A 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...
The 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...
Ready, 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....
This 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.
Featuring 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...
Five 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...
A 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...
A 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...
Meet Olli Ella Strolley, a revolutionary design in imaginative play. This hand-woven rattan basket on wheels switches from a stroller to a shopping cart, by just lowering the hood. A new kind...
Bertram, known better by his besties as 'Bertie', is quite dapper in his baby blue romper. He, like Edna the Elephant, is very fond of adventures that take place in wagons,...
Bill the knit basketball rattle loves basketball, how could he not? Bill loves being part of the team and going to basketball games! This hand-knit basketball rattle is also super...
Handmade from all-natural 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes this Dumbbell Knit Rattle are not only super soft but also safe for infants and newborns making them perfect for babies to grasp, hold and chew. These dumbbell knit rattles are easy to care for too - just machine wash and lay flat to...
Handmade from all-natural 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes this Dumbbell Knit Rattle are not only super soft but also safe for infants and newborns making them perfect for babies to grasp, hold and chew. These dumbbell knit rattles are easy to care for too - just machine wash and lay flat to...
Edna the Elephant Knit Rattle Doll is as sweet as she looks. Wearing her favorite pink dress, she is ready for any type of adventure. She loves to ride along in the...
The Crochet Rattle Elephant is handmade from all-natural 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes. They are not only super soft but also safe for infants and newborns making them perfect for babies to grasp, hold and chew. These rattles are easy to care for too - just machine wash and lay...
The Crochet Rattle Elephant is handmade from all-natural 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes. They are not only super soft but also safe for infants and newborns making them perfect for babies to grasp, hold and chew. These rattles are easy to care for too - just machine wash and lay...
The Crochet Rattle Flower is handmade from all-natural 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes. They are not only super soft but also safe for infants and newborns making them perfect for babies to grasp, hold and chew. These rattles are easy to care for too - just machine wash and...
The Crochet Rattle Flower is handmade from all-natural 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes. They are not only super soft but also safe for infants and newborns making them perfect for babies to grasp, hold and chew. These rattles are easy to care for too - just machine wash and lay...
Pearly Penny the knit mermaid doll loves to swim. The Knit Mermaid Rattle Doll is handcrafted in the Philippines from all-natural 100% cotton yarns and eco-friendly dyes making Penny super soft and safe for kids of all ages! Knit...
Arouse your little one's curiosity! Spiral squishy and soft fabric with rattles. Due to its easy fastening system, it can be rolled up in the crib, the stroller, or anywhere...
Rattle turtle with a textured pattern on the bottom, and stem.Silk-like surface touch, bell inside. CE tested after European standard EN71. Tested and certified use from 0m+. Clean with mild...
Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
Hansa Creation brand is internationally recognized for its handcrafted, true-to-life collection of realistic stuffed animals, plush toys, and puppets. The Hansa collection is created by skilled artisans working within Hansa's...
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.