standard wooden horse might |
| the horse is concerned. Consider a toy of suitable | | | | not be the best bet considering both the child receiving |
| height and width. Buying a horse too big or too small | | | | the rocking horse and the space where the consumer |
| would result in just a pitiful sight.Can you imagine the | | | | will put the horse. Wooden rocking horses, plush |
| three year old opening and then trying to ride the horse | | | | rocking horses, rocking vehicles and even rocking |
| built for a six year old? The child should be able to | | | | animals fill shelves in toy stores and pages on Internet |
| mount the horse with ease. Toy companies can help a | | | | toy sites. The doting grandparent might want to select |
| consumer determine which horse to purchase by | | | | a toy that complements the child's room or that piques |
| suggesting suitable ages for products. Also, a | | | | the child's interest, like a race car for a fast moving |
| consumer can compare the height of the seat from | | | | toddler. The consumer should also consider if more |
| the floor to the inseam of the child. Consumers should | | | | than one child in the family will use the toy, and thus |
| also consider how and if the horse can grow with the | | | | acquiesce to a more neutral horse, like the traditional |
| child. Will the child continue to ride it for the next couple | | | | rocking horse. Finally, the consumer will want to |
| of years, or will he abandon it within the first few | | | | consider if he'd like the toy to become a family |
| months?Consider the kid when you buy the horse.The | | | | keepsake or even a toy, which will decorate the |
| consumer should also consider where the horse will go | | | | home.Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. |
| once he's gotten it home. Rocking horses might | | | | |