Play Time
Gibbs Smith Fairy Friend Seasons
$10.00BabyLit® is a fashionable way to introduce your toddler to the world of classic literature. Parents and children alike will be swept away by the whimsical imaginings of Merilee Liddiard’s...
Calico Critters Family Picnic Van
$56.00Three fun style changes:1. Lower the seat to create a child seat! Up to six baby figures can fit in the back.2. Remove the back door and seats and change...
Tender Leaf Toys Fantail Hall Dollhouse
$420.00Fantail Hall Dollhouse is a really impressive beautiful wood Doll's house based on a traditional British style of architecture. It has 4 levels of play area as the roof can...
Tender Leaf Toys Farm
$116.00Made throughout from top quality plywood, this farm has been designed to be open and accessible for little hands. It features a barn with barn doors and a feeding trough,...
Janod Farm Activity Sound Cube
$48.00About this productYour baby will love to discover the Marius pyramid filled with different well-known characters, shapes, and colors. Through several little hide-and-seek places, your child will have a blast...
Magnatiles Farm Animals 25 Pieces
$48.00The rooster is crowing! It’s time to join us down on the farm as we bring imaginative play to life with the Magna-Tiles Farm Animals set, part of the Magna-Tiles®...
Penguin Farm Animals Book
$7.99Calling little fans of farm animals—and design-loving parents! An oversize graphic showpiece has now been adapted as an accessible board book. This bucolic board book presents stylized animals in...
Brio Farm Railway Set
$90.00Life is quieter out on the farm. With this Farm Railway Set, your child can lead the life of a happy farmer. The Tractor is returning with its cargo...
Le Toy Van Farmyard Animal Barn
$100.00A traditional wooden red barn. With a large double door to open and close, a working magnetic winch, a magnetic hay bell, windows to peek through and detailed artwork inside...
Le Toy Van Farmyard Stables
$170.00Our wooden farmyard is a true classic! A wonderful toy for encouraging small world play, it's sweet traditional design is sure to appeal to little animal lovers. This playset includes everything...
Le Toy Van Farmyard Stacking Animals and Bag
$26.00Farmyard fun awaits with this wonderful animal stacking toy, the perfect educational gift for young learners. Comprising nine beautifully crafted animal pieces made from durable FSC® - certified wood, this eco-friendly...
Le Toy Van Farmyard Tractor & Trailer
$50.00This striking red wooden tractor and trailer set is just the ticket for budding young farmers.This classic toy inspires creative play for day after day adventures. Made from durable wood from...
Tonies Favorite Children's Songs Spanish Cel...
$19.99A select compilation of the most popular traditional children's songs with a celebratory theme! This Tonie teaches kids about: Favorite party songs! How to have fun with friends and family...
Tonies Favorite Classics Pride Tales Audio P...
$19.99It's Pride Month and Liliana Llama and her little brother Luca are celebrating in the best neighborhood in the whole world, Rivera Marsh! Join Ms. Rainbow and all their wonderful...
Plushies Festive Fifi the Flamingo
$38.00Say hello to Fifi, the 8.5-inch festive flamingo who's ready to join your holiday celebrations! Dressed in a classic Santa hat, cozy scarf, and adorable Santa boots, Fifi is full...
Plushies Fifi the Flamingo
$28.00Adorable Fifi Flamingo Plush pink stuffed animal with soft plush fur and sparkling eyes. Fill material: Polyester Age: 1 year+
Le Toy Van Figure of 8 Train Track
$100.00This stunning wooden train set makes a wonderful addition to your little ones' play universe. This 40-piece set, comprised of 17 track pieces, forms a figure of 8 design with...
Omy Design Finger Painting Kit
$26.00Let creativity flow with our Finger Painting Kit, featuring 5 smooth, water-based paints perfect for little hands. With a protective smock included and paints that wash off easily, kids 18...
Chronicle Books Finger Puppet Book - Baby Alligator
$8.99Bursting with color and charm, this finger puppet book lets inquisitive babies and toddlers touch, feel, and explore their growing world.Newborns and toddlers will love snuggling up with Baby Alligator!...
Chronicle Books Finger Puppet Book - Baby Hedgehog
$7.99Meet Baby Hedgehog! Where does Baby Hedgehog live? How does Baby Hedgehog find a tasty treat? Follow along as he experiences his world, from playtime to bedtime. The simple, comforting...
Chronicle Books Finger Puppet Book - Baby Reindeer
$8.99Meet Baby Reindeer! How does Baby Reindeer stay warm in the frosty weather? What yummy meal does Baby Reindeer find hidden beneath the snow? Follow along as he experiences his...
Chronicle Books Finger Puppet Book - Baby Sloth
$8.99With a plush finger puppet permanently attached to the book and peek-a-boo holes in every page, this charming board book is a fun way for parents and children to play...
Chronicle Books Finger Puppet Book Baby Elephant
$7.99With a plush finger puppet permanently attached to the book and peek-a-boo holes in every page, this charming board book is a fun way for parents and children to play...
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.