Play Time
PlanToys Victorian Dollhouse
$460.00The Victorian Dollhouse has 3 floors including the attic. Each floor is accessible with opening panels and realistic sashes that slide open and shut. Additional attic space can also be...
Vilac Vilacity crane
$54.00The boat will soon set sail, it is time to load the CMA-CGM containers. Thanks to our wooden crane, nothing could be simpler! Your mini will have fun rotating it...
Calico Critters Village Cake Shop Starter Set
$56.00Bake, decorate, and serve sweet treats in your very own cake shop! Get ready for deliciously fun pretend play with the Cake Shop Set, where you can bake sponge cakes,...
Maileg Vintage Bed Mouse
$54.00A perfect bed for a good night’s sleep! This charming bed is designed with care and comes complete with beautiful bedlinen made from signature printed fabrics—each piece unique yet perfectly...
Maileg Vintage Chair Mouse
$16.00A small chair that fits the Little sister/brother and Big sister/brother mice. Fits perfectly into the small rooms where the mice lives. Dimensions Height: 3.35in Width: 1.77in Depth: 1.38in Net...
Maileg Vintage Lantern Toy
$28.00The camping experience will not be complete without this Vintage Lantern. Washing instruction: SURFACE WASH Material: Metal Height: 2.76 inches
Maileg Vintage Miniature Fireplace
$38.00Bring warmth and charm to your miniature home with the Wooden Fireplace. Featuring an authentic look and vintage finish, this little fireplace adds a cozy touch to any scene. It comes...
Vilac Vintage Roadster Silver
$55.00Vintage Roadster Car in solid wood. Perfect size for your kid's little hands. 100% Made in France. From 2 years of age. Dimensions: 13 x 8 x 10 cm
Le Toy Van Vintage Wooden Phone
$40.00About this productRing, ring! This charming retro-style vintage phone is full of nostalgia, for good old-fashioned playtime fun! Painted in a striking red shade and finished with a flourish of...
Cuddle + Kind Violet The Fawn
$84.00 – $104.00I come from a magnificent forest where all the paths lead to adventure and fun. Being outdoors all day skipping, twirling and running makes me smile from ear to ear....
Tender Leaf Toys Visual Sensory Tray
$26.00This set includes 4 solid wood shapes that let you see through various windows. Presented on a shape sorter tray and the 4 pieces encourage color and shape recognition through...
Plantoys Vlogger Kit
$46.00About this product A vlogger is short for a video blogger. This profession is one quickly becoming a top career choice that many of today's kids aspire to be! The...
Toysmith Voice Changer Megaphone 3.25 Mini
$16.00Turn everyday chatter into laugh-out-loud fun with the Toysmith Mini Voice Changer! This pocket-sized megaphone is bursting with personality, letting kids transform their voices into silly, surprising sounds at the...
Candylab VW Beach Bus Pink
$45.00About this product The Beach Bus is back! Now officially licensed by VW - check out the shiny emblem on the front. This iconic Volkswagen Type 2 comes with a...
Candylab VW Beach Bus Sunset
$45.00About this product The Beach Bus is back! Now officially licensed by VW - check out the shiny emblem on the front. This iconic Volkswagen Type 2 comes with a...
Candylab Waffle Van Toy Car
$22.00Simply put Chocolate dipped perfection. We’re getting hungry just thinking about this delicious Waffle Truck. Pair this chocolate dipped Waffle Truck with the Ice Cream Truck and dessert is served. Materials...
Maileg Waiter Mouse
$30.00The waiter mouse is the perfect helper at any party or the royal family. The mouse is dressed classically and has magnets in the hands, so it is easier to...
Wobbel Waldorf Balance Board Natural/Foliage...
$199.00What is WOBBEL? It is a sturdy, beautifully crafted beechwood rocking balance board, a seat, a safe haven, a bridge, a house, a step, a slide, a yoga aid, a...
Wobbel Waldorf Balance Board Natural/Forest ...
$199.00What is WOBBEL? It is a sturdy, beautifully crafted beechwood rocking balance board, a seat, a safe haven, a bridge, a house, a step, a slide, a yoga aid, a...
Wobbel Waldorf Balance Board Natural/Grey
$199.00What is WOBBEL? It is a sturdy, beautifully crafted beechwood rocking balance board, a seat, a safe haven, a bridge, a house, a step, a slide, a yoga aid, a...
Plantoys Walk N Roll
$40.00When the wheel turns, the wooden balls inside the Walk N Roll hit the panels — creating a fun and exciting sound. Gain self-esteem by learning to walk on your...
Hape Walk-A-Long Pepe the Puppy
$30.00Walk-A-Long Puppy is the perfect adorable toy for your little walking explorer, with a pull-string so that he/she can take a friend for play on-the-go! Suitable for children 12m+ Made...
Candylab Wanderer Toy Car
$40.00Not all who wander are lost, especially in this case. Gear up and explore new frontiers with the artful vintage Candylab Wanderer truck. Made from solid beech wood with silicone...
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.