To be honest, it hasn't really been that hard. Mimi's had a fascination with all things automotive from the very start (and, as a bonus, trains, too!). She could identify her car on the street - in Manhattan, no less - well before she could walk. When it comes to toys, cars and trucks are her "go-to" items. She'll race into her room, open the toy chest, and pull out her tub of Hot Wheels (many of which used to be mine) at least twice a day. For someone who has loved cars since before he can remember, it's an unexpected but welcome joy to see my little girl so excited about those boxes on four wheels.
Of course, a car-loving father cannot grow complacent in his automotive duty to raise his child right. It's fantastic that Mimi seems to enjoy cars on her own, but there's so much more to learn. Here's the situation so far. Mimi can...
- Identify her father's car and her mother's car in a parking lot
- Strap herself into her carseat
- Discern between trucks, cars, sports cars, tractors, and trains
- Make car noises independently and with great gusto
- Play independently with cars (this actually holds her attention longer than anything except for crayons and books)
- Perform a full tune-up and rotate the tires in less than an hour (OK, that last one hasn't happened just yet)
We're building on this excellent start in little ways each day. First thing each morning, even before we eat breakfast, we see Mama off from the window upstairs. This helps Mimi to identify our cars from above. Not the most useful of all skills, but I think both mother and daughter enjoy waving goodbye to each other as part of the process.
Sometimes we'll lay out a selection of autos on the table. Today Mimi started off with the big Stomper truck. She's a little afraid of this one (it's rather noisy when running), but with the switch off, she was fascinated.
From there it was time to identify the Porsche. This is my favorite game. She's getting better at it each day. Yes, there's still some confusion over the orange 928 and the red BMW Z8, but she's generally quite accurate.
Lastly comes the tractor. Farm and construction equipment is fairly low on my list, but little kids seem to have a certain fascination with big tractors.
My old collection of Hot Wheels and other toy cars was a good start for Mimi. By no means extensive - only about 30 cars or so - it was a manageable number that provided a decent range of vehicle types and models without being overwhelming. There are definite gaps, though, and I find myself leafing through the Hot Wheels racks whenever I go to a drug or toy store. I try to find models of actual cars, and classic ones at that. The other day I came across a Datsun 510 as well as a Triumph TR6. Both very important cars that are often overlooked by 21st century toddlers.
Below is a group of sporting cars that are essential for any budding enthusiast to recognize. From left to right: Datsun 510 (the poor man's BMW 2002); Triumph TR6 (a still-affordable British classic); Pontiac Trans-Am (Smokey and the Bandit); Mercedes 450SL (70s swank and a common Columbo villain car); Datsun 280Z (a "don't date that guy" car).
As I was setting up the picture above Mimi noticed that something was missing and brought it over to me right away, without even being asked. Yes, that's right, every group of sporting cars needs a Porsche!
There's still a lot of work that needs to be done, though. We are woefully behind when it comes to BMWs, 1950s and 1960s American cars, and I don't even have a decent 911. It's going to take some time, of course, and that's just fine. Mimi still gets a bit confused when it comes to the role certain cars play. Take the vintage Porsche Spyder below. I don't think it was ever designed to transport a Dora toothbrush.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not attempting to raise a total tomboy. Mimi's still girlie in plenty of ways. Put her in front of a mirror with a new hat and she'll pose away for hours on end. She also loves hugs, babies, and kitty cats. Yes, I think I'm raising a well-balanced little girl. She's even developed her first little crush on a television character.
Honestly, I had nothing to do with it!
