Nimbus Hippo is marshmallow-soft in scrambly lilac-brown fur. This cuddly calf has a tasselly tail and a beany bottom for sitting upon! With perky petal ears and a squidgy snoot,...
The Scoot & Ride Kids Helmet comes in a beautiful array of colors to perfectly match your child’s Scoot & Ride kickboard! The innovative magnetic lock system keeps the helmet...
Watch your child’s imagination take over as the Kinderboard becomes a seesaw, balancing toy, slide, stepping stool, boat, resting nook and so much more! Originally introduced in Waldorf Early Childhood...
Lullaby friends is a collection of beautiful items for babies. This elephant has a soft cuddle cloth and will play a calm lullaby when you pull the tail. Age: 0+...
This vintage looking closet has a beautiful embossed flower print on the front and beautifully printed wallpaper inside. The shelves inside will make sure the organizing play will begin. This...
Safari friends are made in the softest fabric and come in great colors. They can sit by themselves as they have beans in their bottom. They are just waiting for...
Safari Friends Elephant is made of the softest fabric and comes in great colors. They can sit by themselves and are just waiting for you to come and give them...
Safari Friends are made of the softest linen and are available in many different colors. They can sit and gives the best hug you can imagine. Maileg Safari Friends Rhino...
Safari Friends are made of the softest linen and are available in many different colors. They can sit and give the best hug you can imagine. Recommended age: All ages...
The Malarkey Chew Cube is the mom-created modern rattle and teether. It provides four-way sensory stimulation, including soft, textured teething edges for tender gums; large flexible holes to help baby...
The Micro Kickboard Maxi Deluxe Pro Scooter offers wide front wheels, a cool chopper-style handlebar, and five trendy color combinations. Besides its unique new look, this classic kickboard scores high with...
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...
This playhouse is perfect for kids to let their imagination getaway. Everybody needs a little place to call their own, and this is the place that they can call "my...
A great toy storage bag which doubles as a play mat - an easy way to keep toys in one place, ready for play! The sturdy cotton and handles make...
This series of Egg cars are named as such given the shape from the back-side view. Pilot Karlos makes his first appearance sitting all snug in his roadster. The Scrambler,...
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...
Speeding 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...
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...
Lots 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...
Sweet Nibble Bunny is sweet, tender, and oh-my-gosh unbelievably soft. This stuffed animal has a hand-embroidered face, pink cheeks, and a big fluffy tail. Features eggnog cream and warm white fur, with...
Ideal to develop your baby's motor skills and provide a safe soothing relief for aching gums. Made from BPA free, FDA and CE certified food grade silicone. ...
Perfect for tiny hands to grip, these adorable teethers help to soothe your baby's sore gums. The BioCote Antimicrobial Technology helps keep germs at bay, whilst textured bumps get teething...
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...
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.