Baby Play: Top Toys and Play Ideas for Infants
Oskar's Wooden Ark with @learnandbloom | July 09, 2022
Are you looking for inspiration for ways to entertain your baby in between naps and meal times? When sourcing and determining the best toys for the youngest (and newest) member of your family, there are a number of factors to consider, including their safety, durability, play potential and suitability for little hands and growing minds. For this guide, we sought the assistance of teacher and mum of four, Jess (@learnandbloom) to share her top wooden toy recommendations and play activities for babies. Whether you're an expecting mum shopping for your bub, or you're seeking a suitable gift for a little loved one - you've found the perfect place to begin your search!
Always check the age recommendation of any product before purchasing. Smaller parts can present as a choking hazard and should not be used by children under three years of age, unless under the strict supervision of an adult. All age recommendations can be found in a product's description on our website.
Balls
Simple and yet endlessly engaging, balls are key developmental toys for children of all ages. The simple activity of watching a ball roll across the floor will improve visual tracking skills in the early months. As they grow, babies may begin to grasp and manipulate balls themselves, thereby developing their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, understanding of cause and effect and other cognitive skills.
Older babies will delight in collaborative ball play - rolling the ball back and forth with a parent or older sibling. They may also enjoy combining balls with other objects and toys, using them as part of a colour-sorting activity, placing them into bowls or containers, or watching them roll over, under and through different objects such as the arches of a Grimm's rainbow.
Jess says: "Muffin tins and baking trays go well with our wooden balls. My baby loves watching them roll around and hit against the metal tray. He loves the sound too!"
Jess' little one is using the Grimm's Wooden Rainbow Balls - recommended for 12+ months. Their size, bright colors and grippy texture make them the perfect choice for little ones.
Blocks
Wooden blocks open up multiple possibilities for building and creating, from very early childhood well into the toddler years and beyond. Block play is a combined experience of sensory discovery and problem solving. Babies will love exploring the colours, shapes and textures of wooden blocks, as well as the sound they make when they fall or bang together.
It won't be long before babies discover that they can knock over a tower of blocks and watch it crash to the ground. They may even attempt to build the tower back up again - feeling a huge sense of accomplishment when they dio finally learn to stack the blocks on top of each other.
Jess says: "Blocks are the most versatile and loved toy in our home because they are suitable for all ages, including babies! My baby likes to tip them out of a basket, pull them out one by one and observe what happens when a tower comes crashing down!"
Jess' little builder is using the smallest blocks from his Grimm's Large Stepped Pyramid Set . The Grimm's Square Mosaic block set (36 pieces) is another popular choice for little hands - not recommended for unsupervised use by children under the age of 36 months.
Loose Parts: Open-Ended Play
Grapat loose parts offer no instruction on their use - meaning, there is no right or wrong way to play with them. These simple, natural toys are designed to nurture a child's natural instinct to play, learn and discover. Stack, sort, count, roll...the options are endless!
Jess says: "These rings, coins, Mates and Nins are part of the Grapat Winter Set which were the first Grapat toys we ever owned. I love the seasons set as it has a little bit of everything! I keep a basket of these in the baby play space and mix up the way I present them. For example, placing them on an acrylic mirror gives a different perspective and babies love to see their reflection."
The Grapat Seasons Sets (including the Winter set, pictured here), include a selection of Nins, Mates (cups), rings and coins, and are recommended for children of 12+ months.
Loose Parts: An Invitation to Play
Grapat Loose Parts can be presented in different ways to create unique play and learning experiences for your child.
Jess says: "I enjoy making a sticky vertical wall on the Wobbel Board by taping clear contact paper on one side, then sticking on some rings and coins. My baby loved the sticky feeling and grabbing the coins and rings off the Wobbel."
Play silks
Sarah's Silks Playsilks can be used in so many creative ways in play. They offer babies a stimulating tactile sensory experience thanks to their soft, silky texture. They are also a wonderful way to introduce babies to colour and movement. They can be tied to your baby’s play gym or Pikler Triangle, used in interactive games such as a peek-a-boo or simply dragged over your baby’s face, arms and legs to help them become aware of their bodies.
Jess says: "I love using our play silks with my baby for playing a game of peek-a-boo which he is so stimulated by! On other occasions, I wave them around to develop his visual tracking.”
Play silks are not recommended for unsupervised use by children under the age of 36 months.
Stacking & Sorting Toys
Stacking and sorting toys can accompany a child throughout their entire childhood, but they are most commonly enjoyed by babies. The minimalist design and repetitive task associated with these toys exercises a young child's imagination and gross motor skills.
Jess says: "Stacking toys definitely grow with the child. I tend to stack the pieces, while my son pulls each one off. As he grows, he will learn to stack the pieces himself and discover new and creative ways to play with them."
Jess' little sorter is playing with the Grimm's Large Pastel Conical Stacking Tower - recommended for children of 12+ months.
Wobbel Board Original
The Original Wobbel Board is not only designed to encourage balance and movement, but is a toy that can be incorporated into many other areas of play.
Jess says: "My baby uses the Wobbel to pull himself into a standing position so he can move cars across the ramp. When I place balls onto the Wobbel, he is practising both visual tracking and hand-eye coordination as he watches the balls roll away and tries to grab them."
The Original Wobbel Board is recommended for all ages! From babies (under supervision) to adults. Jess' little adventurer is playing with the Grimm's Small Blue Truck - recommended for children of 12+ months.
Wobbel Board 360
Just like the Original Wobbel Board, the Wobbel 360 is designed to inspire movement, but in a more relaxed way. The Wobbel 360 is exceptionally well-suited for baby play given it's gentle curve.
Jess says: "Besides using the Wobbel 360 to spin, my baby enjoys hitting his toys on it to watch them roll around and make a noise. The weighted bottom of the Mader Roly Poly Pear makes it fun for him to knock over and watch it stand back up."
The Wobbel 360 is recommended for all ages! From babies (under supervision) to adults.
The Mader Roly Poly Pear is recommended for children of 8+ months.
