Play Time
Maileg Big Brother Hiker Mouse
$44.00This mouse is well-prepared for a hiking trip in the wild nature. He is dressed for days of walking and brings his sleeping bag for the nights under the stars. This style...
Maileg Big Brother Mouse Doll with Blue Paja...
$36.00Ready to play for hours, this mouse is sound asleep in a small matchbox. The clothes and bed linen are made of soft fabrics with unique prints and beautiful colors....
Maileg Big Brother Mouse In Matchbox Mint
$36.00A classic Maileg item. This mouse is ready for hours of play and sleeps tight in the little matchbox. The clothes and bedlinen are made of soft fabrics with unique...
Maileg Big Brother Tricycle Mouse
$32.00Big Brother Tricycle Mouse is dressed for a day in kindergarten or school, carrying his backpack on the back. He has magnets in his hands so he can hold the...
Maileg Big Brother Tricycle Mouse Green
$32.00Big Brother Mouse is dressed for a day in school, carrying his backpack on the back. He has magnets in his hands so he can hold the handles of the...
Gibbs Smith Big Friends, Little Book
$11.99Teach the concepts of opposites and friendship in a colorful way. Paula Vásquez’s charming illustrations of best friends, Bird and Alligator, help teach opposite concepts of up and down,...
Penguin Big Little / Grande pequeño Book
$8.99Ladies are big, but ladybugs are little. Heads are big, but toes are little. Illustrated in a bright, graphic style, Leslie Patricelli’s bald, hilariously expressive baby acts out each pair...
Maileg Big Sister and Big Brother Mouse Pyjamas
$14.00Dress your big brother mouse or sister mouse for a good night`s sleep or a cozy pajamas party with this pajamas. DimensionsHeight: 4.33inNet weight: 0.01lbRecommended Age+3 YEARS
Maileg Big Sister Mouse Doll with Print Dres...
$36.00Ready to play for hours, this mouse is sound asleep in a small matchbox. The clothes and bed linen are made of soft fabrics with unique prints and beautiful colors. Big...
Maileg Big Sister Mouse in Matchbox Pajamas
$36.00A classic item. This mouse is ready for hours of play and sleeps tight in the little matchbox. The clothes and bedlinen are made of soft fabrics with unique prints...
Maileg Big Sister Mouse Princess and the Pea
$58.00Step into a world of classic fairytales with the enchanting Princess Mouse & the Pea Castle Set. Inspired by the beloved story The Princess and the Pea, this charming playset...
Maileg Big Sister Tricycle Mouse Coral
$32.00Big Sister Mouse is ready for a day in school, carrying her backpack on the back. She has magnets in her hands so she can hold the handles of the...
Maileg Big Sister Tricycle Mouse Doll with Bag
$32.00Maileg Big Sister Tricycle Mouse is dressed for a day in kindergarten or school, carrying her backpack on the back. She has magnets in her hands so she can hold the...
Maileg Big Sister Wellness Mouse Doll
$32.00Like everyone else, this mouse loves to spend hours in the warm water of the spa. Age: 3 years+ This playset includes a golden bathtub, a mouse, and a towel....
Hachette Big Sticker Book of Beasts
$14.95This endlessly entertaining activity book brings the world of beasts alive in a creative way. With fascinating facts as a starting point, the activities invite children to draw, color, and...
Hachette Big Sticker Book of Blue
$14.95Starting with fascinating ocean facts, the activities in the book invite children to draw, color, and play games with ocean wildlife, inspiring their interest in nature as they play. The...
Hachette Big Sticker Book of Bugs
$14.95An interactive book that brings the world of bugs to a child’s fingertips. The activities in the book invite children to draw, color, decorate, and place bugs in their natural...
Candylab Big Sur Brown Toy Car
$45.00Carved out of solid beechwood with a real metal roof rack, The Big Sur is our clearest nod yet at the bygone era of big, clumsy, and extremely charming vintage...
Candylab Big Sur Green Toy Car
$45.00Carved out of solid beechwood with a real metal roof rack, The Big Sur is our clearest nod yet at the bygone era of big, clumsy, and extremely charming vintage...
Tender Leaf Toys Birdie Afternoon Tea Stand
$54.00A two tier stand full of delicious treats ready to serve! A ham or cucumber sandwich, a lemon meringue pie, a chocolate roll, a slice of Victoria sponge, an apple...
Plantoys Birthday Cake Set
$36.00The Birthday Cake Set consists of a two-sided play of cake with different toppings, a plate, a knife, a dark chocolate bar, and 6 removable candles. This toy is perfect...
Tonies Birthday Songs Audio Play Figurine
$19.99A select compilation of the most popular traditional children's songs with a celebratory theme! Tonies Birthday Songs Audio Play Figurine Details: Age: 3 years+ Features all of your favorite party songs!...
BlaBla BlaBla Knitted Doll Webster the Duck
$78.00Handmade doll made from the softest Peruvian cotton. 100% cotton with poly fill. Regular: 18" Mini: 12" Hand or machine wash in cold water on gentle cycle Lay flat to...
BlaBla BlaBla Knitted Doll Wooly The Sheep
$78.00WOOLY likes to sleep upside down with his feet on his pillow. He dreams in green and yellow. Handmade doll made from the softest Peruvian cotton. 100% cotton with poly...
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.