Wooden toys are classic for a reason: They're made to last, and built to inspire a child’s imagination.
At Melissa & Doug, wood is in our roots! Our first hit product was the Fuzzy Farm wooden puzzle, and we continue to use wood whenever we can because it’s both natural and renewable.
In fact, Melissa & Doug is the #1 preschool brand for wooden toys. That’s why it’s important to us to replace the wood we use through our global reforestation partnership with One Tree Planted. (Read more about our commitment to sustainability here.)
The Top 10 Best Wooden Toys for Kids and Why They're Great!
We believe in the power of well-crafted, durable, safe, imagination-inspiring toys. Check out some of our favorite wooden toys, from blocks and puzzles to kid-sized play sets to arts and crafts kits and everything in between.
Dust! Sweep! Mop!
Ages: 3+
Why it’s a great wooden toy gift for kids: This six-piece play set gives kids all the housekeeping tools they need to keep it clean! Sized just for kids and built to last, the broom, mop, duster, dustpan, and hand brush are comfortable to use and easy to store--just hang them from the sturdy cords onto the included stand for neat, compact storage.
Fun feature: The dustpan can also snap onto any of the handles.
Skills: Fine and gross motor, problem-solving, storytelling, color recognition
How to wow: If your little one loves to play clean-up, we also offer the Let's Play House! Spray, Squirt & Squeegee Play Set for more squeaky clean pretend play fun.
Wooden Cool Scoops Ice Creamery
Ages: 3+
Why it’s a great wooden toy gift for kids: Scoop up cool pretend play creations with this full-service ice cream shop! Offer pretend play ice cream and soft serve cones, cups, milkshakes, and ice cream sandwiches.
Fun feature: Add toppings like sprinkles and hot fudge for an extra special treat!
Skills: Fine motor, sorting, and counting skills; promotes imaginative play and storytelling
How to wow: If pretend play service is something your little ones enjoy, consider our Wooden Cafe Barista Coffee Shop to power their imaginations.
Slice & Stack Sandwich Counter
Ages: 3+
Why it’s a great wooden toy gift for kids: Create piled-high sandwiches, made to order with this wooden sandwich counter play set with all the fixin's!
Fun feature: The sturdy wooden deli counter includes a play meat and cheese slicer for the wooden play food, and felt sandwich roll and toppings to create sandwiches ordered from the menu. There is a wooden dressing bottle, play snacks, and a cup with drink insert to round out meals that customers can pay for with the included play money!
Skills: Counting, sorting, and fine motor skills; promotes imaginative play and storytelling
How to wow: Your kiddo likes breakfast foods more than lunch time grub? No problem! Melissa & Doug serve up pretend breakfast 24/7 with our Star Diner Restaurant Set!
Wooden Beauty Salon Play Set
Why it’s a great wooden toy gift for kids: A reusable spa services card lets kids get the full salon experience by customizing makeovers for themselves, friends, stuffed animals, and dolls! Add glamour and style to playtime with these wooden beauty essentials for make-believe makeovers. The 18-piece set includes a sturdy white and pink vanity with mirror and storage drawer.
Fun feature: The wooden pieces include a hair dryer, hair spray, hair straightener, flip-top lotion bottle, lipstick, two nail polish bottles, blush, makeup brush, eye shadow and applicator, comb, and brush.
Skills: Fine motor skills, creativity; promotes imaginative play and storytelling
How to wow: Your kiddo’s first salon client is here: The Melissa & Doug Mine to Love Jenna 12” baby doll!
Deluxe Double-Sided Tabletop Easel
Ages: 3+
Why it’s a great wooden toy gift for kids: From the magnetic dry-erase board, to the chalkboard, to the paper-roll holder, this easy-to-fold-flat tabletop easel leaves everything to the imagination! Preschoolers will love using the dry-erase marker and felt eraser, colored chalk, and seemingly endless (50-foot-long) paper roll!
Fun feature: This double-sided easel includes 36 letter and number magnets!
Skills: Counting, creative play, collaborative play, fine motor skills, color recognition, letter and number recognition
How to wow: Get creative on the paper roll with the 24-pack of triangular crayons!
Fresh Mart Grocery Store
Age: 3+
Why it's a great wooden toy gift for kids: Kids will love going to the grocery store with this sturdy, wooden, over-sized, free-standing play space where they can take turns being the grocer or the shopper.
Fun features: Pretend play reaches a whole new level with these realistic features: a beeping "scanner," a hand-crank conveyor belt, a card-swiping machine, a keypad/calculator, and a cash drawer.
Skills: Social-emotional, language development
How to wow: Make the market complete with the 70-piece companion collection (including an apron, conveyor belt divider bar, and play money), this grocery basket with play food, and a shopping cart!
Safari Chunky Puzzle
Age: 2+
Why it's a great wooden toy gift for kids: If we're thinking of things that kids love, animals and puzzles generally top the list—so this chunky puzzle with wild animal pieces is sure to be a favorite.
Fun feature: The eight easy-grasp animal pieces also stand upright for when they want to leave the safari for other pretend play locales.
Skills: Problem solving, fine motor
How to wow: Combine it with some other chunky puzzles to: a) make a mega puzzle party; and b) mix and match the standing-upright pieces for some imaginative pretend play! (Personally, we're loving the idea of dinosaurs and Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy hanging out with the safari animals).
Standard Unit Blocks
Age: 3+
Why it's a great wooden toy gift for kids: Wooden blocks are standard for a reason—they're classic toys that inspire kids to build towers, castles, and anything else they want.
Fun feature: This set of 60, natural finished, smooth-sanded hardwood blocks is packaged in a wooden crate for easy storage.
Skills: Gross motor, fine motor, and early math concepts (shapes and sorting)
How to wow: Have a different kind of block party when you gift these with this colorful, 100-piece set—kids will have a blast mixing them together to create natural and primary-colored structures.
Top & Bake Pizza Counter
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great wooden toy gift for kids: Kids can serve up the best slice in town with this all-in-one pizza-making set! Start with felt sauce and cheese on the wooden crust, choose from wooden toppings (pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, and peppers), then "bake" in the pizza oven built into the storage and serving counter.
Fun feature: There’s a reusable menu card for taking orders, play money, and a delivery box to make the ordering experience even more realistic!
Skills: Counting, sorting, social-emotional development
How to wow: Add the Slice & Toss Salad Set to create a well-balanced meal.
Vroom & Zoom Interactive Dashboard
Age: 3+
Why it's a great wooden toy gift for kids: Kids will love taking the wheel with this interactive, sturdy wooden dashboard that has a horn, signal, hazard, gas tank countdown timer, gas cap, and GPS.
Fun feature: It's equipped with a phone and radio that plays clips of music from four stations!
Skills: Hand-eye coordination, creative thinking
How to wow: Bundle this with any of these car-themed gifts for the little car aficionado in your life! If your child is a PAW Patrol fan, we also have the PAW Patrol Rescue Mission Wooden Dashboard for character-themed pretend play fun!
These are just 10 of our top wooden toys…Check out more of our favorites here, here, & here!
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