Play Time
Bunnies By the Bay Silly Buddy Plush Toy Bunny White
$19.00Lots of pacifiers lost? Say no more, this cute silly buddy will be the solution to this problem. Floppy, sloppy, silly and soft, this playful pacifier holding silly buddies, tie...
Bunnies By the Bay Silly Buddy Plush Toy Bunny Pink
$19.00Lots of pacifiers lost? Say no more, this cute silly buddy will be the solution to this problem. Floppy, sloppy, silly and soft, this playful pacifier holding silly buddies, tie...
Bunnies By the Bay Silly Buddy Plush Toy Bunny Grey
$19.00Lots of pacifiers lost? Say no more, this cute silly buddy will be the solution to this problem. Floppy, sloppy, silly and soft, this playful pacifier holding silly buddies, tie...
Chronicle Books Mr. Bear's ABC Board Book
$19.99Learning the alphabet is a critical part of early childhood education. What better way to do this than with an oversize volume that stretches the boundaries of what an ABC...
Jellycat Jellycat Amuseable Avocado
$20.00 – $60.00Get your five-a-day in an adorable way with Amuseable Avocado! Scrummily green and soft, our veggie chum has a natty two-tone jacket in speckled fur. We love that squashy, suedey...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Letters Flash Cards...
$20.00Which sound belongs to which letter? With the endearing animal drawings on our ABC cards, children connect pictures, words, and sounds. These colorful cards invite word-building and fun games, making...
Wee Gallery Animal Alphabet Cards
$20.00Wee gallery animal alphabet cards are the perfect gift for newborn baby, toddler, or any age in between. The high-contrast animal illustrations create a mesmerizing display for babies, while the...
Wee Gallery Jungle Alphabet Cards
$20.00Wee 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...
Wee Gallery Woodland Alphabet Cards
$20.00Wee Gallery Woodland Alphabet Cards are the perfect gift for newborn baby, toddler, or any age in between. The high-contrast animal and jungle illustrations create a mesmerizing display for babies, while...
Manhattan Toy My Rocket
$20.00Blast off into space with My Rocket! Let your young one become an astronaut and pilot this colorful rocket for many missions to come. Featuring an internal rattle for simple...
Manhattan Toy Click Clack Ball
$20.00The colorful Click Clack Ball features handles that click with every twist. Filled with tiny beads inside, this baby ball also rattles when shaken. Perfect for infant stimulation! Ages 0...
Wee Gallery Nature Number Cards
$20.00These beautifully illustrated nature-inspired cards are designed to teach numbers in a fun and logical way. Use as flash cards, as well as a matching game that matches the number...
Hape Rotating Music Box
$22.00The Hape Rotating Music Box is a soothing and gentle toy that will encourage baby to experience music in a unique and interactive way. It plays delightful musical notes as...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Rainbow Ball
$22.00Awaken your child's curiosity with this colorful little Rainbow Ball has a velvety soft texture will engage a baby's senses. A toy that infants and toddlers will use over and...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Beads Grasper Natural
$22.00A beautifully natural grasping toy to keep the baby's interest. The beads--held together by an elasticized string--can be safely moved about to provide a tactile experience. Feels so great to children...
Maileg Maileg Iron and Ironing Board Toy
$22.00The 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...
Maileg Maileg Teddy Baby
$22.00A 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...
Jellycat Hibernating Bunny
$22.00Hibernating Bunny is a teeny-tiny, caramel-coloured dreamer. Tucked cosily in a fleecy, berry nest, or sometimes snoozing beside it, this sweet little bun has soft, foldy ears, a snuffly muzzle...
Jellycat Jellycat Nimbus Hippo
$22.50Nimbus Hippo is marshmallow-soft in scrambly lilac-brown fur. This cuddly calf has a tasselly tail and a beany bottom for sitting upon! With perky petal ears and a squidgy snoot,...
Jellycat Jellycat Bobbi Bunny with Carrot
$22.50Bobbi Bunny is a fluffy and cuddly little companion for your little ones. Adding to its cuteness is the carrot he is holding. Suitable from birth. Made from 100% polyester....
Jellycat Jellycat Wally Whale
$23.50 – $32.50Fresh 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...
Jellycat Jellycat Perry Polar Bear
$23.50 – $48.50For the coziest cuddles in the whole North Pole, skate on over to Jellycat Perry Polar Bear! Unbelievably snuggly, this cloudy cream cub is as soft as freshly fallen snow....
Maileg Maileg Miniature Bathtub Toy
$24.00All 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 ...
Jellycat Jellycat Swellegant Sophie Sheep
$25.00Swellegant Sheep is fabaalous and knows it. With a rich, creamy fleece made of silky-soft fur, long, loping biscuity legs and superlong lashes, this glamour-lamb is looking divine! An elegant...
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.