For parents looking to encourage cognitive skills while having fun — this Memory Game is a match! The sturdy and adorable leaf shaped cards are perfect for play and just the right...
Dress up these adorable baby animals with your own creative style! Our fun and educational Baby Animals Lacing Cards feature our signature hand illustrated friends - bunny, fox, bear, cat,...
Be inspired by the life of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, with this engaging picture book designed especially for young readers. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a bestselling...
Published in partnership with Comic Relief, Lenny Henry tells the inspiring story of the talented British comedian determined to make the world laugh. Ever since he was small, Lenny Henry wanted to be...
A Memory Game! Match up the Little People to their BIG DREAMS! Discover amazing women in this simple memory game, from the creator of the bestselling Little People BIG DREAMS...
Model K is the ultimate camera designed for kids aged 3 to 9. Its large HD touchscreen ensures effortless navigation, while the built-in selfie camera adds an extra element of...
Lullaby friends is a collection of beautiful items for babies. This elephant has a soft cuddle cloth and will play a calm lullaby when you pull the tail. It is...
Add this annex to your Mouse hole Farmhouse if your mouse family needs more space. Decorate each room with your favorite furniture and make a cozy outdoor room on the...
Every busy household needs a helping hand for the laundry - a washing machine is the right solution. It is made in metal and painted in off-white color, with many...
The perfect chair for a rest or a small nap. This chair fits the mouse family perfectly and can easily be mixed with other mouse furniture and accessories to create...
A very essential item for the the bathroom in any mouse house. It has a small closet under the sink and of course a mirror as well. Add the Maileg...
A very essential item for the the bathroom in any mouse house. It has a small closet under the sink and of course a mirror as well. Add the Maileg...
Big sister mouse is ready for a day in school, carrying her backpack on the back. She has magnets in her hands so she can hold the handles of the...
When you want to paint colorful pictures but want to leave the mess behind then it's time to reach for Chunkies Paint Sticks. Chunkies are super easy to use, clean...
24 colors and no mess! Little artists love painting, but while parents love the pictures, they don’t always love the mess. With easy to grip Chunkies Paint Sticks, kids have...
Taken from the gods as a newborn and adopted on earth, Hercules is just an awkward pillar of strength trying to fit in. When Hercules discovers Hades’ sinister plot to...
Experience the magic of Encanto through storytelling, favorite songs, and original voices! / Experimenta la magia de Encanto a través de cuentos, canciones favoritas ¡y voces originales! This Tonie...
For naptime and bedtime on the go, this Carry Bed by Corolle is perfect for travel play time. The cute teddy bear print is inviting and a signature Corolle designed in...
A classic Maileg item. This mouse is ready for hours of play and sleeps tight in the little matchbox. The clothes and bedlinen are made of soft fabrics with unique...
A classic Maileg item. This mouse is ready for hours of play and sleeps tight in the little matchbox. The clothes and bedlinen are made of soft fabrics with unique...
The Twirly Whirly Rainbomaker is a delightful real musical instrument which creates a captivating combination of sound and colour. By turning the Rainbomaker, baby will be able to watch as...
Goldie Grand Flopsie is a large golden retriever that comes in a resting position. Suitable for all ages and personalities. High-Quality Materials make for a soft and fluffy touch. Quality...
This Asha White Leopard is a spotted feline made with amazingly soft fur that is in a resting position. Its understuffed body gives an extra comforting feel in your arms....
This Raven Panther is a jet black feline made with amazingly soft fur that is in a resting position. Its understuffed body gives an extra comforting feel in your arms....
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.