Play Time
Cuddle + Kind Lola The Llama
$80.00 – $100.00I live high in the mountains where I love to frolic with my twin brother and the rest of my herd. I’m a no drama llama – I do what...
Le Toy Van London Bus
$100.00Explore the big city in style with this classic London bus toy.This iconic wooden toy is a multi-award winner and a long-time favorite. With its brightly painted exterior in bold red...
Le Toy Van London Car Set
$40.00This wooden toy car set for kids includes 7 iconic London vehicles; a double-decker bus, a black taxi, a fire engine, a police van, an ambulance, and 2 sporty cars. 3 years+...
Le Toy Van London Train Set
$300.00This stunning wooden toy London Train Set is headed for the big smoke. Let little imaginations run wild as they board the train for a journey of discovery through...
Playforever Loretino Blue Car
$40.00We are excited to introduce Loretino Monaco racing car - a cute and playful scaled-down version of its big brother (and the very first car in the Playforever collection), Bruno. In...
Playforever Loretino Toy Car Black
$40.00We are excited to introduce Loretino Monaco racing car - a cute and playful scaled-down version of its big brother (and the very first car in the Playforever collection), Bruno. In...
Playforever Loretino Toy Car Red
$40.00We are excited to introduce Loretino Monaco racing car - a cute and playful scaled-down version of its big brother (and the very first car in the Playforever collection), Bruno. In...
Plushies Louie the Brown Tabby Cat
$32.00The 15'' long realistic cat stuffed animal that will melt your heart. Crafted with care, this charming tiger tabby kitty plush toy boasts soft fur, dazzling eyes, and an expressive...
Maileg LouiMax and Stella
$52.00Meet little brother mouse Loui Max and his sister Stella. Both wear cozy striped shirts and love spending time together in the Suit Casa, always ready for endless playful adventures....
Maileg LouiMax Mouse, Big brother
$30.00This mouse is called Louimax and he is a really adventurous guy. He wears a blue striped shirt and a pair of denim pants. The mouse has magnets in his...
PlanToys Lower Case Alphabet
$60.00Develop your language skills with this alphabet set! 26 Lower case letters and 5 vowels are included to encourage communication and language practice (31 pieces in total). We use red...
Lubulona Lubu Town Spring City Maxi Stacking Toy
$60.00The Lubu Town Pack Spring City is a great, educational and creative construction toy set for boys and girls. This unique toy with a modern design in pastel pink and mint...
Lubulona Lubu Town Summerville Maxi Stacking Toy
$60.00The Lubu Town Pack Summerville is a great, educational and creative construction toy set for boys and girls. This unique toy with a modern design in red and turquoise allows...
Cuddle + Kind Lucas The Llama
$80.00 – $100.00I live in the spectacular mountains where I romp with my twin sister and all our friends in our herd. I’m a laughing llama! Sharing a joke with one of...
Vilac Lucien the dog rattle
$18.00Welcome Lucien, mischievous dog good at mischief, available here in a wooden rattle made in our Jura workshop. “Tchik tchik tchik” makes this first musical instrument, adapted to the smallest...
Cuddle + Kind Lucy The Lamb
$80.00 – $100.00I’m a shy, gentle, loving little lamb. I’m a great listener, a first-rate giggler and would be so happy to be your friend. I will find the softest meadows where...
Cuddle + Kind Lucy The Lamb Pastel
$80.00 – $100.00I’m a shy, gentle, loving little lamb. I’m a great listener, a first-rate giggler and would be so happy to be your friend. I will find the softest meadows where...
Playforever Luft Pfeiffer White Car
$56.00Playforever draws inspiration from classic and iconic racing cars and racing planes from the 1920s, as well as in 1960s New York. Combining decades of research with technical car design...
Playforever Luft Toy Car Biba Orange
$56.00Playforever draws inspiration from classic and iconic racing cars and racing planes from the 1920s, as well as in 1960s New York. Combining decades of research with technical car design...
Playforever Luft Toy Car Black Gold
$56.00Playforever draws inspiration from classic and iconic racing cars and racing planes from the 1920s, as well as in 1960s New York. Combining decades of research with technical car design...
Playforever Luft Toy Car Hopper Green
$56.00Playforever draws inspiration from classic and iconic racing cars and racing planes from the 1920s, as well as in 1960s New York. Combining decades of research with technical car design...
Playforever Luft Toy Car Pink
$56.00The Luft cars are inspired by the Porsche 911 Targa, and are one of Playforever's newest creations. Combining traditional design with modern manufacturing, this iconic car comes in 5 different...
Playforever Luft Toy Car Slate Grey
$56.00Playforever draws inspiration from classic and iconic racing cars and racing planes from the 1920s, as well as in 1960s New York. Combining decades of research with technical car design...
Candylab Luggage Wagon Toy Car
$12.00Pack your boxes we are moving across the country! This small but mighty wagon is sturdy enough for any road trip. Finished with a bright orange paint job and shinning...
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.