The Melissa & Doug Castle Dolls Play Set looks like a lot of fun. It reminds me of a set of knights that I had as a child. This set, with six different figures, including knights and a cute little jester, looks like it would inspire a lot of creative play, with or without a castle. The set is designed for children ages 3 and up. You can purchase it for $19.95 at shop.nordstrom.com.

We have a lot of Melissa & Doug wooden toys, and they have been reliable favorites with my older daughters, especially the food toys. This new wok set is extra cute. It features velcro meat, peppers, and bok choi that your child can “cut,” as well as shrimp, mushrooms, and snow peas. Chopsticks, a knife, and, of course, a wok, round out the set. The set retails for $19.99. With all of the creative play this will inspire, you’re sure to get your money’s worth. You can pick one up at melissaanddoug.com.

I have found that since my son turned two he has become puzzle obsessed. I really love that they distract him for long enough to let me get on with some other things around the house, and I’m happy in the knowledge that they are safe and helping him use his brain and hand-eye coordination. This Melissa & Doug Wooden Bear Family Dress-Up Puzzle is his favorite puzzle right now and has been since we got it for him during the holidays. There are 45 mix and match pieces and you get to dress the bear family in 15 different outfits, whether it be rainy day clothes, summer’s day outfits or pajamas. You can even choose from a selection of different facial expressions, my son favors putting all the grumpy faces on the bears. It comes in a handy box, so it really is easy for little hands to help tidy up at the end of the day.

We got ours in a store, but I found one online that was much cheaper, at HuggableMe.com for $11.89.

I like this Shape, Model and Mold Play Set by Melissa & Doug. You can always use whatever is in the kitchen drawer for dough play (and I have!) But it really makes a difference, maybe it just adds a little more fun, when your child has a set of “tools” to create their dough sculptures. This set looks like it has plenty of designs and shapes to choose from. The rollers are pretty neat. Kids will have fun printing out these patterns in dough. It’s such a tactile delight. Visit KangarooBoo.com where you can purchase this item for $14.99.

How fun - getting to decorate your own Princess Mirror by Melissa & Doug. This would make a great craft activity for your little girl’s birthday sleepover. Have a few Princess dress-up clothes handy to add to the fun. All the materials come in a handy wooden box. It’s so modestly priced ($5.99), everyone can have fun creating their own Princess Mirror. Visit KangarooBoo.com to purchase.

We have a lot of Melissa & Doug toys, and I have been very pleased with the quality.  All of the ones we have purchased have survived whatever my kids did to them, which is saying quite a bit.  Although our youngest daughter isn’t yet ready to play with toys, I’ve started scouting out some fun ones that she will enjoy in the months to come.  I really like the look of this Bug Jug Fill and Spill.  We have had several other similar toys over the years, and they have always been big hits.  For some reason, bug-themed toys always appeal to me. This one has a particularly cute bunch of bugs: a grasshopper, ladybug, spider, and a butterfly.  Each is made from high-quality materials and is guaranteed to be phthalate-free.  Little ones will enjoy placing them in the jug and then releasing them to let the fun begin all over again.

This set is very reasonably priced at $14.99.  You can purchase one at WellToDobaby.com.

Both of my girls are big fans of puzzles.  My older daughter has incredible spatial reasoning skills and I truly believe it has something to do with all of the time she spent figuring out puzzles from an early age.  I bought this Melissa & Doug Fish Bowl puzzle for my middle daughter on her first birthday, and although it is now far too simple for her, it remains a favorite in our house and will no doubt be passed down to daughter number three in another year or so.

This wooden puzzle is great for a number of reasons.  The colors are bright and cheerful, which draws the attention of toddlers.  The fish theme is also a draw for many kids who are often starting to show an interest in animals around the same time they are starting to be able to manipulate puzzles.  Finally, the large, simple pieces and the knobs that allow for easy handling make this puzzle great for yougn toddlers who are just starting to hone their fine motor skills.  Overall, this is a great little puzzle that your family is sure to enjoy.  I highly recommend it. You can purchase it at EducationalLearningGames.com, where it’s on sale for $7.99.

