This Switchback Racetrack Wood Play Set by Educo looks like a lot of fun. My daughter’s preschool has a similar toy and it seems to be very popular with the kids. Its brightly colored wooden pieces add fun to your playroom, while boys and girls alike will enjoy rolling the cars along the various ledges. We have an Educo bead maze  toy that has held up to a lot of use, and I’m sure this would last through many kids as well. You can purchase one for $69.95 at jujubeaneboutique.com.

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.

In my experience, little boys often are just as fascinated by dollhouses as little girls are. While I think it is perfectly acceptable for a little boy to have a dollhouse, some parents may feel more comfortable investing in a more “masculine” design. This great rocket is perfect for cultivating imaginative play. I have a feeling that my nephew would love it. It comes with 21 different accessories for all kinds of outer space adventures. You can purchase one of these for $99.95 at onestepahead.com. Unfortunately, they are backordered until early October.

Here is a great little set that is sure to inspire some wonderful imaginative play. Gund’s Gadzooks Little Red Riding Hood Play Set brings the favorite childhood story to life with some slightly off-kilter characters. I love the look of these goofy little fabric toys. They definitely have personality to spare. Best of all, the wolf’s belly unzips so he can eat Little Red Riding Hood! What fun rescuing her from his belly could be. You can purchase this toy for $39 at Zappos.com.

I recently rediscovered a great Egyptian Pyramids playset that I bought at the Field Museum when my middle daughter was an infant. I had never heard of the company that made it, but I love the toy, so I thought I’d seek out more of their items. Though not readily available, these toys are truly unique. I really like this pioneer set which features a man, woman, and their covered wagon. I would have loved this as a child during the height of Little House on the Prairie. I think my daughters would like it too. You can purchase one for $24.99 at Christianbook.com. The company really stands behind their products, and will replace lost pieces free of charge.

Here’s a fun way to introduce a whole new level of creativity and cultural awareness into your child’s imaginative play. This set of play food features a number of international favorites such as salsa, Matzos, and fettucine. Play food has always been a favorite with my girls, as I think it is for most children, boys and girls alike. It is nice to see a unique set like this one. You can purchase the set for $27.50 at TheWellAppointedHouse.com.

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.

The wooden fairy doll play sets on Etsy seller theenchantedcupboard’s store are innovative and captivating. You really have to have a look at all of them, especially the wooden playboxes (great for traveling with) and my favorite, the Deluxe Woodland Fairy Forest Playset for $48. Purchase some fairy dolls to go with it and your child can re-enact her much-loved fairy stories (or invent her own.) Not for children who still put toys in their mouths.

Here’s a unique idea for a Christmas gift: a Pizza Party wooden pretend playset made by Melissa & Doug. It comes with six slices of pizza, tray, pizza cutter, spatula, and more than 50 toppings, all in a wooden pizza box with a see-through lid. Kids can create their own personalized pizza, exercising their imaginations while having a great time. Because it’s made by Melissa & Doug, you can trust the safety and quality of this wooden toy. It comes with the Melissa & Doug lifetime guarantee as well.

Recommended for ages 3 and up, you can view and purchase the Melissa & Doug Pizza Party Wooden Playset for $19.95 at geniusbabies.com.

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.

In this day and age, when shopping for toys, one doesn’t always know what one will get. There have been so many safety recalls, problems with melamine in plastic toys, problems with imports from China, and so forth, that it might make parents afraid of buying toys for their children this holiday season.

If you feel like this, it might be a good idea to return to basic toys, such as this classic Roy Toy Tree House Play Set. These building blocks have been made in Maine from real wood since the 1930s. This is a practical, quality toy. The 71-piece set comes in a reusable storage container.

Recommended for ages 4 and up, you can purchase this toy for $24.95 at VermontCountryStore.com. It’s one gift you can feel good about buying and giving to your child.