The holidays mean different things to different people, but one aspect we’re all familiar with is the feeling of nostalgia that the holidays inspire—it’s impossible not to think about the past when we get together with friends and family to celebrate our holidays and the traditions that go with them.
If you’re a parent or caregiver looking for hands-on, screen-free, kid-powered fun while holiday shopping this season, consider gifting one of Melissa & Doug’s many “classic” toys that harken back to a simpler time, but still pack a potent punch in terms of child engagement and developing key skills for school and beyond.
This listicle presents a selection of carefully curated “classic” playroom staples that offer tremendous value that will last for years, because Melissa & Doug makes well-crafted toys that are developed with care to be passed down from generation to generation or shared family to family. That’s why our classic toys are such a hit with both parents and kids—and make for perfect gifts come holiday time.
Top Classic Toys for Kids to Consider Gifting This Holiday Season
Food Groups
CLASSIC STATUS: Planning a well-balanced meal is child's play with this adorable wooden food groups set. The collection includes items from each of the five food groups, including watermelon, a milk carton, cheese, fish, a hamburger, eggs, and much more. The high-quality items are crafted of solid wood and come with four wooden baskets for sorting as well as easy storage.
SKILLS AT PLAY: Introduce your child to meal planning and food groups, while they learn about dairy products, meat, carbs, fat, and fruits and vegetables. Encourages fine motor skills, creative expression, and storytelling ability.
AGES: 3+
Chef's Kitchen - Cloud
CLASSIC STATUS: Budding young chefs can hone their craft in this beautifully designed, white marble-colored modern play kitchen! The easy to assemble chef's kitchen includes a refrigerator/freezer with innovative working ice maker that dispenses two included "ice cubes," an oven and stove top with dials that turn, microwave with turning plate, sink with moving faucet and handle, grocery checklist, movable hooks, and ample shelving and storage for easy cleanup. Includes oven, stove, microwave, sink, refrigerator with working ice dispenser, freezer, ample storage space for easy cleanup. Sturdy, top-quality wooden construction means it will stand up to years of creative make-believe meal-making!
SKILLS AT PLAY: Gross & fine motor skills, storytelling ability, cooperation, and creative expression.
AGES: 3+
Slice and Bake Cookie Set
CLASSIC STATUS: This colorful cookie set includes 12 wooden, sliceable cookies and 12 cookie toppings, a wooden knife, spatula, cookie sheet, and a kitchen mitt for safe, imaginative play. Your little baker can pretend to slice the cookies, place them on the cookie sheet, make believe they're baking, and then use the oven mitt for the "hot" cookies once they're done. Then it's decorating time! When playtime is over kids can store the cookies in the durable dough tube so they're ready for next time.
SKILLS AT PLAY: What a delicious way for kids to practice fine motor skills, number concepts, and more, while pretending to bake and serve sweet treats.
AGES: 3+
Take-Along Railroad
CLASSIC STATUS: Built-in tracks, colorful scenery, and fun play pieces let kids take their imaginations for a spin…and take playtime anywhere they want to go! Unfold the sturdy wooden case to create an illustrated play surface with built-in train and road tracks for the three wooden wheeled trains and a park ranger vehicle. All the wooden pieces are stored in the fold-up case with a convenient carrying handle for easy cleanup and travel.
SKILLS AT PLAY: Keep playtime rolling for kids 3+ and encourage independent play and motor skill development.
AGES: 3+
Deluxe Pounding Bench Toddler Toy
CLASSIC STATUS: Engage little ones with this Melissa & Doug Pounding Bench that's beautifully constructed from high-quality solid wood and child-safe materials. The classic little pounding bench features eight brightly colored pegs that play "peekaboo" as they go up and down. The pegs are non-removable and take turns showing their smiles while your toddler has fun using the sturdy, durable mallet. The toy is entertaining for kids while they get to practice naming the different colors of the pegs.
SKILLS AT PLAY: Helps promote eye-hand coordination, cause and effect, and fine motor skills
AGES: 2+
Shape Sorting Cube Classic Toy
CLASSIC STATUS: This ultimate shape sorter features 12 chunky, vibrantly colored shapes with rounded edges that are easy for little hands to hold and maneuver. Each cube fits through a hole of the same shape on the natural-finish hardwood cube. Kids will delight as they drop each shape into the cube, and hear it make a satisfying "clunk" sound. Then they can open the lid, take the cube out and start all over again!
SKILLS AT PLAY: Promotes color and shape recognition, problem-solving skills, and fine motor skills. Finding the correct matching shape can also help kids feel a sense of pride and accomplishment!
