One governmental guide described the importance of play and toys this way:

“Play is a natural activity for every young child. Play provides many opportunities for children to learn and grow—physically, mentally and socially. If play is the child’s work then toys are the child’s tools, and appropriate toys can help children do their work well.”

As a mother to two toddlers, I am in full agreement with that statement.

However, although the main reasons toys are so popular has much to do with the element of fun, there is no denying their contribution to a child's development.

This is mainly due to the fact that toys posses the ability to do so much for a baby/child.

In addition to strengthening their motor skills, toys improve eye and hand coordination; teach a child balance and how to control his/her movements; build important language skills; and stimulates thinking and creative abilities.

I have always tried to keep this in mind when shopping for children/baby toys.

This is why these are my picks for the top ten baby toys for your little one:

1.) Building Blocks or Stacking Blocks (preferably cloth) - great for teaching eye and hand coordination and teaching baby how to control his/her movements in a precise way.

2.) Wooden Pull Trains/Cars - the pulling and pushing action is great for teaching motor skills.

3.) Sorting Blocks With Container - this sorting game teaches baby how to recognize shapes, and helps build critical thinking and motor skills.

4.) Baby Books - (made from cloth or paperback) - the vivid colors and pictures are great for stimulating your baby's eyes and brain, introducing them to shapes, colors, letters, animals and beyond.

5.) Soft Rattles - the exciting sounds and colors stimulates baby's brain.

6.) Hypoallergenic Stuffed Animals - close contact with a cuddly stuffed animal provides baby with a sense of security.

7.) Stacking Rings (preferably in cloth) - a cute spin on the stacking blocks, stacking rings teaches baby eye and hand coordination, and movement control.

8.) Activity Play Mats - these ingenious floor mats get baby active, teaching mobility and balance - all the while educating them with bright colors, letters, numbers, and shapes.

9.) Baby Rattling Socks - rattles are strategically placed in the toes of these baby socks, so that every-time baby moves his/her feet, they are greeted with a wonderful sound - these socks are absolutely perfect since babies love to play with their feet, and great for helping baby learn how to focus his/her eyes, stimulating the brain and sense of hearing and sight.

10.) Clip-and-Go Musical Mobiles- these on the go mobiles can be clipped almost anywhere, and their interchangeable musical sounds and images help build baby's attention span, in addition to stimulating his/her eyesight.

(Websites such as www.geniusbabies.com and www.amazon.com has some great choices of kids toys available).

Baby toys are so much more than fun playthings.

With the ability to stimulate and teach, look for ones that will enrich and brighten your little one's life.