Five big geometric shapes are easy for toddlers to grasp with the big wooden handles. In addition to knowing and naming these basic shapes the puzzle pieces are color coded as a clue for beginners.  Use the color words to reinforce color concepts and matching skills. 

 SNAP: These geometric shapes are especially easy to grasp with their oversized handles. In addition to learning the names of these basic shapes and colors, use them for tracing or stamping into play dough. 

Play an I SPY game: Pick up the circle shape and say I see more circles in the room. Let's see how many we can find. Now hunt for other circular shapes such as a dish, a clock, a wheel on a toy. Expanding what we mean by circles helps to build the concept. Work on just one concept for a few days before moving on to the squares or triangles. You can even bake cookies in the shape-of-the-day...use different size drinking glasses to cut out big and little circles.  

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Pure novelty, pure fun and green to boot! Crank out this square robot head in the back (no batteries required)...then take the metal stylus and see if you can thread it through the maze at the top of the robot's head.  If you miss, the robot will light up and make noise. The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

A jaunty little green and blue car that runs with zippy pull back action. For starters, you'll be making the car take off and baby will scoot after it. The see-through top of the car has pop beads that bounce about and make a popping sound. A fun toy for crawling babies.  Eventually baby will also learn how to make the car run. 6 months & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP IDEAS: Big and chunky and easy to activate, this is an ideal first car for rolling back and forth. There are no buttons to turn on or keys to wind up. The pull back action will take some extra time. Put some small blocks in a stack and let it rip! Kids will enjoy the power of making the blocks go kaboom!

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2009.

A single piece of rubberwood is cut out in a classic little car shape with two finger holes to grasp on top. It has big wooden wheels with treads that will roll over carpet or bare floors. Reminiscent of the handsome wooden toys of another age when sleek and modern was the key and all the rest was left to be imagined by the player. Also from the same maker a Push Along Duck, Cat or Dog.  Perfect choice for toddlers 1 & up.

The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Toddlers. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Push the Illumination Station on the high chair tray, give the polka-dotted ball a swipe and watch baby's face when the twirling ball lights up! There are lots of moving parts that will lend interest to this two-way toy. It can be suctioned to a tabletop or snap it off of the stand and baby can use it for free handed play. 6 months & up.

            The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP INFO: Finding toys that respond with a swipe of the hand is not always easy. This clever spinning high chair toy can be used as a hand held tether and rattle. Suction held toys often do not hold well. This one is better than most, thus freeing you from holding the toy and empowering a child to make it work. There is plenty to see, hear, and feel as balls and clackers with bold graphics and textures turn. This newest version also has a light that goes on as the toy spins. Best of all, it detaches to become a two-handed toy to explore.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

An update of an old favorite, this high chair toy has a big suction cup to fasten on the high chair or it can be detached from its stand and used for two handed play. The bold contrast spinners are sure to attract visual attention and delight babies who love the power of toys that they activate with ease. There are two see-through balls with spinners inside and bright colored clackers that invite exploration by little fingers. 6 months & up.

 The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

SNAP INFO: Finding toys that respond with a swipe of the hand is not always easy. This clever spinning high chair toy can be used as a hand held tether and rattle. Suction held toys often do not hold well. This one is better than most, thus freeing you from holding the toy and empowering a child to make it work. There is plenty to see, hear, and feel as balls and clackers with bold graphics and textures turn. Best of all, it detaches to become a two-handed toy to explore.

Age: Infants, Toddlers. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Wrap these three colorful bugs on the arm of the car carrier. Each has a distinctive sound without being intrusive. There are licks of high contrast black and white dots and stripes for eye-catching appeal above the lavender butterfly, the back and yellow bumble bee and the big red and black dotted ladybug. Baby will be gazing at these long before they can reach out and touch the satiny wings on the swinging bugs with stitched on features. You can reposition the bugs with their adjustable straps so that they appear in different locations from time to time. Keep in mind that baby stops noticing things that are always in the same place, so being able to move them is a real plus. Newborn & up.

            The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Shaped like a telephone handset, the bright blue and orange handle has textured ridges that are interesting to see, touch and eventually taste. The end-pieces of the rattle have red rings and high contrast black and white bulls-eye on one end and beads that rattle in a mirrored dome on the other end. It has a quiet amount of sound so it will not startle a very young baby. It is bigger than some other phone rattles and may be a better choice for slightly older children.

            The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2009.

A classic dumbbell shaped rattle with black and white soccer balls on either end. The shaft of the rattle is a see though ribbed bar that has bright beads inside. The texture of the shaft and sound of the beads adds to the interest to eyes and hands. There are also colorful rings that clatter and turn on the grip handle. This is a bit heavier than the phone rattle and a good choice for slightly older babies. 

            The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Ideal for two-handed play, this dual handled toy has raised textures on the two toned grabbers that will be interesting to fingers and teething gums. Most interesting of all is the polka-dotted spinning ball that lights up when it spins. A flutter ball with see though side is also fun to activate. This is one of those toys that baby will be able to use to make something happen - at first by chance and later on purpose. It says 3 months and up. Comes in green with a lavender or blue light up ball. We'd say baby will need to be somewhat older to hold onto this.

            The company has signed a verification form complying with our safety requirements. We did not independently test this toy in a lab.

Age: Infants. Award Year: 2009. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.