Play Talk

The Play Talk Blog shares stories, play ideas, and parenting resources to support growth, creativity, and joyful learning at every stage.

March 18, 2019

Must Have Easter Gifts for Babies and Toddlers

March 1, 2019

MANHATTAN TOY STORY: Why Under the Sea?

February 11, 2019

Manhattan Toy LEGO Mini Figures Available Now!

November 8, 2018

Must Have Toys For Holiday

Find the perfect gifts for every little girl and boy on your list. We've got the must have toys for each age and stage - happy shopping!

August 20, 2018

Toys that Support Development for Newborns to 3+

No matter what age, your little ones are achieving developmental milestones. Here are a few of our favorite toys for fostering key milestones in your little ones.

May 31, 2018

Helping your Firstborn Prepare for the Newborn

January 17, 2018

Skwish - A Tensegrity Toy Invention

What's a Skwish? Unlocking the mystery behind the Skwish - how it came to be and it's unique tensegrity design.

October 12, 2017

On the Shelves at Barnes & Noble

August 24, 2017

Sunny the Bear at the MN State Fair

August 15, 2017

Manhattan Toy in Target®

Read moreabout Manhattan Toy in Target®

August 2, 2017

Tangled Up in Bleu - Jeanne Bleu, Our Creative Director

July 10, 2017

Happy Campers

Read moreabout Meet Wee Baby Stella®

August 1, 2016

Epic Summer Bucket List for Kids: 40 Fun Ideas

By: Kaila Weingarten, MS ED The summer is reaching it's end, but there is still plenty of time and ways to enjoy the remaining days of summer. Searching for som..

July 22, 2016

The Creation of MiO - Part 3 MiO's Release to the World!

The Creation of MiO: MiO's Release to the World! – Part 3 of a 3 Part series MiO'S RELEASE! IT’S FANTASTIC! The line has been in development for well over a yea...

July 17, 2016

The Creation of MiO - Part 2 Becoming MiO

The Creation of MiO: Becoming MiO - Part 2 of a 3 Part series WHAT MAKES OUR PLAY ENVIRONMENT UNIQUE? There was much internal excitement, because we knew that w...

July 14, 2016

The Creation of MiO: Part 1 First Steps

The Creation of MiO: First Steps - Part 1 of this 3 Part series MIO – FIRST STEPS The original idea for MiO sprang from a series of events - a lecture at the Nu...

June 24, 2016

Building Blocks for Success: MiO Block Play

Do you have old fashioned blocks? Or have the simple building toys lost their appeal to snazzier toys? Here’s one rule to learn: The more a toy does, the less likely your child will be to use her imagination when playing. One milestone I assess in children is, “Can he stack seven blocks at age eighteen months?” I often wonder if children are missing this skill due to lack of exposure to blocks.

June 17, 2016

Behind the Scenes: A Toy's Journey From Idea to Best Friend

At Manhattan Toy, we find joy in making playthings for kids! Our wish is to create toys that become childhood favorites, but a lot of work goes into making unforgettable toys. Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a Manhattan Toy approved friend? Take a visual tour with us to see how our newest baby collection is coming to life! STEP 1: TREND RESEARCH The whole process begins with trend research. We travel the world, searching our surroundings for inspiration - store visits in Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Tokyo - trade shows in London, Paris, New York - along with trend forecasts and web research. This helps us to deve...

June 16, 2016

Today's Forecast: 100% Chance of Indoor Fun!

All parents know that kids are happiest when they're playing outdoors. Unfortunately for them, and us, there are many days every year the weather just doesn’t cooperate. Even though we've reached the summer months, the rain and the heat can conspire against us to keep kids inside. You may be up for splashing in the puddles or bringing out a sprinkler, but for the days you would rather stay dry, check out some creative ideas for indoor fun. After all, a rainy forecast is never a pain when you use your imagination. When boredom strikes and you're stuck inside, a puppet show is always a safe bet. In my house, we keep a few puppets around that can be used to act out any sto...

June 2, 2016

Is It Fun? Is It Safe? Is It IRRESISTABLE?!!

May 19, 2016

And the Winner is . . . Manhattan Toy!

We love when our products receive awards; which is why we're sharing the news about our recent award winners! Check out all the below recent awarded winners and the great things reviewers had to say about them. Chicago, Illinois (May...

May 12, 2016

Ages & Stages: Best Toys for Baby's Development

Child development is always a hot topic. I mean, what parent doesn’t want to know how to nurture their growing baby? Babies develop a wide range of skills within the first year of life. From smiling to cooing, from rolling...

May 3, 2016

Morning Routines that Work

Want to have a calmer day? Then work to ace the marathon with a morning routine. Routine can be a safety net for young children. Keeping a steady routine will help every member of the family feel loved and respected....

April 29, 2016

4 Ways the Winkel Builds Wonder

Why is the Winkel so wonderful? Find out our top four reasons!

April 21, 2016

Five Ways to Celebrate Earth Day!

Earth day is Friday, April 22. What are you doing to celebrate? Founded by former U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, Earth day is a time to remember just how important it is to protect and care for the environment. After all,...

April 13, 2016

10 No-Nonsense Spring Cleaning Tips

By: Kaila Weingarten We all need a little help de-cluttering our lives! Check out these 10 tips to cleaning up your household this spring and say hello to the new, organized you! Tip #1: throw or donate Throw/donate 10 things...

April 6, 2016

“It’s not just Child’s Play”

By: Kaila Weingarten MS ED Play is crucial to a child’s development. It helps build your child’s imagination, encourages socialization and communication, and enhances many other areas of your child’s development. Early childhood experiences have a dramatic impact, physically determining...

March 29, 2016

Move to Music

By: Kaila Weingarten MS ED Why is music so vital to children? Children are programmed to move. As infants, rocking and hugging children soothes them, and teaches them about the rhythm. Music appeals to children, and helps them develop in myriad...