This 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...
This set of stacking trees comes with 18 high-quality beech wood pieces. You can build your own little forest or play around and create imaginative columns, sculptures, or whatever you...
What is WOBBEL? It is a sturdy, beautifully crafted beechwood rocking balance board, a seat, a safe haven, a bridge, a house, a step, a slide, a yoga aid, a...
Your lovable little storytime friend Meet the Toniebox - a new audio system designed for little listeners. Turn it on, pop a Tonie on top and let the audio...
These swim goggles are unique, fun and perfect for those days out in the water. Product Details: Adjustable strap Antifog polycarbonate lenses with UV protection Silicone. Latex-free. Ages 3...
Itzy Ritzy Teething Mitts are safe on baby’s gums, and the glove design keeps the baby from getting scratches on his or her face. It's also ideal for babies who can’t...
This Silicone Beach Play Set is eco-friendly and made to last! This beach bucket play set contains all the essentials for keeping your children engaged for hours. Set includes a Bucket,...
Sharing has never been so sweet as it is with the rainbow cupcake chalk! Each cupcake comes in two pieces for you and your park friend! Select your favorite topping: Pink...
Eli the Clover is designed with an ergonomic shape making it easy to hold and chew on. Including a range of textures, such as raised spots or ribbing, making it very pleasing...
Kiko+ & 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...
Hansa 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 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...
Susie and her friends take the seashells and make obstacle courses. They love to swim in and out, over and under the shells as they race to the finish. Handmade using all...
The luxury stroller that grows with your child. Designed in collaboration with Bentley Motors and with your toddler’s needs in mind, the Posh Baby & Kids Bentley 6-in-1 Stroller / Tricycle is...
The Rufus collection is designed and made by London based designer toy maker, Playforeve, following their recent collaboration with Hugo Boss. A streamlined shape with a geometric front and pointed...
From Wedges to Mary Janes; vivid colour blocking to bright two tones, just like the rest of our Midi range, Bonnie’s design is inspired by the bold colour and shape...
Playforever draws inspiration from classic and iconic racing cars and racing planes from the 1920s, as well as in 1960s New York. Combining decades of research with technical car design...
PlanToys My First Camera is the perfect toy to inspire your little photographer! Point, Focus & click the camera and see different images through the kaleidoscope lens! PlanToys My First...
PlanToys Dancing Alligator is a great push & pull toy for your active little one! When pulled along, the alligator moves his head and tail up and down making a click-clack...
The cozy carrycot with a soft blanket will keep the small friends warm and secure a good and cozy sleep. Material: Cotton/Linen Size: 2.36 inches
With the 3-string Loog Mini Acoustic Guitar and its accompanying app, a child can learn to play songs - not just scales or exercises- on day one. This gives little rockers a sense of...
Bring a friend along on every ride with a colorful, funky Micro Kickboard Scooter Head! Choose from a variety of characters to make your adventures even more fun. They attach...
Light up your ride with the all Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe LED Scooter! The Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe LED comes in a variety of fresh color combos and offers a wide...
This Micro Kickboard Maxi Deluxe Scooter version has an anodized stem for extra protection against wear and tear, a unique, silicone-injected footplate for improved grip, and an adjustable T-bar, meaning that...
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.