Play Time
Abrams In My Heart (A Book of Feelings)
$18.99Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant....
Workman Indestructible Book - Humpty Dumpty
$5.95Indestructible Baby Book is the trusted series for easing little ones into story time. Beloved by babies and their parents, Indestructible Baby Book are built for the way babies "read"(i.e.,...
Jet Creations Inflatable Large Shark
$49.95This Beautiful Jet Creations Inflatable 84-inch Shark is great for pool parties, decorations, and birthdays. It is a perfect summer accessory for poolside soirées and beachside parties. One of the...
Maileg Iron + Ironing Board
$24.00To make the laundry room fully equipped, you must have an iron and iron board. This set will make the play even more authentic. The iron board is made in...
Maileg Iron and Ironing Board Mouse
$22.00This iron and ironing board is one thing you need for the perfect laundry room. It's made of metal, and covered with unique Maileg fabric. Make playtime playful and imaginative...
Maileg Iron and Ironing Board Toy Blue
$24.00To fully equip the laundry room, you need an iron and ironing board. This set makes playing even more real and authentic. It is made of metal and the ironing board is...
Lilliputiens Jack Sound Roll Rattle
$48.00Make some noise for Jack the lion! Jack is here to help your child develop his earing and fine motor skills. Thanks to “velcros”, you can take each roll apart...
Mon Ami Jameson Giraffe
$44.00Meet Jamison Giraffe, the ultimate life-LONG friend! Bring the safari adventure right into your child's bedroom with this adorable companion.Designed with long, floppy limbs, and weighted bottom for the perfect...
Plushies Jehlani The Giraffe
$69.00Jehlani's name comes from Swahili, meaning "strong" and "mighty." Swahili is one of the 68 languages of Kenya and its most popular native language. English of course is also spoken...
Jellycat Jellycat Jack
$50.00 – $120.00Jellycat Jack is finally here! This tuxedo cat has soft tufty fur, huge, stitched paws and a friendly smile. With a long-curved tail and L-shaped paws, Jellycat Jack has a...
Toysmith Jigsaw Puzzle Nolja Easy As 123 36 Piece
$26.00Get ready to count, explore, and discover! Join Nolja on an exciting journey through the world of numbers from 1 to 20. Each number unlocks a fun fact, turning learning...
Steiff Jimmy Bear Plush Toy with Suitcase
$54.00They're the ultimate take-along toy for a road trip, a sleep-over, or a backyard picnic. This latest kid-pleasing addition to our suitcase series features one of our best-loved Teddy bear...
Steiff Jimmy Teddy Bear Plush Toy 16 inches
$48.00Meet the modern stuffed bear your kid will adore all day and night. Jimmy is a 16-inch Teddy bear made of soft, snuggly, machine-washable, plush fabric. Jimmy Teddy Bear Details:...
Plushies Jira Jaguar Plush Toy
$48.00This Jira Jaguar is a spotted feline made with amazingly soft fur that is in a resting position. Its understuffed body gives an extra comforting feel in your arms. Suitable...
Speks Jumbo Gump
$22.00Love slime but hate the mess? Gump is for you! Filled with a pliable gel, Gump is the stress ball that always bounces back, keeping your mind clear and your...
Wee Gallery Jungle Alphabet Cards
$22.00Wee Gallery Jungle Alphabet Cards are the perfect gift for newborn baby, toddlers, or any age in between. The high-contrast animal and jungle illustrations create a mesmerizing display for babies, while...
Magnatiles Jungle Animals 25 Pieces
$48.00Go wild with the Magna-Tiles® Jungle Animals 25-Piece Set. From erecting new environments to creating exciting animal adventures, young animal lovers can find endless opportunities to explore without leaving the...
Gibbs Smith Jungle Book
$11.99BabyLit® is a fashionable way to introduce your toddler to the world of classic literature. With clever, simple text by Jennifer Adams, paired with stylish design and illustrations by Sugar’s...
Hape Jungle Maze
$40.00This fun magnetic maze is a fun way to travel through the jungle and learn about our wild animal friends. You can tilt the board or use the wand to...
Saro Jungle Party Mirror Rattle Crocodile
$24.00Take the funniest walk with this soft little animal. Pull his paws to see how he moves, returning to its position with a bell-sound. Promotes hand-eye coordination and stimulates the...
Saro Jungle Party Mirror Rattle Flamingo
$24.00Take the funniest walk with this soft little animal. Pull his paws to see how he moves, returning to its position with a bell-sound. Promotes hand-eye coordination and stimulates the...
Crayon Rocks Just Rocks in a Box 64 Pieces
$30.00Crayon Rocks are simply the best coloring tool for young children! They are vibrantly colored and make beautifully textured artwork similar to oil pastels. These all-natural soy wax crayons are...
PlanToys Kale Idoscope
$30.00View the world through an artistic lens with the wooden Kaleidoscope! Little ones can put their favorite objects inside and experience a swirling explosion of brilliant colors. They can also explore...
Kiko+ & gg* Kaleidoscope Play Camera Pink
$30.00Let the little ones play photographer with the little kiko+ wooden camera. Turn the lens for a magical kaleidoscope surprise! Material: beech wood, colour lens (acrylic, removable), two denim straps...
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.