A Space For Play
Pair your toys with a playmat that makes every playtime more comfortable and enjoyable.
Why do we give our kids toys? To make them happy? To keep them entertained? To teach them something? Actually, toys serve all of these important functions and many more. Play is a child’s work, and we need to give them the best tools to get their ‘work’ done.
From little babies cuddling a lovey in their baby bouncer, toddlers serving cups of tea and cake, to children going wherever their imagination takes them, toys are an essential part of growing up. Dolls and figurines help little ones rehearse upcoming social interactions, balls teach them about gravity - an astrophysicist begins their career stacking blocks on the playmat!
For a child, toys are so much more than just playthings, browse below for a selection of toys sure to delight, entertain and educate.
Why we love simplicity in toys
A great toy is exciting to receive, endlessly engaging and open ended enough to be used in many creative ways. Interestingly, it is usually the more simple toys that check these three boxes. A play house like the lovely little one from Childhome for example, is a thrill to find, will be used over and over again, and can be a home, a shop, a garage, a school or a hospital! When a toy does less, it leaves space for a child to do more. More inventing, more creating, more sharing and more discovering - all essential life skills that a child develops through play.
The really wonderful thing about simplicity of toys is it makes them accessible and exciting for children of all ages. A teddy bear can comfort a fussy baby, accompany a toddler on their adventures, and be waiting for a welcome home cuddle after a long day at school. There is nothing more wonderful than seeing a toy become an ‘old friend’ and knowing that it has been truly and thoroughly loved by your little one.
What to look for in a great toy
Toys for babies.
The first thing to realise when considering a toy for your baby is, it is going to go in their mouth. No matter what, that teddy, rattle, ball, even the corner of the baby playmat will end up a little dribbly. Babies are all about developing their senses and building a database about the world, and how are they going to know what tastes good or yucky unless they try it!
So, choose toys that can be wiped, washed or even thrown in the dishwasher, that are hard wearing, and most importantly, that don’t have any little bits that could break (or be bitten!) off and end up where it shouldn't go.
Toys that make a noise when shaken like a rattle or bell teach your baby about cause and effect, high contrast toys like baby mobiles with black and white patterns help with your baby’s visual development, and knobbly lumpy toys help them work on grasping and grip strength.
Toddler suitable toys.
When we enter the toddler years we move onto developing social and interpersonal skills. And little kids do this by role-play. A play house is a great setting for a vast array of social interactions, dolls make very forgiving playmates, you’ll find even trucks and cars end up with their own little personalities and preferences!
Toys with buckles, clasps, clips and locks are always a hit with toddlers who love the sense of achievement that comes from finally working out that zip or button.
Toys for kids.
The older a child gets the more apparent the sense of joy and fun in play becomes. A baby’s play is full of struggle and achievement, while when we get into the school years we see kids really relishing their playtime and experiencing true enjoyment. This is not to say that the educational value of play is any less, on the contrary, school-aged children, through their play, develop and improve their concentration skills, attention spans and memory. When a child is at play the lessons that they are learning seem to sink in easily, skills develop without effort and facts are readily absorbed.
Finding toys that your child enjoys makes leisure time all the more… leisurely for your child and for you! A contented child playing happily in your home is one of life’s greatest treasures, and with the right toys, that treasure can be all yours!