Play Time
Maileg Safari Friends - Small Rhino Chocolate
$28.00Safari friends are made of the softest linen and are available in many different colors. They can sit and gives the best hug you can imagine. Mix and match as...
Maileg Safari Friends Big Elephant Powder
$60.00Safari friends are made in the softest fabric and come in great colors. They can sit by themselves as they have beans in their bottom. They are just waiting for...
Maileg Safari Friends Crocodile Forest Green...
$32.00 – $54.00Meet the newest addition to the soft toy collection: a cool crocodile! Perfect for imaginative play, storytelling, or simply snuggling, this huggable companion brings fun and charm to any playroom.Made...
Maileg Safari Friends Giraffe Plush Toy
$38.00 – $60.00This giraffe is made in the softest ramie/cotton blend with a nice multi-dotted pattern. The giraffe has the most adorable look and would fit perfectly in any children's room. Safari Friends...
Maileg Safari Friends Medium Hippo Light Rose
$40.00Safari friends are made in the softest fabric and come in great colors. They can sit by themselves as they have beans in their bottom. They are just waiting for...
Maileg Safari Friends Medium Rhino
$40.00Safari friends are made of the softest linen and are available in many different colors. They can sit and gives the best hug you can imagine. Mix and match as...
Maileg Safari Friends Panda Toy
$38.00 – $80.00This sweet panda is made of cotton and corduroy. It is a dear friend to all the other animals in the popular Safari friend's category. Safari Friends Panda Details: Suitable...
Maileg Safari Friends Rhino Dusty Blue
$30.00 – $42.00Bring home a cuddly companion with the Maileg Safari Friends! Made from the softest fabrics and designed in delightful colors, this charming toy is perfect for hugs, imaginative play, and...
Maileg Safari Friends Rhino Plush Toy Grey
$28.00Safari Friends are made of the softest linen and are available in many different colors. They can sit and give the best hug you can imagine. Recommended age: All ages...
Maileg Safari Friends Small Elephant Plush T...
$24.00Safari Friends are made in the softest fabric. They can sit by themselves as they have beans in their bottom. They are just waiting for you to come and hug...
Maileg Safari Friends Small Hippo Plush Toy ...
$28.00Safari friends are made in the softest fabric and come in great colors. They can sit by themselves as they have beans in their bottom. They are just waiting for...
Brio Safari Railway Set
$50.00Come along on a safari rail adventure and spot the zebra out on the savannah. Watch out for the mischievous monkey who likes to steal the magnetic food load right...
Moulin Roty Sage Rabbit Plush Toy
$50.00With its whiskered face and big, super soft ears, this adorable rabbit wearing sage dungarees is crying out to be cuddled. A little friend by day and a protective...
Tender Leaf Toys Sailaway Boat
$50.00Ahoy there! A traditional solid wood sailing boat evocative of summer time seascapes. Best friends Bubble and Squeak are on top deck, enjoying the views. With 2 fabric sails and...
Cuddle + Kind Savannah The Lion
$80.00 – $100.00I’m happiest when leaping across the magnificent grasslands, looking for the next adventure. When I’m faced with a challenge, I hold my head up proudly and say, “I can do...
Cuddle + Kind Sawyer The Lion
$80.00 – $100.00I live on a breathtaking plain with blue sky that stretches far as the eye can see. People call me a loving lion because I think of others first and...
Cottage Door Press Say It, Hear It: ABC Animals Book
$30.99Listen, play, and learn ABCs with amazing silly animals! 26 sound buttons and 78 unique sounds for hours of the alphabet and first words fun! This big board book is...
BlaBla School Book Girl Monkey Rattle
$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 School Bus Toy Car
$18.00Don’t sleep in, or you’ll miss our School Bus! (AKA the COOL Bus.) This big yellow bus is ready, bright and early to pick you up. We know that school looks a little bit different...
Tender Leaf Toys Scoops and Smiles
$48.00Five delicious and very friendly solid wood ice cream cornets adorn this pretty little shop. Choose your flavor and have fun matching the characters to their names. Age: 3 years...
Micro Kickboard Scooter Head Dino
$29.99Bring a friend along on every ride with a colorful, funky Scooter Head! Choose from a variety of characters to make your adventures even more fun. They attach simply to the T-bar...
Micro Kickboard Scooter Luggage Junior Mint
$219.99Say goodbye to airport struggles: simply flip down the kickboard and children can hop on and scoot to and from the departure gate. Children can scoot on, pull, or push...
Tikiri Sea Horse Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00Made from all-natural rubber, this playful little Sea Horse from our Ocean Buddies Collection is easy for tiny hands to grip. And when shaken, it responds with a gentle sound that is...
Tikiri Sea Lion Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00These super cute Artic Animal Sea Lion have come from their winter wonderland to provide comfort and joy for bath times and bedtimes. Each containing an enclosed rattle that will...
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.