Play Time
Candylab Taco Van Toy Car
$22.00This taco truck was inspired by the trailblazing spirit of the very first food trucks. Designed with true SoCal vibes in mind, it has fun and fiesty coats of paint,...
Phaidon Press Tacos!: An Interactive Recipe Book
$22.95For kids who cook in a play kitchen or a real kitchen, this interactive recipe book invites readers to chop the vegetables, mash the avocado, warm the tortillas, and more...
Le Toy Van Take Away Smoothie Trio
$20.00This tasty trio of take away smoothies makes a sweet addition to your children's pretend play universe. In an array of cute colors, complete with striped straws, this gender neutral...
Kiko+ & gg* Tape Recorder Pink
$120.00Turn back time to the good old days with the NEW kiko+ retro wooden tape recorder, a one-of-a-kind toy that combines the charm of traditional wood with modern electronic fun. The...
Kiko+ & gg* Tape Recorder Yellow
$120.00Turn back time to the good old days with the NEW kiko+ retro wooden tape recorder, a one-of-a-kind toy that combines the charm of traditional wood with modern electronic fun. The...
Candylab Taxi Toy Car
$12.00Part of the Candylab new Candycar line, a cute 3 inches long. One of two of our racers, who said speed comes with size? Materials: Solid Beech Wood, water-based paint, and...
Le Toy Van Tea and Coffee Re-Useable Eco Cups
$16.00Perfect for little baristas in the making, this charming Tea & Coffee To Go Set is a delightful addition to any imaginative play collection.Designed with a realistic touch, each cup...
Mud Pie Tea Party Wood Set
$24.00Description 17-piece tea party. Wooden accessories for hours of make believe! Ages 3+. Dimension: pieces approx 3" x 3" Material: PINE WOOD
Candylab Teal Wagon Toy Car
$12.00Part of the Candylab new Candycar line, a cute 3 inches long. One of two of our racers, who said speed comes with size? Materials: Solid Beech Wood, water-based paint, and...
Maileg Teddie Rattle - Chinos green
$14.00These Teddy Rattles are the perfect size and fit for a baby's hand. They have the sweetest rattling sound that is stimulating for little ones. These darling little Teddies make...
Maileg Teddie Rattle - Old Rose
$14.00Our Teddy Rattles have are the perfect size and fit for a baby's hand. They have the sweetest rattling sound that is stimulating for little ones. These darling little Teddies...
Maileg Teddy Baby
$22.00A baby has arrived at the teddy family. It is made in the same soft linen fabric as the rest of the teddies; it comes dressed in a small suit...
Plushies Teddy Bear Blue Overall
$48.00Benny and Beatrice's friendship will last well beyond baby’s first year. Luxurious texture gives an exciting dimension to a nursery classic. Removable overalls are easily monogrammed for personalization. 18 inches...
Maileg Teddy Dad Doll
$24.00The Teddy bear family is a sweet collection of 3 different sizes of Teddy bears. They are made of soft linen and have a vintage look that will make the...
Maileg Teddy Junior Doll
$20.00The Teddy bear family is a sweet collection of 3 different sizes of Teddy bears. They are made of soft linen and have a vintage look that will make the...
Maileg Teddy Mom Wooden Bed - Rose
$40.00A wooden bed that fits the Teddy mom perfectly. Beautiful hand painted details on the bed - variation may occur. Soft bedlinen, made in unique fabrics, will keep the teddy...
FridaBaby Teether Not Too Cold To Hold
$12.99Skip the chilly teething rings and help baby soothe their sore gums without getting frostbite on their hands. The Not-Too-Cold-To-Hold Teether has a stay-warm handle for the baby to hold, with two...
Innobaby Teethin' Smart Birthstone Ring December
Celebrate your baby’s birthday with Innobaby’s Birthstone Ring Teethers! Teething can be such a pain, and when a baby is in pain, so are you. Made with 100% silicone, this...
Innobaby Teethin' Smart Birthstone Ring January
Celebrate your baby’s birthday with Innobaby’s Birthstone Ring Teethers! Teething can be such a pain, and when a baby is in pain, so are you. Made with 100% silicone, this...
Itzy Ritzy Teething Ball Lemon Drop
$16.00Sore gums are no match for the Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Biter Teething Ball! This multi-textured teether is perfect for providing comfort as it soothes your child's emerging teeth and calms...
Itzy Ritzy Teething Ball Pink Lemonade
$16.00Sore gums are no match for the Itzy Ritzy Bitzy Biter Teething Ball! This multi-textured teether is perfect for providing comfort as it soothes your child's emerging teeth and calms...
Tikiri Teething Comforter Alvin the Elephant
$22.00Alvin the Elephant is adorable and now here he is as a teething comforter, these are soft fabrics with a rubber teething head. Comforters are great for young children and...
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.