Look Mom – a real Tractor!!

What should you look for when choosing toy John Deere tractors?

Why do tractors fascinate kids? Maybe it’s because they are the workhorses of today or because they symbolise energy and power. They’re colorful, noisy and can go anywhere. They get the job done!

Nowadays boys and girls probably see a tractor before they see a horse. Tractors always draw their attention.

What are the benefits of toy John Deere Tractors for our kids?

Ride on toy John Deere tractors give toddlers a wonderful opportunity for Active Play. Climbing on and off, loading up and riding their tractors round the yard is great “big muscle” exercise and lots of fun too!.

A toy John Deere tractor can give your child a chance to learn how to pedal and to steer.

Riding requires balance and manoeuvring their tractor demands good hand and eye coordination.

From the age of two, toddlers develop imaginative play. From this age, youngsters are looking for more and more realistic detail in their toys. If you going to work and drive like grown ups you want a “real” tractor – and probably a green one!

They like to be able to drive on grass, rough ground, concrete and asphalt – just like a real tractor driver.

I’ve seen that playing with ride on toy John Deere tractors encourages cooperation and sharing. Working together, kids see the need to take turns and share roles.

“ Now Jack, you can load the trailer while Jill drives the tractor”

There are “push along”, pedal driven and battery powered ride on toy John Deere tractors. Some tractors have trailers or loaders. So there is a good selection to choose from.

What to look for - when choosing your tractor

Safe for the toddler’s age. The tractor should not be too high and should be well balanced so it does not tip over. Watch for sharp edges that can cut or scratch. Beware of small parts than can be unscrewed – and swallowed!

Safety Warning

Push along and pedal tractors don’t have brakes. Beware steep hills and driveways.
Check damaged tractors for any sharp edges.
Take care what your toddler loads in his trailer or loader. Watch for items that are too heavy and rubble containing nails or glass.

Suited to your son or daughter’s physical abilities.Your child needs to reach the pedals or be able to push along while seated on the tractor.
Well constructed and durable . Toy tractors need to be tough as they are worked hard. Strong plastic bodies and good steel pedal mechanisms are the order of the day.
Your tractor needs good traction. “All terrain” vehicles like these tractors need to go over grass, rough ground and hard driveways. Large, strong, cleated tires are needed for a good grip.
Your ride on toy John Deere tractor should be appealing and interesting. Bright green body with yellow seats and wheels are the John Deere livery. Lights, grills, steering wheel and dashboard features all add to the realism and attract your toddler.
“Add-on” features like a trailer or front loader add to the play possibilities provided by your toy John Deere tractor

The Self-scouring “Baby” - invented in Illinois!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if kids cleaned themselves - as they played? Maybe John Deere had this idea in mind when in 1836; the young blacksmith left Vermont for Illinois - to seek his fortune!

There he saw that the rich Midwestern soil clung to the farmers plows. The Illinois settlers had to stop and clean their iron plows every few paces - making their work laborious.

With great ingenuity, John Deere solved the problem. He designed a steel plow shaped so that it cleaned itself as it glided through the furrow. It was “self-scouring”.

The John Deere Corporation, one of the oldest industrial companies in the United States, is now one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural and construction equipment in the world.

The leaping deer trademark is one of the most recognized corporate symbols in America and represents dependable quality.

Toy John Deere tractors-image

“I will never put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me." John Deere

“Is it ready to ride – NOW?”

Most ride on toy John Deere tractors require assembly and some of our readers have had difficulty following the assembly instructions. Be prepared for the job and take your time. An excited, waiting three-year-old can only add to the stress so best plan to put the tractor together before showing the toy to your child.

Don’t forget that battery powered John Deere tractor toys need their batteries recharging. This is a really difficult concept for a toddler to understand – and tolerate. It’s best to get into a routine of charging the battery every night to save disappointment.

Here are the Toy John Deere tractors we have reviewed...

John Deere Tot Tractor - by RC2 Ertl Racing Champions

This “Foot to Floor” ride on is designed as an “entry level” toy John Deere tractor suitable for children as young as 18 months. The toy provides good active play as the young driver propels the ride on with their feet.

It’s a rugged durable green plastic tractor suitable for riding indoors and tough enough for outdoor use.

This ride on has yellow sidewalls carrying the John Deere name and a black front grill. There is a steering wheel to hold - but this toy John Deere tractor does not have “real” steering.

A narrow seat makes it easy for tots to climb on and off this toy. The Tot Tractor’s widely set tires are designed for stability but we think that at 16 inches it may be too high - and will be a little too easy to tip over.

This tractor requires simple assembly.

Priced at around $22 we feel other options offer better value. Look at these Toy John Deere tractors

There have to be rules - but they can be Fun too!

A tractor brings responsibilities - which can all be

part of your child’s play

Right from the start, the tractor should have a “designated parking place” under cover. At the end of the day your toddler should be encouraged to put his charge away and good practice established from the start.
Tractors can go “anywhere”. It needs to be clearly stated what is “out of bounds”. Jack and Jill can use their improved steering skills to keep away.
A trailer or front loader will allow your youngster to “round up” all those errant toys left around the yard and which need bringing on home.
Trailers and loaders also enable “harvesting”. Rather than Mom’s prize dahlias or the neighbor’s gravel, children should be shown the fallen leaves or their own sand or gravel supply.
Toy John Deere tractors need to be cleaned regularly. A bucket of soapy water and a few old cloths can provide an hour’s useful- if wet - fun! It can get really exciting if Mom or Dad will sluice the tractor down with a hose.

