Play Time
Penguin Pop Up Jungle Book
$15.99Hop aboard a riverboat for a colorful trek into the depths of the jungle with its many wonders. Tree frogs, monkeys, and jewel-toned birds are just a few of the...
Penguin Pop Up Ocean Book
$15.99Dive into a cool underwater who’s who and what’s what of the sea in this palm-size pop-up treasure. Discover ocean dwellers like the crab, octopus, and sea horse as they...
Penguin Pop Up Things That Go Book
$15.99Modes of transportation are exciting and ever popular — and here they get an attractive makeover in a kid-friendly pop-up with pages of things that go, from ice-cream trucks...
Simon & Schuster Pop-Up Book Cinderella
$39.99Matthew Reinhart's resplendent retelling of Cinderella comes to life with intricate pop-ups, foil, ribbons, acetate, and amazing dimensional surprises. The stunning transformation of a pumpkin into a magnificent coach, a rat into...
Simon & Schuster Pop-Up Book Raggedy Ann and Andy and ...
$34.99Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees Raggedy fans of all ages will delight in this three-dimensional interpretation of Johnny Gruelle's classic story. Dazzling paper...
Le Toy Van Popcorn Machine
$70.00It's showtime! This stunning, toy popcorn machine will bring the cinematic experience right into your home. Full of nostalgia and fun, this award-winning toy is a firm favorite. Le Toy...
Tender Leaf Toys Pots and Pans
$38.00Prepare dinner for your friends! A retro-style casserole pot, a frying pan, a baking dish, 2 wooden cooking utensils and a handy pair of tongs. Stir the tomato and the...
Le Toy Van Pots and Pans
$40.00A smart wooden cookware set for budding young chefs. Cook up a feast with this sweet toy which comprises a casserole pot with a lid, saucepan, frying pan, wooden...
Plantoys Pounding Bench
$60.00Pounding Bench is the perfect toy for fun play to encourage your excited little one to burn off energy! When all the pegs are pounded, your child can just turn...
Maileg Pram Mouse - Coral
$44.00The beautiful pram has a vintage look and comes with a sleeping bag and a soft mattress. The pram is designed for all the baby mice so the parents can...
Chronicle Books Presiona Aqui (Press Here Spanish Edi...
$15.99Press Here, the irrepressible New York Times bestseller, is now available in a Spanish language edition. With four starred reviews, a long-running spot as a New York Times bestseller, and...
Chronicle Books Press Here (English Edition) Book
$17.99Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to...
Candylab Pretzel Van Toy Car
$22.00You’re knot going to be able to resist the new Dr. Salty Van. Trust us, we’re all twisted up over this one. The Dr. Salty Van wouldn’t be right without...
Oli and Carol Primary Floating Blocks
$35.00The Bauhaus Movement geometric figures are the coolest interactive blocks for littles & not so littles! Easy-to-pile while educating babies into basic shapes and colors that surround them.Kids will develop...
Maileg Prince Mouse, Big Brother - Ocher
$30.00The little prince is dressed in his finest clothes. He is ready to play around at the Castle. DimensionsHeight: 5.12in, Net weight: 0.02lbRecommended Age+3
Mud Pie Princess Wood Set
$24.00Description 12-piece princess set. Wooden accessories for hours of make believe! Ages 3+. Dimension: pieces approx 3" x 3" Material: PINE WOOD
Bear Company Pugsly the Pug
$32.00A cute Pug puppy dog plush toy with soft fur, sparkling eyes, and a soft floppy body that can be positioned sitting, standing or laying. Size: 13 inches
Hape Pull + PushToy - Butterflies
$34.00A gentle push or pull keeps these butterflies in motion and your toddler on his toes. Practice concepts such as fast/slow and forward/backward. Product Deatils: Dimensions: L: 7.09, W: 7.09,...
PlanToys Pull Along Drummer
$70.00Watch the Pull Along Drummer march to the beat of the drum while it's being pulled along. While in motion, the drummer taps a drum to make a unique musical...
Plantoys Pull Along Musical Bear
$70.00Watch this talented bear play music while you pull him alongside you! While in motion, the bear hits a xylophone to make unique musical sounds that stimulate toddlers to learn...
Hachette Book Group Pull and Play Books - Brothers and Si...
$12.99Little Crocodile and his friends have siblings—siblings who take their things, make a mess, or just get in the way! But as their mommies and daddies show them, siblings can...
Plantoys Punch + Drop Orchard
$36.00The PlanToys Orchard Punch & Drop is great fun for children to pound the balls until they drop and slide out of the bin. Age: 12 months+ Develops fine motor...
Plantoys Punch and Drop
$44.00A fun way of teaching your little ones the cause and effect when balls are hammered through the holes. Helps improve their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Suitable Age: 12 months+...
Plantoys Punch and Drop Bin
$46.00About this product The PlanToys Punch & Drop Bin is curious fun as children explore cause and effect as they pound the balls until they drop into the bin Product...
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.