Play Time
Tonies Puss in Boots and Other Fairy Tales A...
$19.99A clever cat devises a plan to save his own skin by promising to transform his owner into a noble prince. Tracey Ullman narrates this adaption of the classic French...
Plus-Plus Puzzle By Number - Rocket
$26.00With Puzzle by Number, you can build your very own space rocket that will take you on unforgettable adventures in outer space. Match numbers and colours using the included guide...
Cuddle + Kind Quinn the Koala
$80.00 – $100.00I love climbing trees everyday – that’s why I live way at the tippy top of the tallest one! I’m always climbing as high as I can to spots where...
Maileg Rabbit Doll Size 1 Classic in T-Shirt...
$34.00A classic rabbit made of soft natural linen and cotton fabric that gives a lovely hand feel and look. This adorable rabbit doll wears a classic striped t-shirt and brown...
Maileg Rabbit Doll Size 2 Classic in Shirt a...
$38.00A classic rabbit made of soft natural linen and cotton fabric that gives a lovely hand feel and look. Size 2 rabbits fit into the dollhouse and all furniture size...
Maileg Rabbit in Classic Knitted Overall Size 1
$36.00This classic Size 1 Rabbit is made from soft, natural fabrics that feel wonderful to the touch and look charming in any miniature setting. Perfectly sized to fit into the...
Maileg Rabbit in Knitted Shirt and Overall S...
$54.00This classic Rabbit is crafted from soft natural fabrics, offering a lovely hand feel and timeless look. He comes dressed in a knitted shirt with beautiful, knitted overalls, adding charm and...
Maileg Rabbit Knitted Overalls
$64.00Meet this charming Rabbit, dressed in the coziest blue knitted overalls—ready for play, cuddles, and endless adventures. With a gentle smile and long, huggable ears, this sweet friend loves crunching...
Maileg Rabbit Micro Ballet Suit and Skirt
$24.00The well-known Maileg micro bunny dressed up as a ballet dancer. It wears a suit and tulle skirt and has a small decoration around the pointing ears. DimensionsHeight: 5.51in, Net...
Maileg Rabbit Rattle Set
$38.00A perfect gift idea for the little ones. The set includes a soft cotton cloth and a small rabbit rattle. The rabbit has a small rattle inside that makes a...
Maileg Rabbit size 1 Chocolate Brown
$34.00A classic rabbit made of soft natural fabrics that gives a lovely hand feel and look. Size 1 rabbit fits into the House of miniature and all furniture size mini...
Maileg Rabbit size 3 Classic Knitted shirt a...
$54.00A classic rabbit made of soft natural fabrics that gives a lovely hand feel and look. He is dressed up in pants and a soft knitted shirt. Check out our...
Maileg Rabbit Size 4 Doll Knitted Shirt and ...
$64.00The classic bunny and rabbit collection is made of soft natural linen and cotton fabric that gives a lovely hand feel and look. This rabbit is dressed in a lovely,...
PlanToys Race and Play Parking Garage
$80.00It’s a fun time for kids to race and park their cars with this Race N Play Parking Garage! The garage comes with a helipad on the top floor and...
Brio Railway World Deluxe Set
$500.00The ultimate deluxe BRIO Railway set, everything you could ever want in a wooden train set. Who could resist this greatest-hits collection of our railway world? Here you’ll find all...
Moulin Roty Rainbow Abacus Toy
$28.00The colorful wooden Rainbow Abacus encourages your little one to develop hand-eye coordination, and color differentiation and improve creativity. Attract the toddler's attention by smoothly sliding the wooden beads back...
Tender Leaf Toys Rainbow Birthday Cake
$28.00A wooden rainbow birthday cake topped with 6 brightly colored candles. Each cake slice is held together with velcro. Cut open the cake with the cake slice to reveal the...
Haba Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game Toy
$46.00The Haba Rainbow Whirls Pegging Game is a classic and Montessori learning favorite! The rings can also be stacked on the pegs, making this set ideal for free play. Perfect for little...
Plantoys Ramp Racer
$80.00Ready, set, go! Let the cars go down and figure out which one will go the furthest. This is a great toy for developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills....
Vilac Raoul the rabbit rattle
$18.00This baby toy is made of hard beech wood and was produced in Vilac workshop, in the heart of the Jura moutains, the craddle of French toys.
Great Pretenders Raptor Cape
$48.00Featuring a hand-dyed teal & brown fabric, and heat-sealed sequins, our new Raptor Cape is a great addition to any dinosaur lover's collection! The cape is lightweight and soft to...
Tonies Rapunzel and Other Fairy Tales Audio ...
$19.99Five lovingly retold fairy tales take your little listener on a journey of imagination where magic is real and anything is possible. Tonies Rapunzel and Other Fairy Tales Audio...
Olli Ella Rattan Casa Bag Straw
$60.00A little house-shaped bag for kiddos on the go! Smaller and more compact than the Casa Clutch, the Olli Ella Casa Bag comes complete with a removable and adjustable fabric...
Olli Ella Rattan Original Luggy Natural
$79.00A tiny wheeled basket for your toddler, perfect for storing and toting their most prized possessions. The Original Luggy Basket will go with your child everywhere from the beach to...
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.