AGES: 2+
My Magnetic Daily Calendar
CLASSIC STATUS: What is today? For a child, that simple question can have so many answers--and this daily calendar helps satisfy them all! Kids will feel a greater sense of control and responsibility when they help post the day of the week, date, weather, and special events on the large magnetic board for all to see. There's even a space to post their mood--an excellent way to open communication and encourage children to gauge their own emotions.
SKILLS AT PLAY: Organization, time management, social-emotional, fine motor
AGES: 3+
Pattern Blocks and Boards Classic Toy
CLASSIC STATUS: Pattern Blocks and Boards let kids explore shapes and colors hands-on as they fill wooden backgrounds with sturdy wooden pieces! Follow one of 10 design templates, or create your own mosaic using 120 colorful wooden tiles in six different shapes.
SKILLS AT PLAY: A classic math manipulative and learning activity, great for spatial awareness, color recognition, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem solving
AGES: 3+
Classic Play Money Set
CLASSIC STATUS: Never be short of (pretend) cash again! Introduce your kids to different kinds of currency with this Melissa & Doug Play Money set. It features familiar-looking paper bills from one dollar to 100 dollars, and plastic coins including pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. Kids can keep their stash of cash organized in the sturdy wooden "cash drawer" storage box. Each compartment within the box is printed with a different denomination to make cleanup fun and easy.
SKILLS AT PLAY: Fosters imagination, early math and money skills such as counting, sorting, and giving change
AGES: 3+
100-Piece Wood Blocks Set
CLASSIC STATUS: This favorite collection of 100 wooden blocks comes in four colors and nine shapes. Little builders will find it easy to grasp the approximately 1-inch to 2.25-inch smooth blocks. Kids delight in stacking, building, and knocking them down in countless colorful combinations
SKILLS AT PLAY: Fine motor skills and dexterity, color and shape recognition, and pre-math skills
AGES: 2+
Deluxe Wooden Standing Art Easel
CLASSIC STATUS: The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Art Easel makes any room into an art studio! Our double-sided, kid-sized art easel includes a dry-erase board, chalkboard, locking paper-roll holder (fits either an 18" or 12" wide paper roll), child-safe paper cutter, four easy-grip clips, and a plastic tray to attach to each side of the easel. It's easy to assemble, so there's little time waiting for the next masterpiece!
SKILLS AT PLAY: Fine motor skills and proper pencil grip--it's great for beginning writers! Use the chalkboard and white board as the ideal practice surfaces for a child's first letters and words.
HELPFUL HINT: Paint, paint cups, and paint brushes sold separately in our Easel Companion Accessory Set, everything your young artist needs when inspiration strikes: Four eight-ounce bottles of vibrant poster paint (R/B/Y/G), four spill-proof paint cups, four medium sized brushes, an 18" wide roll of easel paper, a 10-pack of jumbo rainbow chalk, an eraser and a dry erase marker!
AGES: 3+
Classic ABC Block Cart
CLASSIC STATUS: Hours of enriching block play await your toddler! This sturdy, wooden block cart features 30 solid wood traditionally styled one-inch cube blocks that fit neatly into the durable wooden cart. This Melissa & Doug Classic Toy is perfect for little ones to engage in pretend play while they identify pictures, letters, and numbers, and engage in simple recognition, matching, stacking and sorting activities.
SKILLS AT PLAY: Early numbers & letter recognition, early vocabulary building, fine motor
AGES: 2+
Wooden Letter Alphabet Magnets
CLASSIC STATUS: This Magnetic Wooden Alphabet set of magnetic uppercase and lowercase letters offers a colorful jumble of possibilities! The set features 52 brightly colored magnetic letters in a handy wooden case for easy storage and on-the-go play. Ideal for letter recognition, matching, and stenciling, these must-have letters spell "learning fun"!
SKILLS AT PLAY: Early letter and alphabet recognition, fine motor
AGES: 3+
Primary Lacing Beads
CLASSIC STATUS: The bright and bold Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads set is a must-have for budding imaginations! It includes 30 hand-painted, durable wooden beads in six vibrant colors, and two extra-long laces for plenty of hands-on play. The set of beads features five distinct shapes all designed for little hands to grasp, and the laces are thin enough to allow the beads to slide easily.
SKILLS AT PLAY: Helps to promote shape recognition, hand-eye coordination, fine-motor skills, cognitive and visual perception skills, and creative expression
AGES: 3+
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Want more great toys & blogs from Melissa & Doug…check out these links:
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Learn More Melissa & Doug Skills at Play
Shop Melissa & Doug Learning Toys
Shop Melissa & Doug E-Gift Cards
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Melissa & Doug Opens First Flagship Retail Store Ahead of the Holiday Season
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