Play Time
Gibbs Smith Book Where is?/Dónde Está? El Chavo
$10.00Inspired by the internationally acclaimed sitcom "El Chavo Del Ocho," this book will introduce little ones to their first English and Spanish words as they explore La Vecindad in search of the...
Little People, Big Dreams Book Wilma Rudolph
$15.99Wilma was born into a family with 22 brothers and sisters, in the segregated South. She contracted polio in her early years and her doctors said she would never walk...
Abrams Book With My Daddy (A Book of Love an...
$18.99A little girl honors her dad and all the fun they have together in this sweet companion to In My Heart. The spunky heroine loves spending time with her dad....
Little People, Big Dreams Book Yoko Ono
$15.99Discover the inspiring true story of Yoko Ono, the artist. When Yoko was little, she had everything she could dream of in Japan, except time with her busy parents....
Abrams Book You Are Fantastic! (A Hello!Lucky)
$7.99From Hello!Lucky, the creators of My Mom Is Magical! and My Dad Is Amazing!, comes a joyful tribute to all the things that make YOU one of a kind! You are more lovable...
Little People, Big Dreams Book Zaha Hadid
$15.99Meet Zaha Hadid tells the inspiring true story of the visionary Iraqi-British architect.Zaha Hadid grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, surrounded by music. She was a curious and confident child, who...
Gibbs Smith Book Zoolympics
$10.00See who finished first, second, third, and more in the Zoolympics while learning both cardinal and ordinal numbers. This fun board book teaches toddlers both cardinal and ordinal numbers...
Trendy Tech Boombox Rainbow Bling
$88.00Listen to your favorite songs in style with this Rainbow Bling boombox! With LED speaker lights, this boombox is perfect for any occasion that calls for some fun music Led...
Tiny Harlow Bottled Milk and Juice Set
$14.00Feed your doll just like in the good old days! These Tiny Harlow Magic Bottles bring a sprinkle of nostalgia and tons of fun. Tip the bottle and watch the...
Rubbabu Bouncy Ball Toy Small
$10.00A soft, easy-to-grip bouncy ball designed especially for little hands. Made from natural rubber foam with a smooth, velvety finish, this lightweight ball is safe, flexible, and fun for active...
Rubbabu Bouncy Ball Toy Torpedo Aqua
$10.00A soft, velvety ball that bounces well on floors and carpets. Made from foamed natural rubber it's squishy and safe for babies and toddlers. The tactile texture makes it fun...
Great Pretenders Boutique Pretty Petite Crown Headband
$18.00Add a royal touch to any outfit with our Boutique Pretty Petite Crown Headband. Beautifully crafted, this elegant accessory features - a band strung with delicate white pearls and a...
Great Pretenders Boutique Regal Tiara
$20.00Introducing our exquisite Regal Pink Tiara, a stunning accessory fit for royalty. Crafted with precision and adorned with captivating details, this tiara embodies elegance, grace, and sophistication. It is the...
Great Pretenders Boutique Tiara Treat Headband
$20.00The Boutique Tiara Treat Headband combines glamorous design with practicality. It offers the dazzling appeal of a tiara—complete with a shimmering silver finish and crystal embellishments—while being lightweight and wearable...
Plantoys Bowling Set
$70.00How many pins are you able to knock down in 2 shots? This Bowling Set features 6 pins and 2 balls for rolling. It's a perfect game to play with...
Plantoys Bread Loaf Set
$44.00Roleplay as the owner of a bakery with the Bread Loaf Set! Made from PlanWood™, a realistic loaf of bread can be cut with an included bread knife. Teach little ones how...
Plantoys Breakfast Menu
$36.00Start your day with a healthy breakfast with the Breakfast Menu Set! Breakfast Menu Set Details: Age: 2 years+ The set includes 2 slices of bread, a bun, sausage, a slice...
Mud Pie Breakfast Play Set
$14.00Wooden breakfast playset includes a carton of milk, two utensils, plate, egg, and piece of toast. Ages 3 years+ 7-piece set Material: Pine Wood
Tender Leaf Toys Breakfast Toaster Set
$46.00Toast your 2 slices of bread, turn the birdie dial to hot, pop them up when they are ready, butter the toast with the wooden knife, and top with a...
Cuddle + Kind Briar The Bunny
$84.00 – $104.00I’m a kind, loving bunny who believes that the best way to make friends is to be one. Everyone I meet is extraordinary, like you! I love to lend an...
Cuddle + Kind Briar the Bunny Peony Pink
$84.00I’m a kind, loving bunny who believes that the best way to make friends is to be one. Everyone I meet is extraordinary, like you! I love to lend an...
Janod Brico Kids DIY Construction Truck
$54.00Attention all budding builders! With this build-it-yourself wooden truck, you’ll be fully equipped to handle the toughest, craziest construction projects! This 2-in-1 toy combines the challenge of building a...
Janod Brico Kids DIY Fire Truck
$54.00Nee-naw, nee-naw! If the sound of sirens regularly resounds around your home, your little ones will love this attractive, build-it-yourself fire truck! This set starts as a construction kit,...
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.