Play Time
Tikiri Dolphin Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00This rubber rattle from the ocean buddies collection. Easy-grip for smaller hands. Each marine animal character has an enclosed rattle that creates a soft sound when shaken. Sound Toys, like...
Gibbs Smith Don Quixote
$11.99BabyLit® is a fashionable way to introduce your toddler to the world of classic literature. With clever, simple text by Jennifer Adams, paired with stylish design and illustrations by Sugar’s...
Candylab Donut Van Toy Car
$22.00You're supposed to be this amazed, it's impossible to glaze over this beauty. Already a crowd favorite, the donut van made its debut back in March 2019 and has been...
Bear Company Doodles the Labradoodle
$28.00Our adorable 13" dog plush toy! With soft faux-fur, sparkling eyes, and a floppy body, this realistic stuffed animal is perfect for cuddling. It can sit or stand, adding extra...
Haba Doorway Theater
$69.00Raise the curtain! Put on a true production with the Theater! The Doorway Theater stimulates children's imagination and creativity! The theater is wonderfully detailed with a cute porthole at the top...
Jellycat Dorit Duckling
$33.00Dorit Duckling is the star of the pond in bold yellow fur. With a funky yellow hairdo, Dorit has little wings and a high tail. With a soft orange beak...
MagicPlay Dot Activity Kit Transport
$32.00Introducing the "Transportation" Kids On-the-Go Activity Kit! Packed with 25 vibrant perforated pages, 3 dot markers, and 10 sheets of dot stickers, it offers endless creative fun for kids. All...
Hape Double Bubble
$28.00Double Bubble toy is the perfect toy for your developing little one! This toy introduces problem solving to your baby; there’s always a new way to move around its endless...
Hape Double Rainbow Stacker
$30.00Let your child’s imagination run free by creating endless stacked patterns with Hape’s Double Rainbow Stacker! This toy is great for helping your little one recognize shapes and to identify...
Eco-Kids Dough 3 Pack
$20.00Eco Dough provides hours of artistic exploration as well as engaging children with an opportunity to learn the basics of color theory by experimenting with mixing and blending the primary colors...
Magnatiles Downhill Duo 40 Piece Set
$76.00Ready, set, go! With the new MAGNA-TILES® Downhill Duo 40-Piece Set, kids are in the driver’s seat! Little ones can turn their MAGNA-TILES® build into an exciting downhill adventure, in just...
Wonder & Wise Dreamy Doll Stroller
$89.00Taking dolly for a walk will be dreamy in the Dreamy Doll Stroller. A perfect fit for all of our dolls and doll bedding. The cloud-shaped sides are a dream! Adjustable...
Maileg Dress Bunny Size 1, Classic
$36.00A classic bunny made of soft natural fabrics that gives a lovely hand feel and look. Size 1 bunny fits into the House of miniature and all furniture size mini...
Great Pretenders Dress Ombre Eras
$60.00Introducing The Eras Dress – a celestial masterpiece for your little star! This enchanting lilac dress is a nod to Taylor Swift's iconic eras, capturing the magic of childhood in...
Candylab Drifter Kodiak Toy Car
$50.00The classic Drifter you know and love, now wilder than ever. Comes equipped with a shovel, dual jerry cans for long trips in the wild, and a spare wheel. The...
Candylab Drifter Nigel Toy Car
$46.00Some Drifters are built for speed, others are built for adventure. The Candylab Drifter Nigel was created for prestige. With a classy dark cherry base coat and tan race strip...
Candylab Drifter Zebra Toy Car
$48.00Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure! The Candylab Drifter Zebra brings a new level of detail to the House of Candy collection. Mixing hard and soft materials, from...
Corolle Drink and Wet Bath Bebe Emma
$82.00Emma Bebe Doll is perfect to be your potty-training ally! This large baby doll is anatomically correct and measures 36cm/14in. Emma drinks her bottle, goes potty "for real" when her...
Maileg Drying Rack with Pegs Toy
$20.00This item completes the play and makes sure the mice and bunnies have a place to hang the clothes after washing them. Material: Metal/Wood Size: 3.94 inches
Le Toy Van Dubois Wooden Family Dolls
$20.00This charming set of five wooden peg dolls is thoughtfully handcrafted from FSC®-certified sustainable wood, with each figure turned from a single piece, making them beautifully unique. Featuring simple, minimalist...
BlaBla Duck Rattle Lucille
$32.00Handmade baby rattle made from the softest Peruvian cotton. 100% cotton with poly fill. Approximately 8" long Hand or machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle Lay flat to...
Candylab Duckie Wagon Toy Car
$15.00Grab your floaties, it’s time for a swim! The first wagons with squishy toppers, Duckie and Flamingo are all about kicking back and having some fun in the sun. Materials: Solid...
Egmont Dustpan and Brush Toy
$30.00Pretend play housekeeping dustpan and brush are perfect for toddlers ready to help clean the house! Durably made with real bristles and real functionality. Kids can learn early how to...
Cuddle + Kind Dylan the Kitten
$80.00 – $100.00I am an energetic kitten who loves to laugh, leap and chase sunbeams. Luckily, I’m very good at landing on my feet! Friends say I’m an optimist - if things...
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.