Play Time
Paola Reina Paola Reina Sonia Doll with Denim Pin...
$72.00Here are the Alex & Sonia dolls, by Paola Reina. This cute doll will charm your little one! Meet Sonia wearing a denim pink printed dress with a coordinating headband...
Paola Reina Paola Reina Sonia Doll with Pink Wool...
$72.00Here are the Alex & Sonia dolls, by Paola Reina. This cute doll will charm your little one! Meet Sonia wearing a pink wool jumper with a matching bow headband...
Paola Reina Paola Reina Sonia Doll with Polka Dot...
$72.00Here are the Alex & Sonia dolls, by Paola Reina. This cute doll will charm your little one! Meet Sonia wearing a burgundy polka dot dress with matching leggings and...
Brio Parking Garage
$96.00Parking Garage is the perfect addition to any BRIO World, connecting the railway and roadways together in a single destination. Each of the three levels of the Parking Garage...
Tonies Paw Patrol Marshall Audio Play Figurine
$17.99It's the Adventure Bay 500! The pups have built an awesome racetrack and are prepared to pit crew for The Whoosh! When the legendary racer is unable to drive, he...
Tender Leaf Toys Peacock Colors
$28.00See the world in different colors, or mix the colors to create as many color combinations as you like! This peacock has 5 tail feathers with colored acrylic windows and...
Guidecraft Peekaboo Lock Boxes
$110.00Unlock each box to explore what’s behind each door! This set of six wooden lock boxes is ideal for learning shape, color, and spatial relationships. Sort the shapes into the...
Tonies Peppa Pig Audio Play Figurine
$17.99It’s time to go on the road with Peppa Pig, George, and their family! Our favorite pig is here with a new audio collection of funny stories, music, and special...
Tonies Peter Rabbit Audio Play Figurine
$19.99Immerse your imagination in four of Beatrix Potter’s most beloved tales in one endearing collection. This Tonie contains original language from the Beatrix Potter stories. Tonies Peter Rabbit Audio Play...
Le Toy Van Petit Four Wooden Cupcakes
$18.00A set of four, hand painted and individually decorated wooden cupcakes with a finishing touch of gold paint. Presented in a sweet window gift box. Age: 2 years+ Made from...
Tonies Pinocchio and Other Classic Stories A...
$17.99The littlest tall tale-teller of all time. Five timeless classics adapted for little listeners. These masterpieces have inspired generations of young minds -- and continue to do so today. Age:...
PlanToys PlanToys 50 Unit Blocks Set
$75.00A great way to stimulate children’s interest and desire in building things. Consists of 12 shapes. Age: 3 years+ The PlanToys 50 Unit Blocks come with 50 pieces in 12...
PlanToys PlanToys Kaleidoscope
$26.00View the world through an artistic lens with the wooden PlanToys Kaleidoscope! Little ones can put their favorite objects inside and experience a swirling explosion of brilliant colors. They can also...
PlanToys PlanToys Activity Clock
$42.00This vibrant clock includes activity cards that can be placed on the top of the clock so that children can match the time with their activity. PlanToys Activity Clock Details:...
PlanToys PlanToys Animal Set
$26.00Get in touch with nature and travel through a forest to see some amazing animals! The PlanToys Animal Set consists of an owl, a squirrel, a beaver, a deer, a...
PlanToys PlanToys Assorted Fruit Set
$32.00PlanToys Assorted Fruit Set is the perfect toy for your aspiring little chef! The set includes a cutting board, knife, and 5 sliceable fruits - orange, lemon, kiwi, strawberry, and apple....
PlanToys PlanToys Assorted Fruits and Vegetables
$36.00PlanToys Assorted Fruits & Vegetables Set is the perfect toy for your growing little chef! Let them explore the world of cooking with 5 colorful fruits and veggies! PlanToys Assorted...
PlanToys PlanToys Assorted Vegetables Set
$30.00The set includes a cutting board, knife, and 5 sliceable veggies - tomato, mushroom, shallot, bell pepper, and cucumber. Tactile details offer realistic play. Age: 18 months+ Dimension: 7.48x5.31x1.22 inch Weight: 1.147...
PlanToys PlanToys Baby Feeding Set
$36.00It’s feeding time! This PlanToys Doll Feeding Set comes with a bag, which can be hung on a stroller, a food-storage container, spoon, bib, water bottle and feeding bottle. PlanToys...
PlanToys PlanToys Baby Walker
$126.00Cruise through early developmental stages with the PlanToys Baby Walker! This toy can help develop fine and gross motor skills while encouraging children to walk on their own two feet....
PlanToys PlanToys Bakery Stand Set
$32.00The PlanToys Bakery Stand Set consists of 1 two-tier cake stand, 1 sandwich, 1 slice of Swiss roll, 1 chocolate cake, 2 biscuits, and 2 cupcakes. PlanToys Bakery Stand Set...
PlanToys PlanToys Banjo Musical Toy
$36.00PlanToys Banjo is the perfect toy to inspire your little ones' musical creativity, PlanToys Banjo Details: Age: 3 years+ Strum to hear the music! Features various sounds Dimensions: 12.52 x...
PlanToys PlanToys Banjolele Musical Toy
$40.00Inspire your child’s musical creativity and explore various sounds while strumming the PlanToys Banjolele. It features 3 adjustable strings and 3 turner pegs. PlanToys Banjolele Details: Age: 3 years+ Strings are...
PlanToys PlanToys BBQ Playset
$100.00Gather around, and let’s barbecue with PlanToys BBQ Set! This set will boost a young chef’s imagination and social skills by preparing a meal with friends and family nearby. Children...
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.