Play Time
Tender Leaf Toys Touch Sensory Tray
$26.00Stimulate your toddler’s senses with this Touch Sensory Tray! This set includes 4 solid wood animal shapes with different tactile patches underneath, presented on a shape sorter tray. Encourages color...
Chronicle Books Touch Think Learn Book ABC
$26.99Using the same innovative production technique and brilliant aesthetic cheered by parents, educators, and children alike in the acclaimed TouchThinkLearn series, here is an alphabet that literally adds a new...
Chronicle Books TouchThinkLearn Book - Fly
$17.99A bird arrives, alights on a tree, finds a mate, and builds a nest. Soon its eggs will hatch and one brave hatchling will embark on its first flight. A...
Chronicle Books TouchThinkLearn Book 123
$24.99High design, brilliant graphics, essential learning skills—these features distinguish the TouchThinkLearn titles, presenting knowledge in a new dimension. Xavier Deneux applies the same unique vision that informed TouchThink-Learn: ABC to this year's...
Chronicle Books TouchThinkLearn Book Colors
$16.99Introducing TouchThinkLearn books, a format unlike any other. Combining scooped-out die-cuts with raised, shaped elements, each book is designed to offer the youngest learners an irresistible opportunity to explore their...
Chronicle Books TouchThinkLearn Book Feelings
$15.99Part of the bestselling TouchThinkLearn series! TouchThinkLearn: Feelings is a tactile board book with scooped-out die-cuts and raised elements that invites little readers to explore a range of emotions—from joy...
Chronicle Books TouchThinkLearn Book Little Critters
$14.99Featuring spreads with raised shaped objects that fit into scooped cut-outs on their opposite page, this new TouchThinkLearn book offers the youngest learners an opportunity to explore in a hands-on,...
Chronicle Books TouchThinkLearn Book Shapes
$15.99Combining scooped-out die-cuts with raised, shaped elements, two new TouchThinkLearn books offer youngest learners an irresistible opportunity to explore their universe in a hands-on, multi-sensory way. See the image, trace...
Chronicle Books TouchThinkLearn Book Vehicles
$16.99Featuring spreads each with raised shaped objects that fit into scooped cutouts on their opposite page, TouchThinkLearn books offer the youngest learners an irresistible opportunity to explore their universe in...
Chronicle Books TouchWords Book Animals
$16.99Hands-on learning in literally a new dimension. Now with entire words that are raised, TouchWords boldly extends the groundbreaking TouchThinkLearn range. The unique sensory experience of these books allows readers...
Candylab Towie Toy Car
$38.00A staple of every garage, Towie is glad to jump to any car's rescue. Sturdy, and ready to use its rubber band to help a car in need. It hooks to the underbelly...
Haba Town Maze Magnetic Puzzle Game
$24.00The Town Maze Magnetic Puzzle Game will keep your kiddo entertained by teaching them colors and shapes. The colorful balls are trying to find their way home to their matching...
Janod Toy - Candy Chic High Chair
$54.00This lovely highchair with glittering reflections is ideal for feeding and taking care of your favourite baby doll. Features an attractive polka dot cushion for added comfort. Compatible with baby...
Bajo Toy Airplane
$46.00Little pilots will love making these wooden toy airplanes soar into the sky. A chunky wooden toy that's perfect for little ones to play. Sturdy enough to become a favored...
BeginAgain Toy And Puzzle Basic Shape Sorter 12-...
$10.00The BeginAgain Toys 12-Piece Basic Shape Sorter puzzle will help children practice fine motor skills, such as hand-eye coordination. It will help to stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving as well...
Ooh Noo Toy Chest On Wheels White
$165.00All Aboard! taken the same great design of the Ooh Noo toy pram and applied it to the concept of a toy cargo wagon. This handmade wooden toy chest is...
Le Toy Van Toy Fire Engine & Characters
$100.00This charming retro red fire engine includes two characters, a rotating and extendable ladder, extendable fire hose, two flames, alongside openable rear and side doors. The roof of the fire...
Loulou Lollipop Toy Links Bunny
$12.00Silicone Bunny Links – Versatile, Fun & Baby-Friendly Keep toys close and baby entertained with these multi-functional silicone bunny links—perfect for attaching teethers and toys to a stroller, play gym,...
Indigo Jamm Tractor Tim
$80.00A classically styled blue farm tractor and detachable trailer with 5 wooden farm animals. Peg person, farmer Tim, is removable and the animals can all ride in his trailer. This...
Le Toy Van Trailer Truck Set
$40.00Hit the road with this Wooden Truck Set, crafted from FSC-certified sustainable wood for endless imaginative play. Featuring three eco-friendly electric trucks—a cola drinks truck, fresh food truck, and organic...
Mud Pie Train Track Toy Set
$24.00Description Construction or train themed wooden set comes in acetate tube. Ages 3+. Dimension: pieces approx 2 1/2" x 3" Material: PINE WOOD
Manhattan Toy Travel Toy Farmer's Market Peas in a Pod
$22.00Zip open this soft velvety pod and there are three little peas tethered inside - one with crinkle paper, one that rattles, and one that squeaks - each with sweet...
Tonies Traveling Songs Audio Play Figurine
$19.99Hit the road (and the skies) with a collection of songs that will have you singing and dancing here, there and everywhere. An exciting compilation of original and popular...
Guidecraft Treasure Tubes Clear
$66.00What makes a fun noise when you shake it? Find trinkets, natural materials, and sensory objects to collect in the beautiful, stackable Treasure Tubes. The round, transparent acrylic tubes with...
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.