Play Time
Knitted World Crochet Stick Rattle Pig
$18.00Easy-to-grasp stick rattles are lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Bamboo is the world’s fastest-growing plant (growing 40+ inches...
Knitted World Crochet Stick Rattle Toadstool Red
$18.00This adorable soft toadstool rattle is lovingly hand-crocheted using luxuriously soft yarn derived from the pulp of the organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo trees. Toys are tested for the...
Tikiri Crocodile Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00Crocodile: One of the Tikiri My First Zoo animals, the cute crocodile is ever so squeezable and ready for curious minds. Take him in the bath, or as a teething...
PlanToys Croquet Set
$60.00A favorite family game with a very friendly design. The colorful Croquet Set can be played in several adjustable settings. It's a child-friendly version of a classic backyard game! Croquet Set...
Llorens Crying Newborn Doll Opal with Carrycot
$132.00Welcome Opal, a beautiful baby doll designed to inspire hours of nurturing play. Dressed in soft, charming clothing, Opal comes complete with a plush carrycot, making her the perfect companion...
Bunnies By The Bay Cubby Bear Plush Toy
$22.95Lots 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...
Cucu Cupcake Bag Fidget Toy
$20.00This unique pop it bag is easy to clean and can be used to pack some daily necessities. The Pop Fidget Toy pops just like reusable bubble wrap. Push the...
Le Toy Van Cupcake Play Food Set
$20.00Serve up a sweet treat with this delicious looking set of Petit Four cupcakes.This tasty toy food set is hand painted in pretty pastels, adorned with cute detailing and finished...
Plantoys Cupcake Set
$44.00Decorate cupcakes and host a party with the Cupcake Set! Complete with 2 cupcakes that can be removed from their PlanWood cups, whipped cream, a piping bag for icing, a...
Candylab Cupcake Van Toy Car
$22.00There's never been a SWEETER wooden toy. Please welcome the Candylab Cupcake Van: complete with groovy graphics and an adorable squishy topper. Sprinkle this CANDYCAR® into any playset or collection! ...
Hape Cupcakes Toy
$24.00Time for a sweet treat! Make your own play cupcake creations with this playset featuring four cupcakes and a range of spectacular toppings including a candle, fruits, and a wafer....
Le Toy Van Cutlery and Dinner Set
$40.00Dinner is served with our stylish wooden cutlery dining set, a wonderful gender-neutral toy that's full of fun, sustainable and made to last. Painted in blue and white tones and decorated...
Cuddle + Kind Daisy the Kitten
$80.00 – $100.00Friends always call me a curious little kitten, because my mind is as quick as my paws trotting through the meadow to discover new things! I love admiring every flower...
Le Toy Van Daisylane Drawing Room
$40.00Time for high tea! This delightful wooden toy furniture set is sure to make a smart and stylish statement to your child's wooden dolls house. Designed to encourage interactive...
Maileg Damaged Box - Beach Set Big Brother M...
$11.00Damaged Box Beach Set for Big Brother Mouse Vacation time. This set includes all essential accessories for a fun day at the beach: trunks, goggles, and a towel. It all...
Maileg Dance Mouse in Daybed
$32.00After a fun dance lesson, there’s nothing better than a cozy place to rest! The Little Sister Mouse loves to snuggle up in her charming daybed, which comes tucked inside...
Sophie La Giraffe Dancing Sophie the Giraffe Music Box ...
$56.00MUSIC BOX: This wooden music box will amaze your child with its 2 magnetic figures that rotate on the dance floor. Perfect for decorating your bedroom and putting it to sleep...
Tonies Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Audio Pla...
$19.99Through imagination, creativity, and music, Daniel Tiger and his friends learn about feelings, health, and the social skills necessary for school and for life. Tonies Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Details: Age: 3...
Hape Deluxe Grand Piano Musical Toy White
$280.00The Deluxe Grand Piano is a real 30 key electronic piano that will enable your child to explore the wonder of music and create their own mini symphonies. This piano...
Brio Deluxe Railway Set
$450.00The Deluxe railway set is the most complete BRIO Rail & Road world there is! An action-packed setting including passenger trains, freight trains, harbor scenes, and metro fun, complete with...
Steiff Denny Dolphin Stuffed Plush Animal - ...
$40.00About this productSewn from blue fabric that will remind you of the ocean, and white plush which echoes the color of the surf, Denny dolphin will bring your child all...
Janod Dentist Set
$36.00There’s a hole in your tooth! We’ll soon fix that! Bzzzzzz! It’s perfect for any budding dentist! This great game is a fun way to teach your child about looking...
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.