Play Time
Steiff Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Fran...
$625.00Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Franzi Pony is beautifully designed from valuable woven plush, each with intricate hand-airbrushed accents, our Rocking Animals withstand up to 330 pounds because the toy...
Steiff Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Leo ...
$625.00Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Leo Lion is beautifully designed from valuable woven plush, each with intricate hand-airbrushed accents, our Rocking Animals withstand up to 330 pounds because the toy...
Steiff Steiff Unica Unicorn Plush Toy 14 inches
$48.00Steiff Unica Unicorn is a fantasy animal that makes fun a reality for all ages! The newly redesigned version of this favorite animal is handmade from superior-quality white plush fabric....
Grapat Stick Gnomes Set
$46.00These sticks can be gnomes, goblins, fantastic creatures, trees, animals, or anything else the child imagines because the open-ended toys give children the chance to become what is necessary according...
Omy Design & Play Inc Sticker & Coloring Poster - Solar System
$22.00OMY SCHOOL, A PLAYFUL LEARNING CREATIVE ACTIVITY! Did you know? The solar system consists of the Sun, 8 orbiting planets, satellites, dwarf planets and other celestial objects (asteroids, comets,...
Laurence King Publishing Stickyscapes at the Museum Sticker Book
$10.99Take a sticky trip to the museum! Stickyscapes at the Museum includes an 8-page sticker booklet, brimming with over 100 stickers; and a huge, double-sided fold-out panoramic scene for you...
Laurence King Publishing Stickyscapes London Sticker Book
$14.95Sticker, learn, and play! Create your own real and imaginary London with over 100 stickers that will bring this panoramic play scene to life.One side represents actual, present-day London, while...
Laurence King Publishing Stickyscapes Paris Sticker Book
$14.95Sticker, learn, and play! Create your own real and imaginary Paris with over 100 stickers that will bring this panoramic play scene to life.One side represents actual, present-day Paris, while...
Laurence King Publishing Stickyscapes Superheroes Sticker Book
$10.99Try out your superpowers with this superhero sticker book! This astonishing double-sided panoramic play scene folds out to a length of four feet and contains a superheroes' cityscape on one...
Penguin Stomp Stomp Book
$8.99Flip the flaps, move the sliders, and trace the trails in this bright, quirky board book about dinosaurs!Where will Little Dino play today? Flip the flaps, move the sliders, and...
Maileg Storage Suitcase Small - Rose With Dots
$64.00This suitcase is the perfect storage for anything you can imagine. Mix it with the rest of the Maileg interior collection. Sizes Height: 5.91in, Width: 13.78in, Depth: 7.87in, Net...
Hape Store And Go Easel
$30.00Help your child develop their creativity with the 3-in-1 tabletop easel. Functioning as a chalk blackboard, a magnetic whiteboard, and a sturdy carrying case, it is perfect for an on-the-go...
Loog Guitars Straps White
$20.00Get up, stand up, and rock out! No rocker who really deserves the title should refrain from playing standing up. This little strap will help all kids do just that,...
Sonria Slime Strawberry Frosting Slime
$19.99An artistic yet enjoyable activity for your little ones. This Strawberry Frosting Slime is infused with vanilla essential oil for ultimate calmness. Scent: Fresh Strawberries & Vanilla Buttercream Texture: Snow Butter Slime Size: 7 fl...
Sonria Slime Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Slime
$19.99SCENT: Strawberry Shortcake Ice CreamTexture: Icee Butter SlimeThis slime is infused with vanilla essential oil for relaxation.SIZE: 7 fl oz.SHELF LIFE: 4 MONTHSWith every slime you order, we'll happily include...
Wee Gallery Stroller Cards I See Bugs to Count
$16.00The "I See" Stroller Cards promote exploring a baby's world with simple, open-ended prompts. Spot bugs that are commonly seen while out and about on a walk, or in the...
Wee Gallery Stroller Cards I See in the Market
$16.00I see Fruits and Veggies in the Market! The ‘I See’ Stroller Cards promote exploring a baby’s world with simple, open-ended prompts. Spot fruits and veggies that are commonly...
Wee Gallery Stroller Cards I See on a Walk
$16.00I see a dog. Is the dog big or little? The 'I See' Stroller Cards promote exploring a baby's world with simple, open-ended prompts. Spot things that are commonly...
Tegu Stunt Team Looper
$38.00Fly high with Tegu’s Magnetic Stunt Team Looper, the perfect toy for your little innovative one! Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.9 x 1.9 inches Weight: 1.1 pounds Made of Wood Suitable...
Manhattan Toy Style & Groom
$28.00A fresh look awaits with the help of the imaginative Style & Groom wood hairstyling set. Includes one hair dryer, one straightener, one comb, one hair clipper, one baby-safe...
Wonder & Wise Submarine Playhome
$159.00Where’s the best place to be? In a submarine under the sea, of course. Kids will love the sub with its mesh windows realistic printed details and plush propeller. And who...
Mushie Suction Spinner Toy Sunshine
$14.00Featuring a playful design and soothing colors, our sunshine suction spinner toy will captivate your little one’s imagination. Littles can spin the 100% food-grade silicone clouds around the sun to...
Mushie Suction Spinner Toy - Dino
$14.00Featuring a playful design and soothing colors, our dino suction spinner toy will captivate your little one’s imagination. Littles can spin the 100% food-grade silicone leaves around the dinosaur to...
Moulin Roty Suitcase - Handyman Tool Set - The Bi...
$50.00Just like the grown-ups! This suitcase will come in handy to fix The Big Family’s house.This role play toy comes with seven colorful, rounded wooden tools: a hammer, a screwdriver,...
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.