Toys | Activities

There are five core principles of the highly-regarded Montessori method: nurturing respect for the child, stimulating their absorbent mind, instantiating sensitive periods, providing a prepared environment, and facilitating auto-education. For Montessori play, opt for toys with a simple design that draw inspiration from real life, utilise natural materials, and promote cognitive and STEM learning.

Wooden toys are generally considered safer than plastic toys, as they do not contain harmful chemicals or toxins that can be found in some plastics. Additionally, wooden toys are less likely to break into small pieces which can pose a choking hazard to young little ones. Wooden toys are more durable, biodegradable and may even be made with sustainable wood. They are high-quality, environmentally friendly wooden toys that don't include PVC, phthalates, or other substances commonly found in plastic toys.

When it comes to fun outdoor activities for babies, there are plenty of options! From blowing bubbles to playing ball games and splashing in water, there's no shortage of ways to engage your little one. You can even take them on a picnic or stroll through the great outdoors. For more ideas, consider trying out some fun garden games, like bowling, natural art, or balloon pop tag. Don't forget about classic toys like bottle catch and garden toys, too! With so many options, your baby will love spending time outside no matter where you go.

During tummy time, enhance your baby's sensory and visual experience with the right toys. Consider using soft sensory books, mirrors, board books, music mobiles, stacking toys, or baby gyms. For additional stimulation, place black and white pictures, board books, or toys within 8-12 inches of your baby's face to enable focus. For top-notch sensory range, check out Etta Loves!

When the little one arrives in this world, their curiosity takes over for exploration to begin. Babies are fascinated by everything they come across and long to touch and feel all around them. This is why introducing toys from about six months onwards can be a great idea to provide much-needed stimulation and help kickstart your baby's development.

The selection of the right toys can make a huge difference in terms of building cognitive skills, promoting learning, and developing physical strength, motor reflexes, and speech. By providing an age-appropriate toy box that’s fun but also educational at the same time you can ensure that your baby gets all the necessary medical stimulation during these formative years.

Toys can be powerful tools for imaginative play, and some of the most beloved options include wooden blocks, tents and teepees, role-play sets (like kitchens or bakeries), and craft kits. Encourage your little one to use their imagination during playtime, as they will learn to interpret sounds, emotions, body language and other cues - making playtime all the more rewarding!

Enriching your child's learning through playtime has countless benefits! Sensory play enhances cognitive, motor, psychosocial, emotional, and linguistic development in children. Plus, it's a powerful stress reliever that stimulates brain growth and encourages problem-solving and motor skills. Don't forget, it's super fun too! Start incorporating sensory play into your little one's routine today with our extensive range of toys.

You can promote playtime for your little one by talking to them about what games they would enjoy playing, whether that's on their own, with a parent or with a friend. You can also join in and make suggestions about some games that might be fun to play, or perhaps what books may be interesting to read.

Outdoor playtime is great for keeping your little one active and it's recommended that the more time outdoors, the better. 180 minutes is advised and can include light activity such as standing up, moving around, rolling and playing, as well as more energetic activity like skipping, hopping, running and jumping. Make sure they get at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity and 60 minutes of unstructured playtime every day. Help them stay active and avoid being inactive for more than 1 hour at a time (except while sleeping) for optimal health and happiness.

Discovering when your baby will start teething can be unpredictable, but typically occurs between 6 and 10 months. Luckily, most teethers are suitable for use from as early as 3 months old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. So, be prepared and provide your little one with the relief they need when they need it.