Play Time
Chewbeads Chewpals Teether Dinosaur
$14.00Chewbeads’ Chew Pals Dinosaur Teether is perfect for distracting your little one anywhere and ideal for soothing their sore gums with its textured surface! The size of this teether is...
Tikiri Chick Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00Chick: One of the Tikiri My First Zoo animals, the cute chick is ever so squeezable and ready for curious minds. Take him in the bath, or as a teething...
Zoli Chubby Gummy Teethers Mist Blue and A...
$14.00The Chubby Gummy is the ideal tool to soothe your baby when they are going through their teething phase, while also introducing dental hygiene. Suitable for infants 6m+ Includes two...
Manhattan Toy Classic Baby Beads
$20.00Keep baby stimulated and occupied with Classic Baby Beads. The wood beads are strung together with an elastic cord and can be manipulated into an endless number of configurations making...
Manhattan Toy Classic Baby Beads Natural
$20.00Manhattan Toys Classic Baby Beads go natural. The wood beads are strung together with an elastic cord and can be manipulated into an endless number of configurations making it a...
Manhattan Toy Click Clack Ball
$20.00The colorful Click Clack Ball features handles that click with every twist. Filled with tiny beads inside, this baby ball also rattles when shaken. Perfect for infant stimulation! Ages 0...
Sophie La Giraffe Cosy Play Cushion
$68.00The Sophie La Girafe Cosy Play Cushion is reversible, with a "resting" side and an "awakening" side to entertain or rest baby! A multitude of activities to explore to awaken the...
Tikiri Cotton Candy Unicorn Natural Rubber R...
$26.00When it seems nothing less than pure magic will soothe your baby's sore gums...This friendly unicorn is not just adorable, it's made from all natural rubber and hand-painted using soy-based...
Bella Tunno Count On It Teething Flashcards
$13.00These are not your average flashcards. They are learning tools that are also toys and teethers. A trifecta of toys. A hattrick of teethers, a three-peat of learning. LEARN: ...
Tikiri Crab Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00This rubber rattle from the ocean buddies collection. Easy-grip for smaller hands. Each marine animal character has an enclosed rattle that creates a soft sound when shaken. Sound Toys, like...
Knitted World Crochet Rattle Cactus
$18.00This easy-to-grasp super adorable cactus ring rattle is lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of the organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Bamboo is the...
Knitted World Crochet Ring Rattle Bunny
$18.00This easy to grasp ring rattle is lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of the organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Bamboo is the world’s...
Knitted World Crochet Ring Rattle Fawn
$18.00This easy-to-grasp ring rattle is lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing plant (growing...
Knitted World Crochet Ring Rattle Fox
$18.00This easy to grasp ring rattle is lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of the organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Bamboo is the world’s...
Knitted World Crochet Ring Rattle Lamb
$18.00This easy to grasp ring rattle is lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of the organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Bamboo is the world’s...
Knitted World Crochet Ring Rattle Unicorn
$18.00This easy to grasp ring rattle is lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of the organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Bamboo is the world’s...
Tikiri Crocodile Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00Crocodile: One of the Tikiri My First Zoo animals, the cute crocodile is ever so squeezable and ready for curious minds. Take him in the bath, or as a teething...
Bunnies By The Bay Cubby Bear Plush Toy
$26.00Lots of pacifiers lost? Say no more, this cute silly buddy will be the solution to this problem. Floppy, sloppy, silly and soft, this playful pacifier holding silly buddies, tie...
Cuddle + Kind Cuddle + Kind Hand Knit Doll Claire t...
$72.00 – $92.00I live in a beautiful treehouse perched high in the sky. Won’t you come to visit me? We can go on adventures in the magical treetops, take long, delicious naps,...
Cuddle + Kind Cuddle + Kind Hand Knit Doll Claire t...
$72.00 – $92.00I live in a beautiful treehouse perched high in the sky. Won’t you come to visit me? We can go on adventures in the magical treetops, take long, delicious naps,...
Cuddle + Kind Cuddle + Kind Hand Knit Doll Daisy th...
$74.00 – $95.00Friends always call me a curious little kitten, because my mind is as quick as my paws trotting through the meadow to discover new things! I love admiring every flower...
Cuddle + Kind Cuddle + Kind Hand Knit Doll Dylan th...
$74.00 – $95.00I am an energetic kitten who loves to laugh, leap and chase sunbeams. Luckily, I’m very good at landing on my feet! Friends say I’m an optimist - if things...
Cuddle + Kind Cuddle + Kind Hand Knit Doll Everest ...
$64.00 – $88.00Where I come from, the ice and snow are always sparkling. I love building snow forts, slurping marshmallows in hot chocolate, and most of all, helping people. I believe we...
Cuddle + Kind Cuddle + Kind Hand Knit Doll Hannah T...
$74.00 – $95.00I’m always hopping from one big dream to another. There’s so much I want to accomplish in this beautiful world, and I know I can do it if I don’t...
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.