Play Time
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Letters Flash Cards...
$20.00Which sound belongs to which letter? With the endearing animal drawings on our ABC cards, children connect pictures, words, and sounds. These colorful cards invite word-building and fun games, making...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Natural Bridge
$60.00An open-ended and versatile toy, this Wooden Nesting Bridge set can be used as a stacking and nesting toy, or as bridges for toy cars and scenic play. Each set...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Large Stacking Boxe...
$90.00These unique variations and markings are proof of quality, not defects. Enjoy the markings that make your Grimm’s toy unique! Toddlers will love stacking and nesting the six colorful boxes,...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Small Stacking Boxe...
$60.00This Set of Boxes is a versatile toy for children: they can stack and sort the boxes by size and color, build with them, use it as dollhouses or carports,...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Pastel Rainbow Toy ...
$34.00Grimm’s Pastel Rainbow is the perfect versatile toy for your little one! Your toddler can have endless fun stacking the rainbow, and as they grow your children can use the...
Grimm's Authentic Grimm's Rainbow Bridge
$60.00An open-ended and versatile toy, this Wooden Nesting Bridge set can be used as a stacking and nesting toy, or as bridges for toy cars and scenic play. Each set...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Dino
$18.00 – $28.00Most dinosaurs were scaly and tough, but Bashful Dino is the softest stegosaurus we’ve ever snuggled! He likes to stomp around so his squishy spines wobble, and practice his adorable...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Medium Penguin
$27.50A 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
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Hippo Lilac
$28.00This 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...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Bunny Blush
$28.00 – $80.00Bashful Bunny is a popular fellow with scrummy-soft Jellycat fur and lovely long flopsy ears mean that with just one cuddle, you’ll never want to let go. Irresistibly cute and...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Medium Llama
$25.00Dreamy, 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...
Jellycat Jellycat Benji Koala
$30.00Crikey, what a cutie! Benji Koala is adorably soft, with silvery fur and a big liquorice nose. This fuzzy Aussie has silky white ear tufts and a tubby tummy from...
Jellycat Jellycat Mellow Mallow Pig
$26.50Mellow Mallow Pig is a pink delight! This cushion-soft pig has a huge squishy muzzle, wrinkly legs, and stretchy-warm grey pink- perfect for dozy cuddles. Wee foldy ears, a little straight...
Jellycat Jellycat Percy Penguin
$27.50 – $40.00Perky Percy Penguin will toddle and waddle right into your arms! A squat little sweetie, this fluffy grey chick still has his baby feathers! With supercute markings in charcoal and...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Dragon
$18.00 – $28.00Bashful Dragon is a fierce little friend, with plenty of attitudes! With super soft fur in pale sage green, suedey horns, and a long, squidgy tail, this brilliant beastie is...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Bunny Cream
$16.50 – $100.00Bashful Bunny is a popular fellow with scrummy-soft Jellycat fur and lovely long flopsy ears means that with just one cuddle, you’ll never want to let go. Irresistibly cute and...
Jellycat Jellycat Book If I were a Polar Bear
$13.50Jellycat’s exciting If I were a polar bear book is colorful and sturdy enough for your child to grip by themselves, perfect for interactive play. Product Details: Suitable from birth. Features...
Jellycat Jellycat Louie Lion
$32.50 – $120.00Louie Lion is a glamorous fellow, with a silky mane, soft honey fur and a milk-white muzzle. Loveably lazy, this royal rascal has a long tassel tail and soft, squishy...
Jellycat Jellycat Snow Dragon
$32.50 – $120.00Lounging around like a creamy cloud, it's loveably lazy Snow Dragon! This marshmallow marvel shimmers with magic, from sparkling spines to ears, wings, and tail darts! This sumptuous softy loves...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Blue Elephant
$28.00Bashful 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...
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Fox Cub
$28.00Cheeky little Bashful Fox is a jiffy ginger cub with fluffy white ears, feet, and tail-tip. He loves to play giggly games, but this wily fox is far from tricking...
Jellycat Jellycat Swellegant Kitty Cat
$25.00Swellegant Kitty Cat steps onstage and swishes that long, chunky tail! Oh-so-cool in charcoal grey, this cat wears a wild mane of cream and black fur to go with her...
Jellycat Jellycat Cyril Sloth
$35.00We can’t get over how gorgeous Cyril Sloth is. No wonder this little guy moves so slowly - everyone should see his scrummy tawny fur and snuggle that feathery softness....
Jellycat Jellycat Blossom Bunny Jasmine
$18.00 – $28.00Jellycat Blossom Bunny is a popular fellow with scrummy-soft Jellycat fur and lovely long flopsy ears means that with just one cuddle, you’ll never want to let go. Irresistibly cute 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.