Play Time
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...
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...
Erzi American Breakfast Wooden Toy Set
$28.00Ever had an American breakfast? Enjoy pancakes and a sweet-savory mix of bacon, maple syrup, fried eggs, strawberries and blueberries. Served with some delicious orange juice. Yummy! Includes: 2...
Jellycat Amuseabean Highland Cow
$20.00Amuseabean Highland Cow comes from bonny Scotland, where cosy cuddles help in chilly weather! This quirky cow is diddy-delightful, with suedey-soft horns and a punky ginger mane! Cinnamon fur, a...
Jellycat Amuseable Avocado
$20.00 – $60.00Get your five-a-day in an adorable way with Amuseable Avocado! Scrummily green and soft, our veggie chum has a natty two-tone jacket in speckled fur. We love that squashy, suedey...
Jellycat Amuseable Birthday Cake
$32.50Amuseable 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 Boiled Egg Chic
$22.00Amuseable Boiled Egg Chic can't wait to find out what's hatching at Fashion Week! With super-soft fur in cream and yellow, embroidered shades with shiny lenses and stylish black shoes...
Jellycat Amuseable Boiled Egg Geek
$22.00A study buddy for supportive hugs, Amuseable Boiled Egg Geek is here! This cream-and-yellow softy wears embroidered glasses and red suedette trainers. Kicking up those chocolate cord legs, this affable...
Jellycat Amuseable Boiled Egg Graduation
$25.00Amuseables Boiled Egg Graduation can't wait to celebrate! With super-soft fur in cream and yellow, and a cotton mortarboard with golden tassel, this egg has a masters in sharing joy!...
Jellycat Amuseable Bonsai Tree
$65.00Amuseable Bonsai is a serene presence. After all, it takes quite a lot of wisdom and patience to grow your own miniature tree, complete with twisty, suedey trunk and a...
Jellycat Amuseable Bouquet Of Flowers
$45.00test2For quirky brides and brilliant colleagues. The Amuseable Bouquet of Flowers is the perfect way to say Thank You or Congratulations, or simply to cheer up a friend. A...
Jellycat Amuseable Bubble Tea
$28.00A quirky treat with summery vibes, Amuseable Bubble Tea's here! This beigey cup has a fluffy cream lid, a tall suedey straw and dark-chocolate boots, with embroidered black tapioca pearls....
Jellycat Amuseable Burger
$35.00The star of any barbecue bash, Jellycat 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,...
Jellycat Amuseable Chilli Pepper
$23.00Amuseable Chilli Pepper is the hottest name right now (and not just on the Scoville scale)! This crescent pepper has fiery red fur, a green suedette stalk and dark cocoa...
Jellycat Amuseable Coffee Bean
$23.00Amuseable Coffee Bean is little but powerful, giving a much-needed boost to all! With russet-brown fur, skippy cord feet, shiny eyes and stitched detail, this merry bean has even more...
Jellycat Amuseable Coffee Cup
$28.00Amuseable Coffee Cup is a classic blend of rich textures and delicious colours, with notes of quirky charm! This charcoal cup perks up any desk, filled with a suedette ombre...
Jellycat Amuseable Coffee-To-Go
$25.00The perfect partner for busy, dizzy days, that's Amuseable Coffee-To-Go! This nuzzly neutral cup is a keeper, with soft mocha fur, brown cordy feet and a chunky cordy tummy band....
Jellycat Amuseable Daffodil Pot
$40.00Ring in the springtime all year round with the Amuseable Daffodil Pot. This soft beige pot has cordy boots and a friendly smile. With furry soil, long green leaves and...
Jellycat Amuseable Daisy
$45.00Freshen up your space with Amuseable Daisy! This trio of flowers have golden fur faces, suedette fold petals and deep green stalks. Sat in a beautiful yellow linen pot with...
Jellycat Amuseable Devilled Egg
$18.00Amuseable Devilled Egg has a bright yellow face and a talent for mischief. Terribly soft for a hard-boiled egg, this scamp likes to sit on your shoulder and fill your...
Jellycat Amuseable Diamond Ring
$32.00With 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 Doughnut
$30.00A treat for the eyes, Jellycat Amuseable Doughnut is a burst of kooky sweetness! With soft golden dough, berry-pink icing, stitch rainbow sprinkles and cordy fudge boots, this doughnut's weighted...
Jellycat Amuseable Espresso Cup
$17.00Amuseable Espresso Cup is mini but mighty, with a huge personality! Sparky and soft, this creamy cup holds a scrummy serving of rich, fuzzy coffee. With adorable chocolatey cordy feet...
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.