Play Time
Sophie La Giraffe Night Light Star Projector Sophie the...
$80.00MUSICAL NIGHTLIGHT: Activate the gentle lullaby at your convenience with the manual winder under the nightlight (duration of 2 minutes 30).STAR PROJECTOR: This function gently illuminates your child's room with the discreet...
Artesanal Dolls Nines d'Onil Poppy Bear Doll Floral D...
$42.00The Nines d'Onil Poppy Bear Doll. These adorable tiny baby bears are perfect for tiny hands. Her eyes are honey brown, her cheeks are pink and her expression is very tender. Phthalate-free...
Artesanal Dolls Nines d'Onil Poppy Bear Doll Mustard ...
$42.00The Nines d'Onil Poppy Bear Doll. These adorable tiny baby bears are perfect for tiny hands. Her eyes are honey brown, her cheeks are pink and her expression is very tender. Phthalate-free...
Artesanal Dolls Nines d'Onil Poppy Bear Doll Pink Dress
$42.00The Nines d'Onil Poppy Bear Doll. These adorable tiny baby bears are perfect for tiny hands. Her eyes are honey brown, her cheeks are pink and her expression is very tender. Phthalate-free...
Cuddle + Kind Noah The Dog
$84.00 – $104.00Hi! Hello! So glad to meet you! I can’t stop my tail from wagging! I’m super interested in everything and want to know all there is to know about the...
Bajo Noah's Ark
$136.00This gorgeous, heirloom-quality playset is ethically crafted from wood sustainably forested in Poland. Designed with a removable roof, nine pairs of brightly-colored animals plus figurines of Noah and his wife...
Le Toy Van Noah's Great Wooden Ark and Animals
$170.00We love this traditional toy, full of fun and ready for playtime adventures. Teach little learners the wonderful story of Noah's Ark and inspire small world play with this delightful...
Tender Leaf Toys Noah's Wooden Ark
$116.00The ark has a wide opening door on one side as well as a top hatch that lifts to reveal a double-deck interior. One end slides out to allow easy...
Maileg Nursery Table Toy
$18.00A nursery table is necessary for every household with babies. The beautiful design and authentic look make the play go on for hours. Material: Metal/Cotton Size: 4.33 inches
Plantoys Nuts and Bolts
$36.00Children can create a variety of small structures with these wooden nuts and bolts. Complete with 4 different bolts paired with geometric nuts, kids can incorporate the pieces into other...
Janod Ocean Magnetic Maze
$24.00Janod Ocean Magnetic Maze is an attractive game of skill that will test motor skills and teach children how to hold a pencil properly! Starting from the surface of the...
Moulin Roty Ochre Rabbit Plush Toy
$50.00With its whiskered face and big, super soft ears, this adorable rabbit-wearing Ochre dungaree is crying out to be cuddled! A little friend by day and a protective soft...
Tikiri Octopus Natural Rubber Rattle
$18.00This rubber rattle from the ocean buddies collection. Easy-grip for smaller hands. Each marine animal character has an enclosed rattle that creates a soft sound when shaken. Sound Toys, like...
Kiko+ & gg* Oekaki House Magic Drawing Board Car
$72.00Oekaki means "drawing board" in Japanese. This beautiful magic board allows you to draw with the magnetic pen, erase and draw again endless times onto a 4 colored background. Use...
Kiko+ & gg* Oekaki House Magic Drawing Board Cat
$72.00Oekaki means "drawing board" in Japanese. This beautiful magic board allows you to draw with the magnetic pen, erase and draw again endless times onto a 4 colored background. Pull...
Kiko+ & gg* Oekaki House Magic Drawing Board Dog
$72.00Oekaki means "drawing board" in Japanese. This beautiful magic board allows you to draw with the magnetic pen, erase and draw again endless times onto a 4 colored background. Pull...
Kiko+ & gg* Ofune Hinoki Wind-Up Boat
$30.00"Ofune", a wind-up boat made from Japanese hinoki wood. To set "Ofune" to sail, first wind the rotating knob. Then, place in the bath or small pool and watch...
Plushies Oliver the French Bulldog
$36.00With this 13-inch stuffed dog stature, fluffy coat, and cuddly demeanor, he's the epitome of cute and adorable. Perfect for babies and kids, Oliver is a charming companion for endless...
Cuddle + Kind Olivia The Honey Bear
$84.00 – $104.00Did you know that even the most spectacular flowers start as a tiny seed? I love to tend my garden and watch each stem stretch towards the big, warm sun....
Olli Ella Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Doll Bunny Flopsy
$55.00Here for a hoppin’ good time, meet Cozy Dinkum Bunny Flopsy - the ultimate cuddle buddy! Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Details: Cozy Dinkum Dolls can be posed in multiple sleeping...
Olli Ella Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Doll Bunny Moppet
$55.00Meet the newest and most snuggly collectible Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Bunny Moppet! Bunny Moppet, so cuddly and cute, loves to doze in its soft fluffy suit. Made for snuggles and...
Olli Ella Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Doll Lamby Pip
$55.00Meet the newest and most snuggly collectible Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Lamby Pip! Lamby Pip, so cuddly and cute, loves to doze in its soft fluffy suit. Made for snuggles and...
Olli Ella Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Doll Mousy Pickle
$55.00Meet the newest and most snuggly collectible Olli Ella Cozy Dinkum Mousy Pickle! Mousy Pickle, so cuddly and cute, loves to doze in its soft fluffy suit. Made for snuggles and...
Olli Ella Olli Ella Dinky Dinkum Forest Friends...
$28.00Say hello to Allie Acorn! One of six Forest Friends new to the enchanting world of Olli Ella. With a Dinky Dinkum in your pocket, you never know what adventures...
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.