The perfect present for a caring keeper, Jellycat Bashful Giraffe is loving and loyal, if a little shy! His toffee and white fur is as velvety as can be, and...
Bashful Elephant has an amazing sense of smell, thanks to that tremendous trunk! If you’re doing some baking, don’t be surprised if you feel a supersoft nudge and find a...
This quirkly cute critter from Jellycat is perfect for an abundance of affection! Super soft to touch and weighed down with beans in it's bottom, it's hard to ever put...
All the way from sunny Australia, it's Jellycat Bashful Koala! This cuddler from Down Under has the softest grey fur and flopsy limbs for bonza cuddles. A big, squidgy nose in...
For the King of the Beasts, Bashful Lion is looking sweetly, well, bashful! He wants a caring companion to ruffle his luxurious caramel mane. Give this squeezy, butter-bellied big cat...
So, so soft and ever so pretty, Bashful Kitty is a brilliant soft toy buddy for bedtime. This dreamy cat, with her cloudy-soft fur and sugar pink nose, is just...
Dreamy, dapper and delightful - that's Bashful Llama! This nuzzly-neutral long-necked lovely has a very fine ruff in biscuity fluff. With a punky-soft hairdo, snuffly snoot, squidgy hooves, and waggly...
A fuzzy, cuddly penguin makes a perfect playtime companion and bedtime buddy for your little one. Jellycat Bashful Medium Penguin Details: Hand wash cold, air dry Size 9" H
So, so soft and ever so pretty, Bashful Raccoon is a brilliant soft toy buddy for bedtime. This cuddly raccoon, with her cloudy-soft fur and fuzzy brown nose, is the...
Made of beautiful silky smooth Bashful fur in a scrummy creamy chocolatey color, this monkey swings through the trees as fast as can be, becoming a number one playmate- understandably!!...
Bashful Panda Cub is ready for his close up! This little cub is looking for a friend to share his bamboo with, and his silky soft black and white fur...
Jellycat Bashful Pig perky porker is always rambling and scrambling around to find the tastiest treats on the ground! In baby pink Bashful fur, with a snuggly wiggly tail, you’ll...
Gentle and affable, Bashful Pug is a tumbly, rumply rascal. Beautifully soft with a plump, beigey tum and a pebble-grey wrinkly muzzle, this curious pup has sweet foldy ears and...
Jellycat Bashful Puppy Toffee is a gorgeous retriever, but he’s still learning how to spell that! This supercute, soft little pup wants to be a guide dog when he grows...
Time for a trot with this fuzzy, squashy donkey! Hee-haw! That’s Bashful Donkey chuckling. He’s a practical joker who loves to play pranks! He’s a softy though, in squashy...
Isn't Bashful Snow Tiger Medium majestic? Stalking through deep forests in grey and creamy stripes, this fierce-but-friendly wanderer isn't scared of anything! Nuzzle up to those big squishy paws, a...
Rolled up tight and presented with a ribbon round it, Bashful Bunny Soother is the perfect gift for any newborn arrival. When the soother is untied, Bashful Bunny won't let...
Irresistible to touch and accompanied by cute as a button Bashful Puppy, this soother is a favorite for bedtime hugs and quiet time cuddles. Suitable from birth Dimension H13"
Bashful Monkey clutches to this silky soft soother, it's just too irresistible to let go of! The soother is rolled up tight and presented with a ribbon, but once undone...
Bashful Terrier is raring to go with floppy ears and cocoa patches! If you've got a stick, ball or frisbee to throw, they'll be off in flash. Who cares about...
Splash! Bashful Turtle is here and flipping gorgeous! This gentle turtle has a soft grey-beigey shell and flopsy, minty, chunky flippers! A perfect companion for trips to the seaside, this...
Sugar-sweet in pink and white, Bashful Unicorn is such a delight. Full of magic and moonlight, she loves the forest, so be sure to take her on any picnic. So...
Looking very smart in black and cream stripes, it's beautiful Bashful Zebra. This zippy zebra loves to dash about flaunting a silky soft mane, a fancy tail with a tuft...
Fluttering in with a cheeky grin, it's beautiful Beatrice Butterfly! Rosy and cozy with a beany bottom, soft textured wings and suedey antennae, this bobbly buddy loves yummy nectar and...
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.