Play Time
Hape Music Maker 6 in 1 Toy
$36.00Give your child the musical introduction they want and need with the Hape 6-in-1 music maker, designed for the modern-day little musician. The musical toy provides them with everything they...
Jellycat Jellycat Book If I were a Calf
$13.50Little ones will delight at all of the charming options in this sweet board book with textile embellishments. Suitable for all ages Plush tail attached, touch-and-feel details throughout 6" x...
Baghera Baghera Ride On Toy Car Rider Peugeot...
$260.00Beautiful ride on a car for racing champions with big ambitions! Baghera Metal Rider Peugeot Darl'mat is directly inspired by the 1935 Peugeot 402 coupé with bodywork by Darl'Mat. The...
Tegu Magnetic Floating Stacker Big Top
$40.00Magical forces attract and repel for unexpected stacking play. Take it all apart for construction play. Eleven stack-able, mix & match pieces. Two fun characters! Suitable for children ages 12+...
Maileg Maileg Rabbit Size 4 Plush Toy Overalls
$68.00The bunny & rabbit collection is made of soft natural linen & cotton fabric - which gives a lovely hand feel and look. This rabbit is ready for summer...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Puppet Dilophosaurus
$58.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true to life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Puppet Panda
$54.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Puppet Polar C...
$54.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Unicorn
$52.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Puppet Ginger ...
$54.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Maileg Maileg Rabbit Size 4 Plush Toy Sailor
$68.00All hands on deck! This intricately crafted size 4 Sailor Rabbit doesn't sacrifice his sea legs for style as he demonstrates how important it is to look good out on the...
3 Sprouts Play Mat Bag Owl
$25.50A 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...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Puppet Spinosa...
$58.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Puppet Tyranno...
$58.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Playsam Playsam Streamliner F1 Car Black
A small favorite in a soft design for both adults and children. Made of solid wood with a high finish. Materials: Wood Product Dimension: 5” length Box Dimension: 5.75” length...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal StandingYorksh...
$55.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Hansa Creation Realistic Plush Animal Puppet Baby Or...
$54.00Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Playsam Playsam Streamliner Cab Natural
A small favorite in a soft design for both adults and children. Made of solid wood with a high finish. Materials: Wood Product Dimension: 5” length Box Dimension: 5.75” length...
BlaBla BlaBla Original Bunny Rattle
$29.00Handmade baby rattle made from the softest Peruvian cotton. 100% cotton with poly fill. Approximately 7" long Hand or machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle Lay flat to...
Wood Train Name Train Clear Finish X
$7.49NameTrains Letter Car X is crafted from locally sourced and sustainably harvested hard maple. Magnets allow you to attach cars to form names and words. Age: 3 years+ Non-toxic finish....
Wood Train Name Train Clear Finish P
$7.49NameTrains Letter Car P is crafted from locally sourced and sustainably harvested hard maple. Magnets allow you to attach cars to form names and words. Age: 3 years+ Non-toxic finish....
Wood Train Name Train Clear Finish Q
$7.49NameTrains Letter Car Q is crafted from locally sourced and sustainably harvested hard maple. Magnets allow you to attach cars to form names and words. Age: 3 years+ Non-toxic finish....
Tegu Pocket Pouch Prism Magnetic Wooden Bl...
$30.00Tegu’s Pocket Pouch Prism is the perfect travel toy for your little builder to create any structure by magnetically connecting the colorful blocks, the ideal set for imaginative play! Dimensions:...
PlanToys PlanToys Stacking Wheel
$26.00PlanToys Stacking Wheel is the perfect stackable push or pull toy for your little one to use during playtime! PlanToys Stacking Wheel Details: Age: 12 months+ Includes 3 varying-sized cars...
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.