Play Time
DAM Starlight Torch Projector Jungle
$20.00With this cool torch you can go on thrilling adventures in the dark. The torch comes with three interchangeable dome-shaped covers to project a variety of scenes: starry sky, space...
Steiff Starly Unicorn Plush Toy 28 inches
$295.00Steiff Starly Unicorn will take your little one on countless flights of fantasy. She’s entirely handmade in the workshops of Steiff, the legendary German toy company known for its outstanding...
Great Pretenders Starry Night Dragon Cape
$40.00This gorgeous cape is fearless with its spectacular fiery blue eyes, dramatic golden spikes and horns, and a stuffed head with great design details. This cape will get your little...
Guidecraft Starter Triangle Fractions
$30.00Developing minds increase their understanding of numbers and one-to-one correspondence sorting the tactile fraction shapes of Starter Triangle Fractions. Colorful rubberwood shapes are in the quarter, third, half and whole...
Hape Stay-Put Rattle Set
$22.00Babies will be enchanted by the Stay-put Rattle Set’s differing sounds, bright colors, and aquatic animals. Moreover, with their handy suction cups, playtime is possible anywhere, anytime! Age: 0+ Months...
Brio Steam Train and Tunnel
$34.00The BRIO World Steam Train & Tunnel is beautifully crafted with a classic design and wooden details. The golden age of the toy train is back as this handsome steam...
Steiff Steiff Jimmy Teddy Bear Plush Toy 12 ...
$34.00Meet the modern stuffed bear your kid will adore all day and night. Jimmy is a 12-inch Teddy bear made of soft, snuggly, machine-washable, plush fabric. Jimmy Teddy Bear Details:...
Steiff Steiff Musical Pull Toy Hoppie Rabbit
$46.00Hoppie Rabbit is one of the best-selling styles for children, and she’s now available in a music box version for infants. Pull her string, and delight your baby with a...
Steiff Steiff Musical Pull Toy Jimmy Teddy Bear
$46.00Jimmy, one of our most popular Teddy bear designs for children, now comes in styles that are designed with babies in mind. Pull the string on our musical version of...
Steiff Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Fran...
$689.00Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Franzi Pony is beautifully designed from valuable woven plush, each with intricate hand-airbrushed accents, our Rocking Animals withstand up to 330 pounds because the toy...
Steiff Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Leo ...
$698.00Steiff Rocking Animal Riding Toy Leo Lion is beautifully designed from valuable woven plush, each with intricate hand-airbrushed accents, our Rocking Animals withstand up to 330 pounds because the toy...
Cuddle + Kind Stella The Polar Bear
$104.00I live way up north, up near the top of the world! I love making snow angels with my twin brother and adore the way snow tingles on my tongue....
Hachette Sticker Book Taylor Swift Eras
$9.99Prepare for The Life of a Showgirl with this must-have sticker book filled with 1,100+ stickers representing Taylor Swift’s eras—and much more!This is your unofficial guide to your favorite eras—with stickers! Illustrated by Brooke...
Hachette Stickyscapes at the Museum Sticker Book
$10.99Take a sticky trip to the museum! Stickyscapes at the Museum includes an 8-page sticker booklet, brimming with over 100 stickers; and a huge, double-sided fold-out panoramic scene for you...
Chronicle Books Stickyscapes London Sticker Book
$14.95Sticker, learn, and play! Create your own real and imaginary London with over 100 stickers that will bring this panoramic play scene to life.One side represents actual, present-day London, while...
Hachette Stickyscapes Superheroes Sticker Book
$10.99Try out your superpowers with this superhero sticker book! This astonishing double-sided panoramic play scene folds out to a length of four feet and contains a superheroes' cityscape on one...
Penguin Stomp Stomp Book
$8.99Flip the flaps, move the sliders, and trace the trails in this bright, quirky board book about dinosaurs!Where will Little Dino play today? Flip the flaps, move the sliders, and...
Le Toy Van Strawberry Wedding Cake
$40.00Let's celebrate! Tuck into this delicious classic three-tier wedding cake, adorned with lashings of cream with a strawberry motif inside and out.The lower and mid-tier sections come in 4 detachable sections (with...
Maileg Striped Blouse and Pants Rabbit Size ...
$38.00A classic rabbit made of soft natural fabrics that gives a lovely hand feel and look. Size 2 rabbit fits into the House of miniature and all furniture size mini...
Maileg Stroller Baby Mice
$38.00This stroller is perfect for mouse families with more than one baby. You can easily transport two or three babies. The seat can be positioned both ways depending on whether...
Wee Gallery Stroller Cards I See Bugs to Count
$26.00The "I See" Stroller Cards promote exploring a baby's world with simple, open-ended prompts. Spot bugs that are commonly seen while out and about on a walk, or in the...
Wee Gallery Stroller Cards I See in the Market
$26.00I see Fruits and Veggies in the Market! The ‘I See’ Stroller Cards promote exploring a baby’s world with simple, open-ended prompts. Spot fruits and veggies that are commonly...
Wee Gallery Stroller Cards I See on a Walk
$26.00I see a dog. Is the dog big or little? The 'I See' Stroller Cards promote exploring a baby's world with simple, open-ended prompts. Spot things that are commonly...
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.