MY FIRST NOAH'S ARK

A soft ark, and a boatful of animals that come out two by two.

Loading and unloading is the whole attraction at this age. Toddlers will fill the boat, empty it, and fill it again for far longer than seems reasonable, and every round of it is fine-motor practice and early sequencing.

What lifts it beyond that is the storytelling. Pairs of animals, a boat and a journey give a child the raw materials to invent something, which is precisely the leap they are making at eighteen months. Look closely and there is a pair of toucans and a duo of flamingos peeking through the portholes, the kind of detail children discover months after they were given it.

There is a handle on top and the whole thing closes up, so it travels properly rather than shedding pieces across a car.

Entirely soft fabric, 32 x 12 x 18 cm. Machine washable at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle. Lilliputiens is a Belgian brand, founded in 1995 and designed by a team largely made up of parents working alongside early-childhood specialists. Tested to EN71 and ASTM standards and screened for AZO dyes, cadmium and phthalates.

A BOAT FULL OF ANIMALS THAT COME OUT - The Lilliputiens characters board in pairs and lift straight back out again. Loading and unloading is the game, and toddlers run it on repeat.

A HANDLE ON TOP - The whole set closes up and carries, so it travels to a grandparent's house or a holiday without pieces scattering across the car. A small detail that changes how much it gets used.

WHERE STORYTELLING STARTS - Pairs of animals, a boat and a journey give a child everything they need to invent a narrative. At eighteen months that is exactly the leap they are making.

LOOK THROUGH THE PORTHOLES - A pair of toucans and a duo of flamingos are peeking out. Lilliputiens fills its toys with details children find months later, and that is why they last.

ENTIRELY SOFT FABRIC - 32 x 12 x 18 cm with no hard parts, safe to be thrown, sat on and slept beside. Machine washable at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle.

18 months and above

100% polyester fabric with recycled polyester filling