Toys for Learning

MelissaAndDoug.com has wonderful toys for learning and so much more. I absolutely love Melissa and Doug and not just because their toys are beautiful, functional, and sturdy; they treated me like a valuable customer.

Last Christmas I sent a wish list to my family of Christmas gifts that I wanted for my boys and I wound up getting duplicates of over $100 in toys from Melissa and Doug. The purchases had been made through online retailers and not directly from Melissa and Doug. I contacted Melissa and Doug and they allowed me to exchange every single item!  All I had to do was prove what was paid for each item and that is what they credited me in exchange.  And the people were SO NICE! I will forever be a loyal Melissa and Doug customer because of the way they treated me. It’s so wonderful to buy products from a store you can trust.

This post includes my recommendations for the following categories:

• Toys for Learning
• Toys for Boys
• Toys for Boys and Girls
• Toys for Girls
• Toys for One to Two Year Olds – Boys and Girls
• Toys for Baby

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If you’re not familiar with Melissa and Doug toys, I’ve selected my top picks.  The links may link to the Melissa and Doug homepage.  So if a particular item interests you, write down the name so you can find it on their site. We own many of these toys! If not, they are things I would be happy to give my niece or my friend’s children. Can you tell I love Melissa and Doug?  Feel free to forward this post to your family for Christmas wish list ideas, I’m providing a list of toys that my three year old and one year old absolutely love. And if you’re not 100% satisfied with something you get, contact Melissa and Doug. Based on my personal experience, I have a feeling they will do whatever it takes to make you a loyal customer too.

Toys for Learning

The toys that follow are toys that I’m using to teach my own boys.  You’ll see some of these toys featured in my posts. I’ve created a special set of shapes printables to go with the shape-sorting clock and I’m open to creating other printables to go along with these toys – just let me know what you’re looking for and maybe I can create it as part of a future post.

I believe that play is an important part of learning.  So, even though this first list is labeled Toys for Learning, I think all of the Melissa and Doug toys are excellent for learning. I think you’ll find that Melissa and Doug makes wonderful toys for children of all ages. Just scroll down to learn more.

Toys for Learning

This link: Melissa and Doug will take you to the main page.  Just copy the name and paste it into the search field at Melissa and Doug to find your toy.

1. Pattern Blocks and Boards Classic Toy – great for teaching early math skills
2. Magnetic Chalkboard and Dry-Erase Board – this board comes with magnetic A-Z and numbers
3. Wooden Shape Sorting Clock – I created these matching shapes cards to go along with this clock.
4. Upper & Lower Case Alphabet Puzzle – great for early reading
5. U.S.A. (United States) Map Floor Puzzle – 51 Pieces – featured in my post: “U is for United States”
6. Alphabet Nesting and Stacking Blocks – teaches children early sequencing skills
7. Classic ABC Block Cart – featured in my alphabet series including: “Z is for Zipper”
8. Early Learning Set – just a great starter set
9. Alphabet Puzzle Cards – a wonderful way to teach that certain words start with letters of the alphabet
10. Hands Counting Peg Puzzle – a super cute puzzle to teach early anatomy of the hand
11. Numbers Sound Puzzle – 21 Pieces – we have this in our home and they are great for reviewing #s 1-20
12. Alphabet Sound Puzzle – 26 Pieces – featured in my alphabet series including: “N is for Newt”
13. Self-Correcting Alphabet Letter Puzzles – great for shape matching and early reading
14. See & Spell Learning Toy – we have this and its a great early reading toy
15. Days of Creation Stacking and Nesting Blocks – (not pictured but looks like #6) great for sequencing

Toys for Boys

This link: Melissa and Doug will take you to the main page.  Just copy the name and paste it into the search field at Melissa and Doug to find your toy.

1. Wooden Train Cars Set – my boys love that these trains hold together with magnets
2. Toolbox Fill and Spill Toddler Toy – Spilling toys is one of the things my boys do best!
3. Train Table – our train table is perfect for when we have friends over – with so many parts everyone can play
4. Construction Chunky Puzzle – 6 Pieces – both of my boys enjoy puzzles and this is one of their favorites
5. Tools Chunky Puzzle – 7 Pieces – another favorite
6. Deluxe Pirate Ship Play Set – this toy is on our Christmas wish list
7. Little Tikes Craftsman Workshop – there is no substitute for banging a hammer or sawing with a fake saw
8. Vehicles Mix ‘n Match Peg Puzzle – 9 Pieces – great for teaching colors and car types

 

Toys for Boys and Girls

This link: Melissa and Doug will take you to the main page.  Just copy the name and paste it into the search field at Melissa and Doug to find your toy.

