Countless studies have shown that play is critical to child development. It enhances cognitive abilities and lays the foundation for kids to successfully engage with others.
Melissa & Doug toys provide wonderful, creative opportunities for your child to engage in play whether it’s on their own or with others. In this installment of our Melissa & Doug's Toy Spotlight blog, we're taking a closer look at this sturdy, wooden Snow-Cone & Slushie Play Set, designed to amuse, surprise, and challenge kids, and to keep them laughing and learning through play.
Toy Spotlight: Pretend Play Frozen Treats from Melissa & Doug
Play Basics
Turn any day into Fair Day! Create pretend cool classic carnival treats with this wooden tabletop snow-cone and slushie stand for kids.
Playful Details
This colorful 26-piece play set comes equipped with everything kids need to serve pretend icy treats to hungry fairgoers. Press a button to drop Water Wow!® color-changing ice balls into the cones, then squeeze water on them to create “flavors.” With a simple press of the lever, shop owners can squirt colored string for pretend slushie drinks. Need more ice? Lift the ice shoot to release wooden ice cubes. After receiving their refreshing treats, customers can pay with the included money bills. The set includes a double-sided activity card so kids can have fun creating their own menu and prices.
Age: 3+
Who Will Love This
Kids who love kitchen and food play; kids who love exciting outings, the thrill of a carnival, and delicious icy treats.
Skills at Play
This icy treats pretend play set is an engaging, hands-on way to introduce colors, storytelling, and early math skills, and to encourage fine motor skills.
Countless Ways to Play
The toy slushie and snow cone stand serves up plenty of opportunities for kids to explore pretend play. They can create signs and verbally encourage fairgoers to visit their stand – “Come one, come all and watch the snow cones change color right in front of your eyes!” They can also add other carnival treats to their offerings such as pretend popcorn and cotton candy, or award a free snow cone to anyone who can successfully ring the bell.
Step Right Up and Get the Playing Started
- Put on some lively music and get ready for an exciting pretend-play experience
- Encourage your child to take turns being the stand owner and the customer
- Prompt them to come up with a fun name for their stand and for each of the cool treats
- Start a conversation about other foods and events they would enjoy at their carnival
- Explore colorful ways to decorate the space such as adding signs, menus, cute drawings, or toy figures
- Offer some suggestions for dressing the part of a carnival vendor and see what outfits they come up with
- Take photos of playtime as a sweet collection of their fun day at the fair
Discover the Collection
From games of skill and chance to innovative carnival-inspired play sets, the Melissa & Doug Fun at the Fair!™ collection brings home all the fun of a day at the fair!
The Buzz
“This play set is the best of the best when it comes to fun. It has many different options for you to use your imagination and go on adventures making snow-cones and slushies. It’s very easy to put together and is very easy to clean up afterwards. Very sturdy and love that it’s designed with kids in mind! We love everything about this play set; highly recommend for the whole family!”— From a 5-star review
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