Play Time
Fat Brain Toys Stacking Tobbles Neo
$30.00Fat Brain Toys Tobbles is the perfect toy for your creative & curious little one! Tobbles is multi-use a toy with limitless possibilities; this toy can stack, spin, wiggle, and...
Fat Brain Toys Teething PipSquigz Loops Teal
$14.00Little explorers can’t help but get sucked into the sensory excitement of these bendy, rattly, chewy, suction-cup creations!Their vivid textures instantly inspire little fingers to grab and feel while their...
Maileg Maileg Best Friends Doll Bunny
$38.00Every 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...
Fat Brain Toys Teeting PipSquigz Loops Orange
$14.00Little explorers can’t help but get sucked into the sensory excitement of these bendy, rattly, chewy, suction-cup creations!Their vivid textures instantly inspire little fingers to grab and feel while their...
Sophie La Giraffe Sophie Teether Ring
$19.00The Sophie So'Pure Teether by Calisson is the ideal teething toy for your little one when their teeth are beginning to grow! It is an all-natural teether designed to soothe...
Fat Brain Toys Building Blocks Pip Squigz
$26.00Fat Brain Toys Pip Squigz is the perfect toy to give to your little one to use in any environment, to stick on everything from walls, to bathtubs, to windows, and...
Fat Brain Toys Activity Sensory Rollers
$22.00Fat Brain Toys Sensory Rollers are the perfect toys for your little one to fascinate their senses! Hands of all ages reflexively reach, grab, and explore their fascinating, rubbery...
Sophie La Giraffe Teether
$30.00The cute Sophie la Girafe Teething Toy from Vulli by Calisson is the perfect teething for your little one! Includes a squeaker to get your infant’s attention Made of latex...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Large Rainbow Toy
$96.00Grimm’s 12 Piece Rainbow is a versatile toy perfect for your growing little one. Toddlers can use the rainbow for stacking and sorting, and as they get older your children...
Dena Silicone Kids & Houses 6 Pack Neon
$50.00Dena Silicone Kids & Houses are manufactured with platinum silicone, which is BPA free; PVC Free; Latex Free; Phthalate Free and 100% safe. Platinum silicone is a soft material that feels great...
Dena Silicone Large Rainbow Neon
$55.00Dena Silicone Large Rainbow is manufactured with platinum silicone, which is BPA free, PVC Free, Latex Free, Phthalate Free, and 100% safe. Platinum silicone is a soft material that feels great...
Dena Silicone Large Rainbow Pastel
$55.00Dena Silicone Large Rainbow is manufactured with platinum silicone, which is BPA free, PVC Free, Latex Free, Phthalate Free, and 100% safe. Platinum silicone is a soft material that feels great...
Dena Silicone Kids & Houses 6 Pack Pastel
$50.00Dena Silicone Kids & Houses are manufactured with platinum silicone, which is BPA free; PVC Free; Latex Free; Phthalate Free and 100% safe. Platinum silicone is a soft material that feels great...
Dena Silicone Small Rainbow Neon
$27.00Dena Silicone Small Rainbow is manufactured with platinum silicone, which is BPA free, PVC Free, Latex Free, Phthalate Free, and 100% safe. Platinum silicone is a soft material that feels great...
Dena Silicone Small Rainbow Pastel
$27.00Dena Silicone Small Rainbow is manufactured with platinum silicone, which is BPA free, PVC Free, Latex Free, Phthalate Free, and 100% safe. Platinum silicone is a soft material that feels great...
Maileg Maileg Cooking Set Toy
$28.00Playful 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 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 ...
Maileg Maileg Big Brother Prince Mouse Doll ...
$28.00A 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....
Maileg Maileg Big Sister Princess Mouse Doll...
$28.00The 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...
Maileg Maileg Dance in Matchbox Little Broth...
$28.00Maileg 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:...
Maileg Maileg Rabbit Size 4 Plush Toy Sailor
$68.00All 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...
Maileg Maileg Polly Pork Plush Toy Medium
$38.00Oink 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...
Maileg Maileg Big Brother Mouse In Box Doll ...
$32.00There'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...
Maileg Maileg Rabbit Size 4 Plush Toy Overalls
$68.00The 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...
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.