1. Scratch Art® Deluxe Neon Set – I love the surprised look on my son’s face when he scratched off black to reveal color
2. Little Tikes Ride-On Package Option 7 – 30th Anniversary Package – these are adorable and we’re looking into something like this for our boys
3. Santa Claus Magnetic Dress-Up Set – perfect for Christmas fun
4. Food Groups – Wooden Play Food – I think a kitchen and play food is essential for boys and girls, we have a kitchen for our boys and they love opening cabinets and pretending to cook food.
5. Felt Play Food – Sandwich Set – great for teaching practical skills
6. Deluxe Kitchen with FREE Cutting Food Box – another key skill in getting ready for kindergarten – cutting
7. Let’s Play House! Grocery Basket with Play Food – stacking, sorting, organizing – great skills for preschoolers
8. Shopping Cart with FREE Let’s Play House! Grocery Boxes – A cart to put things in? Perfect!
9. Play Kitchen Accessory Set – Pot & Pans – enhances knowledge of practical life skills
10. Noah’s Ark Shape Sorter – a wonderful way to teach children about animals, matching, and shapes
11. Shape, Model & Mold Play Clay – my boys love this set, the doh actually resists drying out better than play doh

 

Toys for Girls

This link: Melissa and Doug will take you to the main page.  Just copy the name and paste it into the search field at Melissa and Doug to find your toy.

1. Chunky Puzzle Scene – Flower Garden Puzzle – 6 Pieces – adorable puzzle with flower scene
2. Pretty Purse Fill and Spill Toddler Toy – if my boys like to spill toys, I’m sure girls do too
3. Decorate-Your-Own Petite Purse – I’m a girly-girl and I would love this toy
4. Jenna 12″ Doll – Mine to Love – all the little girls I know love dolls
5. Little Tikes Push & Ride Doll Walker – your little girl can ride this and her doll can sit on it too
6. Brianna 12″ Doll – Mine to Love – the long hair on this doll would make for hours of fun play
7. Annie 12″ Drink & Wet Doll – Mine to Love – this one can drink and wet
8. Princess Elise Magnetic Dress-Up Set – Who doesn’t love to play princess dress-up?

For One to Two Year Olds – Boys and Girls

Some of these toys contain small parts.  Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for age usage.  When in doubt, ask your pediatrician.  These are toys I use in my own home but I assume no liability for anyone who purchases these toys. Use any and all toys at your own risk.

This link: Melissa and Doug will take you to the main page.  Just copy the name and paste it into the search field at Melissa and Doug to find your toy.

1. Hide & Seek Farm – My one year old goes crazy for the doors and detachable magnets, make sure to supervise as some of the magnets are small (I only left him the large magnets to play with, the smaller ones I stuck on our fridge).
2. Magnetic Hide & Seek Board – We do not have this to toy but it looks similar to the one above, use with caution.
3. Latches Board – My youngest is 20 months and he loves this toy, he loves to play with doors. I recommend use of this toy only if under careful supervision until the child is comfortable working the latches and doors.
4. Bear Family Dress-Up Puzzle – Again, some smaller parts.  My boys love to play with this puzzle, but I recommend it’s use only under careful supervision.
5. Animal Puzzle Book – My son would love this book.  The parts are removable so any play would be closely supervised.
6. Stacking Train Toddler Toy – Of the toys my 20-month-old loves, I feel safe to let him play with this one by himself. This toy is also customizable.  Many toys from Melissa and Doug are.  Be sure to check to see if the toy you are considering can be imprinted with your child’s name.

For Baby

This link: Melissa and Doug will take you to the main page.  Just copy the name and paste it into the search field at Melissa and Doug to find your toy.

1. Learning Shoe Baby and Toddler Toy – soft and adorable
2. Pull & Play Musical Inchworm Baby Toy – musical toy perfect for attaching to something overhead or nearby to encourage play
3. Press & Go Inchworm Baby and Toddler Toy – my son loves push toys
4. Pop Blocs Building Set – 16 pieces – both my boys love building with blocks
5. Caterpillar Gears Toddler Toy – my 20-month-old is fascinated by the way the pieces move each other
6. Linking Bee Baby Toy – links are a great way to attach toys safely
7. Shape Sorting Cube Classic Toy – perfect for early problem solving

If you’ve never shopped Melissa and Doug you should go online and have a look. I think you’ll like what you find on their site. 

Do you have any favorite toys?  Please leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

In His Grip,

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