John Deere Farm Tractor with Trailer - by Peg Perego.

This is an attractive modern farm tractor that comes with its own matching trailer. So your young backyard farmer can both ride and haul - opening up a wide range of imaginative play ideas to them.

It is a chain driven pedal tractor (like a bicycle) of good quality construction. The chain is enclosed for safety and the chain and drive mechanism are of rugged design.

It is easy to pedal and has a smooth pedal action. At twenty inches high this toy John Deere tractor has good access and is suitable for two year olds and up.

The colors and logos are true John Deere green and yellow. It’s very realistic. There is a large bright yellow bucket seat, which is adjustable so the toy can grow with your daughter or son.

Large cleated tractor wheels, an exhaust pipe, simulated lights and direction indicators all add to the realism of this great toy John Deere tractor.

The detachable trailer is well matched and hitches easily to the back of the tractor. The weight capacity of the tractor is 50 pounds.

The tractor comes partly assembled - but there’s still some work to do!

At around $100 to $130 we think this toy provides very good value
Check out these Toy John Deere tractors

John Deere HST4300 Plastic Pedal Tractor - by RC2 Ertl Racing Champions

This is the largest toy John Deere tractor we have reviewed. At over three feet long this tractor is sized for a child of three years and up. You will see that it has a more traditional shape and look to it. A real “ Barn filler ”.

The tractor is made from sturdy moulded plastic that won't rust. It has rounded corners so it is a safe design.

This is another chain driven pedal tractor. The pedal axle is steel, as is the steering mechanism. They are both strong and durable. The chain is enclosed for safety.

The bright yellow seat is adjustable to suit your child. The steering wheel is realistic and fully operational. Our three-year-old test driver found the pedals easy-to-reach and she was able to steer this big tractor comfortably.

This ride on toy tractor is in true John Deere colors – green and yellow - and comes with stickers of the John Deere name and logo. It has a black grill and artificial headlights.

The tractor’s big chunky cleated tires are a highlight and they give this tractor a really tough and dependable look as well as good traction.

The tractor does not come with a trailer but has a large hook at the back for towing.

Expect to pay between $85 to $110 for this toy. See these Toy John Deere tractors

John Deere Loader Tractor - by Peg Perego

This is a wonderful tractor for imaginative play. It is a construction tractor with a heavy-duty front loader.

It’s pedal driven, using an enclosed chain drive – for safety. The drive mechanism uses a rugged bicycle chain and sockets and the pedal action is smooth.

This toy John Deere tractor has a modern 4WD look and is in the John Deere colors. A roll bar with indicator lights; exhaust pipe; a dashboard with gauges; simulated lights and oversized cleated wheels all add up to a true-to-life tractor.

The large yellow bucket seat is adjustable to match your child’s growth. The loader scoop can be operated whilst seated and your youngster will need coordination and an eye for distance as they manoeuvre and carry their loads about.

This tractor has a hook on the back for attaching a trailer. With this accessory the tractor has just about everything. The trailer is sold separately. Look at this add-on for Toy John Deere tractors

The assembly instructions for this toy are vague. Patience and perseverance will be required! The end result and the joy it brings will be worth the effort and frustration.

This loader tractor costs around $130. Good value. Check out these Toy John Deere tractors

John Deere Power Pull Tractor - by Peg Perego

This is a battery powered ride on toy John Deere Tractor. Your youngster can have a lot of exciting fun with this toy.

A rechargeable 12-volt battery drives the Power Pull tractor. It has a working gearshift. There are two forward gears, allowing speeds of 2.25 and 4.5 mph – faster than I can walk!. There is also a reverse gear for backing up.

The foot accelerator and brake are operated on the same pedal. You press down to go and let off to stop.

The performance of this tractor is impressive. Your youngster can drive it over hard surfaces, gravel and grass. It can go up slopes - up to a gradient of 1 in 10!

This tractor is very realistically detailed in the John Deere colors. It has a black and yellow steering wheel with a working horn. Simulated lights and a roll bar add to the realism. There is a hood, which lifts to reveal a “pretend” engine.

The large yellow bucket seat adjusts to accommodate your growing child.
A large trailer with tailgate comes along with this toy John Deere tractor. So your toddler can haul as well as ride.

We’ve seen a number of complaints about the quality of construction and reliability of this tractor. Nevertheless, it continues to provide tremendous fun for a lot of kids.

A battery powered ride on does not provide the exercise that push along and pedal tractors do. Remember to keep the battery recharged.

Expect to pay between $200 and $230 for this tractor.Look at these Toy John Deere tractors

Is there an alternative to Toy John Deere tractors?

You'll find some interesting alternatives to Toy John Deere tractors in our review of Backhoe Ride On toys or you may select another toy category from the sidebar.

Or for something completely different ..

Caterpillar Kid Tractor - by Kettler

This is a very realistic toy ride on tractor from John Deere's competitor - Caterpillar.

It's manufactured to Kettlers high standards of design and material and should prove to be very durable.

The tractor comes with a trailer, offering additional play options.

It's bright yellow color is in complete contrast to the John Deere green.

Priced around $140 we think this is a good value alternative. See something different from Toy John Deere tractors