I was so excited to find this puzzle today while browsing through the GoingApe.com website. I’ve been looking for an aid to help my 4 year old son learn to tie his shoes, and haven’t found anything I like. This Shoe Lacing Activity Puzzle by Melissa & Doug is perfect. The puzzle is fashioned out of wood and looks like a high top sneaker. The shoe measures 8.75″ x 5″ x 3.75″, which is the perfect size to help a child learn to tie his shoes.The wood is smooth and sanded, so it’s safe for your child to play with (like all of Melissa & Doug’s products).

Recommended for ages 3 and up, you can purchase the Shoe Lacing Activity Puzzle on sale for $8.27 (reg. $11.02) at GoingApe.com.

Why is it that once a toddler has filled a container, he wants to dump it? I remember the Halloween when my son was 2, he went out trick-or-treating for the first time with his pumpkin container. When he got home, his favorite activity was to dump all of the candy he’d collected onto the floor, then put it back into the pumpkin, then dump it again. He didn’t even care about eating any candy, he was just having a ball dumping and re-filling the container.

That’s the beauty behind this Candy Jar Fill & Spill by Melissa & Doug. The candy jar is made of safe phalate-free plastic, and the “candy” consists of four soft, multi-textured toys that rattle, squeak, and jingle. Besides being fun for your child, this activity hones hand-eye coordination and helps to develop motor skills.

Recommended for ages 6 months to 3 years, this unique toy sells for $19.99 at HunkyDoryOnline.com. It would make a great holiday gift for your little one to find (and dump) under the tree.

Whenever I see a toy that is made by Melissa & Doug, I take notice. I know that their toys always meet or exceed safety standards, and are constantly tested to ensure the safety of our little ones. This Monster Bowling Play Set looks like lots of fun for toddlers ages 2 and up. That’s the age when kids love to throw a ball and knock things over — most parents would rather that they knock over toys like this than precious heirlooms.

These plush, colorful monsters are bowling pins, all with different textures and features. The play set comes with its own carrying and storage bag as well, which measures 9″ x 9″ x 7″. You can buy one for your little bowler at PeppyParents.com, where it costs $18.95.

Everyone has a family member or friend who enjoys eating sushi (if you aren’t a sushi lover yourself, which I definitely am not). Some people are even able to entice their children into trying this delicacy. I’ve actually seen some children in Japanese restaurants eating sushi, to my amazement.

My husband is a sushi lover, and my son has started to show an interest when the food is lined up in a row all ready to consume. He might enjoy this Melissa & Doug Sushi Wooden Play Set. It comes in a painted bento box, with three types of sushi rice pieces with shrimp, tuna, salmon, and roe pieces. Ginger, wasabi, and soy sauce are also included, as are chopsticks, a play cleaver, and a play menu. (When the child slices into the velcro sushi with the cleaver, it makes a chopping sound.)

This would make a unique Christmas gift for the right child. And with Melissa & Doug wooden toys, you know they are safe for your child to play with. It’s recommended for kids ages 2-4. You can purchase this at Oliebollen.com, where it’s on sale for $15.95.

The year my son was 2, he awoke to find this gift under the Christmas tree. He was so excited that he played with it exclusively for most of the day, creating new musical melodies (and cacophonies) we’d never heard before. The Toy Upright Piano, made by Melissa & Doug, isn’t a full-sized piano, but rather, a miniature version made of wood. It contains two octaves of black and white keys, and stimulates the musician in toddlers. This piano is a great first introduction to music for your little one.

The piano stands 13″ tall and comes with a Learn to Play Piano songbook. Recommended for ages 2 and up, it’s currently on sale for $47.96 (regularly $59.95) at Gummylump.com. Trust me — it makes a wonderful Christmas gift.

My sister and I used to cut out paper dolls from “Look Magazine” or “McCalls Magazine.” Our mom helped us with the scissors and glue. I remember spending a rainy afternoon in our bedroom with pages from magazines spread out all over the floor. I think what made the memory last was that it was a rare moment when our mom had time to spend with us. She was usually working in the evenings at her part-time job or working at home to keep us in clean socks and tidy rooms.

The Maggie Leigh Dress-Up by Melissa and Doug is a magnetic take on the old paper doll. It eliminates the scissors, glue and messiness, and still looks like fun.  You can purchase one for $10.50 at Zozoforkids.com.