Play Time
Wonder & Wise Alpaca Rocker
$149.00It’s a vast desert out there, but the nursery or playroom is safe with the Alpaca Rocker. Soft faux fur and an authentic saddle, mane, and tail nestled atop strong...
Penguin Alphabet Street Book
$17.99There’s so much to discover in this ingenious book! Read the funny rhyming text, lift the flaps, and learn the letters of the alphabet. And when you’re finished, flip the...
Hape Ambosstoys Primo Ride on Toy
$259.00Primo 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 toy, as...
Candylab Ambulance Toy Car
$12.00We’ve got a mini medic here to lend a helping hand! This Red and White Candycar Ambulance is first on the scene. Suitable for 3 years+ Materials: Solid Beech Wood, water-based...
Candylab Ambulance Van
$16.00If you're a movie buff, you know LA features prominently in lots of tough screenplays. When make-believe play happens, a tiny LA County rescuer is precisely what's needed to keep...
Kiko+ & gg* Amechan Bubble Wand Set
$30.00Amechan: Sweet bubbles. Make magic eco-friendly bubble for a fun summer!! A welcome alternative to plastic bubble wands and a lovely little sweet-shape dish. Includes 3 x handcrafted wooden wands...
Candylab Americana Ambulance Toy Car
$38.00Longer, lower, yet no decrease in the headroom. The solid beech wood Ambulance is a throwback to the classic masterpieces of the '70s. Everyone stay calm, help is on the...
Jellycat Amuseable Baguette
$36.00Salut! Amuseable Baguette has hopped straight out of the cosy oven to meet you! This golden loaf is deliciously soft, with huggable dough, chunky cord scores, a cheery smile and...
Jellycat Amuseable Birthday Cake
$39.00Amuseable Birthday Cake is snuggly-scrumptious, with tussly fur so beautifully baked. This party poppet wears a squashy hat of heavenly splodgy buttercream, topped with velvety strawberries and a striped jersey...
Jellycat Amuseable Burger
$38.00The star of any barbecue bash, Amuseable Burger is dressed to impress! From top to bottom, this burger's rocking a brilliant two-tone golden bun, cordy arms, a fluffy green gherkin, suedey...
Jellycat Amuseable Coffee-To-Go Bag
$38.00Dangling legs, neat zip-top, and soft mocha hues: the Amuseables Coffee-to-Go Bag is your new favourite on-the-go essential.Styled after the Jellycat office’s multi-tasking marvel, Amuseables Coffee-to-Go, this cross-body brew brings...
Jellycat Amuseable Diamond Ring
$38.00With a satin soft diamond set in glitter jersey on a ring of velvet soft silver fur, Amuseable Diamond Ring is a solitaire ready to make a statement. Recommended for...
Jellycat Amuseable Pickle
$28.00Pickles are meant to bring festive good luck, but Amuseable Pickle is a year-round star! Plump and green with embroidered freckles, nutty cord boots and a zingy smile, this gherkin’s...
Jellycat Amuseable Pink And White Marshmallows
$34.00Trouble comes in twos! Amuseable Pink and White Marshmallows have a lot in common, like praline cord boots, stitchy smiles and rosy blushes. Linked with a pink satin ribbon, these...
Jellycat Amuseable Sun
$36.00Amuseable Sun is here to brighten up the room! But there's no need for shades or sunblock – this chubby, cuddly bundle of rays is content to glow softly and...
Jellycat Amuseable Sun Musical Pull
$46.00Amuseable Sun Musical Pull will send little ones to a joyful dreamland. A tiny white cloud suspends from a bright yellow Amuseable Sun, all created from recycled fibres. Pull down...
Jellycat Amuseables Aruba Coconut
$35.00Amuseables Aruba Coconut is all about rest and relaxation wherever it can be found.From poolside to private beach, Aruba is all about fun in the sun and chasing those paradise...
Jellycat Amuseables Bagel
$38.00Amuseables Bagel is dressed for brunch, with soft golden bread stitched with sesame freckles, a dollop of suedette cream cheese and an orange layer of suedette salmon. With dark brown...
Jellycat Amuseables Baguette Bag Charm
$28.00For those who like to take their joy on the go, the Amuseables Baguette Bag Charm is the perfect companion. With its soft, golden crust and cheeky embroidered eyes, this...
Jellycat Amuseables Boiled Egg Bride
$30.00Amuseables Boiled Egg Bride is possibly the cheeriest bride you’ll ever meet. Veil floating and tiara gleaming, she’s beaming from cheek to cheek. She met her soon-to-be-humbug paddleboarding on the...
Jellycat Amuseables Boiled Egg Groom
$30.00Amuseables Boiled Egg Groom can't wait to say, ‘I do’! With super-soft fur in cream and yellow, and a suedette top hat with black satin band, this egg is skipping...
Jellycat Amuseables Brie
$25.00Amuseables Brie is the most sought-after masseur in Paris. Boasting a creamy cordy rind and a famously soft touch, his aromatherapy sessions are booked solid through the season. He’s something of...
Jellycat Amuseables Brigitte Brioche
$25.00Amuseables Brigitte Brioche is the perfect gift for the baker in your life. In soft textured brown and beige fur with stitched detail on the base, Brigitte has fine cord...
Jellycat Amuseables Camembert
$40.00Amuseables Camembert is here to spread cheesy joy. This cream suedette cheese has stitched rind detail and is topped with sprigs of suedette rosemary. Nestled in its fine cord container...
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.