Play Time
Jellycat Jellycat Bashful Blush Poodle
$28.00Bashful Poodle comes from fabulous France, and has sugar-pink fur that you can’t help but cuddle. She skips down the avenue, fluffy ears flapping, and snaffles a croissant - what...
Jellycat Jellycat Amuseable Heart
$15.00 – $25.00How about a heart-to-heart? Who wouldn't want to give Amuseable Heart a big squeeze? This fluffy, sentimental softy was just made for hugging, with cordy feet like plump little coals...
Electric Cars Electric Ride On Car Range Rover Pink
$764.99If you are looking for the ultimate gift for your kid, the one to rule them all, you've come to the right place. Our selection of seriously awesome electric ride on...
Electric Cars Electric Ride On Car Range Rover Evoq...
$500.00If you are looking for the ultimate gift for your kid, the one to rule them all, you've come to the right place. Our selection of seriously awesome electric ride-on cars...
Rattan Doll Day Bed Meadow
$130.00Tuck me in! Poppie’s fashionable day bed will provide the basis for endless play. Children love to play mummy or daddy, placing their soft toys under blankets and telling them made-up stories. For...
Bear Company Cuddly Dreamer Unicorn Plush Toy
$80.00A magical gift for little girls, tweens, teens, kids, and unicorn lovers of all ages. This soft plush Dreamer provides comfort and play activity for your little ones. Measures 30...
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...
Corolle Corolle Mon Grand Poupon Carry Bed Pink
$42.00Corolle Carry Bed Pink is a cozy and comfy way for make-believe moms -- dads, too! -- to take their favorite baby doll with them wherever they go. From the...
Corolle Corolle Bebe Bath Doll Coralie Flowers
$50.00Corolle Bebe Bath Coralie Flowers just loves water play! This small baby doll is the perfect swimming companion, helping your child to gently get to know all types of aquatic...
Rubbabu Choo Choo Train
$10.00The Rubbabu Choo Choo Train is the smallest sized train and some say the cutest. Made from soft rubber foam with rubber wheels. Size: 3.5" Length Safe for ages: 0+...
N&L Find Bunny Plush Toy Pink with Gray Ears
$33.00 – $106.00Bunny in Pink with Gray Ears! Looking for tiny, loving person to cuddle and can be your child's best friend, or companion in sleep, on a journey, and in playing. Perfect as...
Baghera Baghera Ride On Toy Car Speedster Pink
$190.00Let your child experience driving something special, with this great ride-on speedster! It is built to last with a padded seat, sturdy metal body, and rubber tires. Some simple self-assembly...
Baghera Baghera Ride On Toy Car Petal Pink
$230.00The Riders, the new XL ride-on from Baghera!With its 90cm length and large wheels, this supercar is for seasoned pilots only! Strong, silent and very maneuverable, this large Red ride-on...
Ambosstoys Ambosstoys Primo Classic Ride On Toy ...
$249.99Primo ride on toys combines classic Italian design with the finest craftsmanship to create a timeless ride on the scooter for toddlers and design lovers. PRIMO is the ultimate...
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.