Cordy, colorful, cute, and kooky, that's Vivacious Vegetable Carrot! Gorgeously textured and squeezably soft, this bright orange buddy has a punky green leaf-do! A veggie with plenty of energy, this...
Vivacious Vegetable Egg Plant just arrived in a very special veg box! Stretchy-soft in blush plum fur, with a sweet friendly smile and a green stalk hat, this one is...
Fresh from the ocean and full of smiles, it's wonderful Wally Whale! He's a beautiful buddy with vibrant teal fur and the softest, most tickly underbelly. This quirky whale holds...
Wee Gallery Jungle Alphabet Cards are the perfect gift for newborn baby, toddlers, or any age in between. The high-contrast animal and jungle illustrations create a mesmerizing display for babies, while...
A multi-functional playmat. This giraffe nursery décor themed mat is perfect for babies and toddlers, providing comfort and joy in one. Indispensable for every playtime, this baby floor mat embodies playfulness...
Lion: One of the Tikiri My First Zoo animals, the cute lion is ever so squeezable and ready for curious minds. Take him in the bath, or as a teething...
Every bunny needs a best friend. This friend will hop out of the beautiful gift box to greet you. They arrive wearing a stripped frosted orange top but you can...
There's no buddy like Big Brother. His bedding has beautiful blue and grey-toned stripes to keep him cozy in bed. He is wearing a long sleeve-striped shirt and removable linen...
A real prince mouse in a big brother size. He is dressed in his finest clothes with beautiful details and a golden crown. He fits perfectly into the Maileg castle....
The little princess is dressed in her finest dress, shawl, and golden-grown. This royal mouse can be paired with Big Brother Prince Mouse. Maileg Big Sister Princess Mouse Doll Dusty...
This lovely bunny will be sure to make any child extremely happy! She gets cozy for the night her red and white striped night suit that is as soft as...
Playful stove box opens up to reveal everything you need to cook a perfect imaginary dinner. The set includes a pot, pan, strainer, and utensils. Height: 3.15 in Material: Cooking...
Maileg Little Brother Dance Mouse is a new friend to the collection. He is dressed in a cute vest and comes in a beautiful matchbox. Maileg Little Brother Dance Mouse Details:...
The new iron and ironing board are sized just right for the dollhouse and just the right height for our Mini friends, including Size 1 Bunnies and Rabbits. Includes bright...
Invite your friend for Sunday supper at the dining table. The set contains a round table and 2 metal chairs. Oval table measures 6.5" x 3.5" Chairs are 5" tall...
All your beloved Maileg friends will need a bath once in a while. The vintage bathtub fits perfectly in the Maileg Dollhouse & Bathroom. *Mouse is sold separately* Material: Metal ...
The perfect gift for any newborn baby. The fabric is very exclusive and gives the small teddy bear a sweet classic vintage look. Ready to be loved for many years....
Oink Oink! Make room for one of the cutest pigs of all time. Polly Pork is very soft and is always ready to cuddle with a friend! Suitable for all...
The bunny & rabbit collection is made of soft natural linen & cotton fabric - which gives a lovely hand feel and look. This rabbit is ready for summer...
All hands on deck! This intricately crafted size 4 Sailor Rabbit doesn't sacrifice his sea legs for style as he demonstrates how important it is to look good out on the...
This sweet panda is made of cotton and corduroy. It is a dear friend to all the other animals in the popular Maileg Safari friends category. Maileg Safari Friends Panda...
A baby has arrived at the teddy family. It is made in the same soft linen fabric as the rest of the teddies, it comes dressed in a small suit...
This set of 4 soft cubes feature ribbons, numbers, letters, shapes and patterns in research proven high-contrast graphics. Stilumate baby's visual development with the Wimmer-Ferguson Mind Cubes. Ages 0 months+...
A hanging activity toy that will help stimulate your little one's senses. Features colorful jumble of animals, a mirror at the center, and multiple sensory activities. Size: 13.5 inches Age:...
Play is essential for children because it contributes to their intellectual, physical, emotional and social development. When children play, they exercise their creativity, develop their imagination, master their dexterity, improve their cognitive ability and build physical strength. Experts agree that the best kinds of play allow kids to set their own goals, negotiate challenges, develop and share ideas, and make their own rules.
But how can we make sure our kids are getting enough healthy, unstructured play time when they’re growing up in an overscheduled and stressful environment, when parents are overly focused on producing high academic achievers, and safety concerns prevent us from letting our kids roam around freely and unsupervised? Perhaps the best thing we can do for our kids is to make sure they have the right kinds of toys at home to make play time most rewarding.
First and foremost is safety. Safe toys for young children are sturdy, without sharp parts or splinters, free of pinching hazards, and easy to clean. If the toy will be used by an infant, it’s important that parts aren’t small enough to become a choking hazard.
Toys must be made from non-toxic materials and coated with lead-free paints. You should steer clear of antique toys, second-hand toys and homemade toys that have not been tested and approved by a certified testing lab, or may have been produced before the current regulations governing toy manufacturing were in effect.
In addition to being safe, a good toy will match the child’s appropriate stage of development and abilities.
The best baby activity toys for infants between 0-6 months are things they can reach, grasp, suck on, shake, and make noise with. Some age-appropriate toys for little babies are squeeze toys, teething toys, soft dolls, textured balls, and board books.
Infants between 6-12 months are starting to crawl, sit up and pull themselves to a standing position. They are capable putting things in and out of containers and placing objects on top of each other. Some of the best baby activity toys for this age group are dolls, vehicles with wheels, bath toys, large beads, nesting toys, large soft blocks, wooden blocks, and push & pull toys.
As your child continues to grow, look for toys that will encourage them to explore, create, pretend, imagine, and learn from trial and error.