By: Aditya Krishnakumar, Co-Founder BIDSO
Mobility toys—such as tricycles, scooters, balance bikes, ride-ons, and push cars—are more than just tools for play. They are essential to a child’s developmental journey, encouraging physical movement, sensory engagement, social interaction, and emotional confidence. In the early years of life, when every movement, reaction, and exploration becomes a building block for motor and cognitive development, mobility toys act as a catalyst for growth.
The segment is gaining visibility with India’s children’s mobility toy market now valued at over Rs 1,000-1,500 crore and growing fast. Yet, it remains largely unorganised and fragmented, with limited emphasis on purposeful toy design. With India’s domestic toy industry currently at around 1% of the global market, at $1Bn, there is immense potential to scale both domestically and for export. A shift toward design-led, age-appropriate, and safety-focused mobility toys could unlock new levels of impact, not just for the industry but for millions of children growing up in India.
Tool for development
The importance of mobility toys in early childhood development cannot be overstated. At every age milestone, a thoughtfully designed toy supports the child’s evolving physical and cognitive abilities. For toddlers aged 1-3 years, ride-on push cars and foot-to-floor vehicles help develop gross motor skills, leg strength, and balance. At this stage, toys should have wide bases for stability, ergonomic seating, and low-speed movement to prevent accidents.
Between the ages of 3 and 5, toys such as tricycles, balance bikes, and beginner scooters come into play. These toys aid coordination, encourage independence, and help build core strength. For older children aged 5 and above, more advanced scooters and bicycles can enhance agility, spatial awareness, and confidence in navigating real-world environments.
The design of these toys must evolve with the age of the child. Features like adjustable seat heights, safety harnesses, soft handles, and reinforced frames are no longer optional—they are essential. A tricycle that’s too tall or a scooter without a stable deck can do more harm than good. Age-appropriateness in toy design ensures not just safety but also maximises engagement, helping the child reach key developmental goals through active play.
Ensuring safety
India’s toy market—particularly the mobility category—was once dominated by low-cost, low-safety imports and unregulated local products. This began to change with the introduction of BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) regulations in 2019. Today, the challenge lies in Indian manufacturers being able to meet required safety and design standards at scale, both for domestic and export markets.
Parents must be cautious not to buy toys with poor build quality, lacking non-toxic certifications or adequate structural support. This is where standardisation and regulation in mobility toy manufacturing become crucial, ensuring safety and reliability.
BIS certification thus is a step in the right direction, but awareness among consumers and compliance by manufacturers needs to rise significantly. Safe toy design includes non-toxic materials, rounded edges, secure joints, anti-slip tyres, and weight-tested structures. Companies investing in long-lasting, safe, and ergonomically designed mobility toys will not only earn consumer trust but also elevate the perception of Indian toy quality on the global stage.
Opportunity in the sector
Despite the market for kids’ mobility toys crossing ₹1,000 crore, it is still largely unorganised. This creates both a challenge and an opportunity. With increasing awareness among urban Indian parents around developmental milestones and play-based learning, there is a rising demand for structured, durable, and thoughtfully engineered toys.
Brands that invest in innovation, design R&D, and compliance with global safety norms are well-positioned to lead this space. India’s push for “Make in India” and the curbing of cheap imports offer an incentive to domestic players to build strong homegrown brands. Toy manufacturers that collaborate with child psychologists, physiotherapists, and product designers can unlock deeper insights into how children play and learn.
In an age of screen saturation and digital distraction, physical play is more important than ever. Mobility toys not only get children moving but also teach them spatial awareness, resilience after falls, and a sense of agency. When children propel themselves—whether on a scooter in the park or a tricycle on a quiet lane—they gain confidence, build stamina, and begin to understand the world on their terms. With the right design thinking, investment in quality, and education around the role of mobility toys in child development, we can shape a generation that grows not just faster or stronger, but smarter, safer, and more self-assured. As toy design becomes central to this movement, mobility toys will no longer be viewed as just playthings but as powerful tools in a child’s journey toward physical, cognitive, and emotional wellness.