Play Time
Hachette Book Group Flash Cards - Wildlife ABC's Ring
$16.00Make learning the alphabet a wild adventure! The Wildlife ABCs Ring Flash Cards feature vibrant, animal-themed illustrations that help children aged 1+ connect letters with the wonders of nature. Each...
Mobi Games Flipsee Alphabet Flip-Board
$36.00A is for alligator in an airplane and Z is for zebra on a zig-zag! Discover the wonderful world of letters and animals with Flipsee Flip n' Fun Alphabet Board....
Wee Gallery Floor Puzzle - Night Life
$35.00Our 24 pieces Wildlife Floor Puzzle celebrates the diversity of nature while encouraging learning through play! Our signature illustrations help support motor skill development and sensory stimulation for children 3+....
Wee Gallery Floor Puzzle - Wild Life
$36.00About this product Our 24 pieces Wildlife Floor Puzzle celebrates the diversity of nature while encouraging learning through play! Our signature illustrations help support motor skill development and sensory stimulation...
Plushies Flop Black Panther
$98.00Step into the jungle with the Black Panther plush, a stunning and lifelike representation of one of nature's most mysterious creatures. Made with luxurious black plush fabric, this panther embodies...
Plushies Flop Cooper Plush
$98.00This adorable Cooper is a classic dog with golden fur all throughout and floppy ears. Bring home this unique dog for a great, realistic addition to your collection. High quality...
Plushies Flop Elephant Plush
$98.00This Elephant has a neutral grey body, big floppy ears, and comes in a resting position. A best pick for anyone who wants to add an extra-large amount of fun...
Plushies Flop Horse Plush
$98.00A beautiful chocolate brown stuffed horse is available in a super size now. High quality materials make for a soft, fluffy touch Super Flopsies lay in a resting position for...
Plushies Flop Husky
$98.00This Husky has light grey and white fur, pointed ears, and comes in a resting position. High quality materials make for a soft, fluffy touch Super Flopsies lay in a...
Steiff Floppy Hoppel Bunny Rabbit Easter 8 I...
$26.00Little Floppies Collection of loosely constructed and lightly stuffed animals has been a favorite for nearly 15 years. Now we're updating this beloved series with new designs, featuring our best-selling...
BlaBla Flower Rattle Green
$18.00This handmade BlaBla Flower Rattle is made from the softest cotton. A toy that your little one will enjoy while helping their 5 senses develop. BlaBla Flower Rattle Details: 100%...
Maileg Flowers Rug - Small
$6.00Every home need small interior items to complete the setting. This rug comes with a beautiful flower print placed in the middle of the rug. It can be used wherever...
Jellycat Fluffy Crab
$20.00Fluffy Crab is hopping out of the rockpool to wave hello with those soft squidgy claws! This snuggly beach scamp is so, so happy, with a sweet stitchy smile and...
Jellycat Fluffy Octopus
$20.00Get a wriggle on with Fluffy Octopus! This lavender sweetie is bright-eyed, smiley and cloudy-soft, with cute chunky arms to squidge and snuggle. Pop an octopus in your pocket, and...
Jellycat Fluffy Starfish
$20.00Fluffy Starfish is here to play, with a big cheeky smile and all five arms wide! Quirky-cute and keen to play, this soft little starfish has scrumptious marshmallow fur. Rosy...
Jellycat Fluffy Turtle
$20.00Fluffy Turtle is baby-soft with a fuzzy pompom head. With a zesty lime shell, leafy flippers, clotted-cream tummy and the biggest stitch smile, this gentle turtle is an ocean gem....
Jellycat Fluffy Whale
$20.00Fluffy Whale is a snuggly swimmer, with baby-blue fur and a creamy, dreamy tummy. This charismatic cutie is always cheery, with a big stitchy smile and shiny black eyes. With...
PlanToys Food and Beverage Set
$24.00Roleplay as a little chef or practice serving dinner to a group of guests! Children can let their imaginations run wild in the kitchen with a variety of beverages and...
Plantoys Forest Animal Set
$30.00Get in touch with nature and travel through a forest to see some amazing animals! The Animal Set consists of an owl, a squirrel, a beaver, a deer, a rabbit,...
Magnatiles Forest Animals 25 Pieces
$48.00Go for a walk on the wild side! Magna-Tiles Forest Animals set is designed for hours of screen-free, frustration-free fun and STEAM learning opportunities. Explore the wonderful wilderness with four...
Juratoys Forest Stacker Early Learning Toy
$24.00Construction game with 10 pieces to stack, a tree, a hive and its bee, a flower. This early childhood development toy will allow your child to develop their visual coordination...
Tender Leaf Toys Forest Table and Chairs
$220.00Make playtime or study time more exciting! A sturdy plywood and rubberwood children's table with a removable chalkboard central panel. When the panel is removed it reveals a hidden compartment...
Plushies Fox Plush Toy
$28.00A sleepy time pals who will make the perfect nap time companion for anyone in need of a good rest This Snoozle Fox is a soft red fox with a...
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.