Play Time
Playforever Playforever Velocita Race Car Toy Yellow
$39.00Back in the 70s, F1 racing was a dangerous, high-speed game. Cars were fast, drivers were furious and the competition was intense. The Velocita collection by Playforever was inspired by...
Playforever Playforever Verve Viglietta Toy Car Y...
$35.00Speeding through the hills of Tuscany, warm breeze on the open roads lined with lush vineyards and silver olive groves, our Viglietta racing car personifies freedom and liberty: memories of...
Sophie La Giraffe Bath Sophie Yellow
$16.99The Sophie Bath Toy by Calisson from the Sophie La Girafa is the perfect addition to the tub to make bath time fun! Floats When squeezed, the Sophie bath toy...
Bajo Wooden Toy Car with Blocks
$26.00This small yet fun wooden toy car with blocks is great for any child. The blocks can easily be removed and put back. This little car trucks along, moving swiftly...
Bajo Wooden Toy Airplane
$38.00Little pilots will love making these wooden toy airplanes soar into the sky. A chunky wooden toy that's perfect for little ones to play. Sturdy enough to become a favored...
Rubbabu Mascot Toy Car
$16.00The Rubbabu Mascot Car is an easy-to-hold, easy-to-roll car. With a cute rounded design, in bright colors, this 5" high car is available in many colors and is popular in toy,...
Kiko+ & gg* Retro Play Telephone
$56.00Kiko+ & gg* Retro Telephone is what children have always enjoyed throughout the years… A nostalgic retro form that is also a cute interior decorative item. Insert the included coin...
Kiko+ & gg* NY Taxi Wind Up Car Yellow
$22.00A new version added to the kiko+ kuruma series, the NY taxi! Another pull back car to add to your collection! Get in and enjoy the sights of New York!!
Kiko+ & gg* Kaleidoscope Play Camera Yellow
$30.00Let the little ones play photographer with the little kiko+ wooden camera. Turn the lens for a magical kaleidoscope surprise! Material: beech wood, colour lens (acrylic, removable), two denim straps...
Kiko+ & gg* Hikoki Mini Jet Yellow
$22.00Small but mighty, the mini jet has the same friction functionality as the original version - but in a littler, more portable size. Pull them back and watch them ZOOM!Perfect for little...
Candylab Candylab School Bus Toy Car
$20.00Don’t sleep in, or you’ll miss our School Bus! (AKA the COOL Bus.) This big yellow bus is ready, bright and early to pick you up. We know that school looks a little bit different...
Candylab Candylab B Nana Toy Car
$10.00Our most appealing Candycar yet, meet B.Nana! This cute Banana colored Candycar will have you craving some Banana Bread, a Banana Split maybe even Banana pudding? Materials: Solid Beech Wood,...
Bajo Wooden Toy Car with Camper
$34.00This Wooden Car with Camper vehicle set is a great way to teach children about movement, speed, forces and will bring on communication skills too through inspiring imaginative play. Taking...
Maileg Maileg Little Brother Beach Mouse in ...
$34.00Little Brother Mouse is ready to join Big Brother Mouse to swim! Matches his striped swim shorts is a yellow beach towel and floaters. His cozy cabin is also always ready when...
Maileg Maileg Mouse Rubber Boat Toy Dusty Ye...
$24.00Ready for the waves and splashes! This rubber boat in dusty yellow comes with a wooden paddle and a life vest to keep your little friend Mouse safe during his boating adventure....
Maileg Maileg Mouse Beach Chair Set Toy Yell...
$22.00Vacation time. Bring these lovely striped beach chairs to the beach, and you will always have a perfect seat for your mice. Age: 3 years+ Washing instruction: Fabric 30 C...
Candylab Candylab Pioneer Classic Toy Car
$38.00The iconic shape, wood sides, magnetic canoe on top, beefy new tires, everything screams adventure, camping, and good old times. Miniature learning tool on how to adventure properly. Materials: Solid Beech...
Maileg Maileg Beach Umbrella Toy
$16.00Everyone needs some time in the shade on a sunny day on the beach. This small yellow-striped beach umbrella is made of fabric and the center is made of wood....
Maileg Maileg Miniature Blender Toy
$16.00All the small friends also need a smoothie on the go. The Miniature Blender is perfect for hours of play. You can take the can of the blender and the...
Candylab Candylab Woodie Toy Car
$38.00The most classic of the classics, this is what legends are made of. With real walnut veneer-paneled sides and a magnet embedded in the roof, it comes with a surfboard...
Maileg Maileg Mini Wooden Bed Toy Yellow
$40.00A wooden bed that fits bunnies and rabbits in size 1 and 2 perfectly. Beautiful handpainted details on the bed - variation may occur. Soft bed linen, made in unique...
Playforever Playforever Turbo Race Car Toy Miami
$40.00Turbo captures the spirit and magic of the most infectious decade ever. Part of the Verve collection, Playforever's Turbo Miami is inspired by the F1 cars of the 80's. With unapologetic clashing...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Parrot Blue Ye...
$33.00Hansa Portraits in Nature is a hand-crafted collection of realistic plush animals. Artists working in a socially responsible and environmentally responsible studio create each Hansa animal from portraits of the...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Parrot Yellow Red
$33.00Hansa Portraits in Nature is a hand-crafted collection of realistic plush animals. Artists working in a socially responsible and environmentally responsible studio create each Hansa animal from portraits of the...
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.