With the holidays here, it's time for parents and caregivers to bone up on THE hottest toys of the season from Melissa & Doug—because these will be the toys most likely topping your kids' holiday wish lists this year!
We've carefully curated a shoppable selection of beloved favorites and hot new toys that dropped this year, available just in time to put them on your holiday shopping list. Plus, we also have our Holiday Gift Guide available to help your find the ultimate holiday gift for your little one—let it do all the work for you.
The holiday season's hottest gifts from Melissa & Doug!
Sticker WOW! Collection
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Sticker WOW! is a fun-filled activity that lets kids stamp out stickers as they play, create, and learn. It’s a whole new way to play with stickers, featuring an innovative, one-of-a-kind design that features character-themed sticker stampers with 300 stickers and activity pads for mess-free fun anywhere. Kids can engage in creative, skill-building play, using the sticker stampers to engage with the included activity book or creative art projects. Sticker WOW! also features separate Refill Packs that are compatible with any Sticker WOW! sticker stamper.
Fun feature: No matter what your child’s interest, there’s a variety of sticker stamper characters to choose from…collect them all!
Melissa & Doug Sticker WOW! Collection
Sticker WOW! Ice Cream Bundle
Sticker WOW! Astronaut Bundle
Sticker WOW! Unicorn Bundle
Sticker WOW! Sea Turtle Bundle
Sticker WOW! Cat Bundle
Sticker WOW! Dinosaur Bundle
Sticker WOW! Dog Bundle
Sticker WOW! Tiger Bundle
Sticker WOW! Refills 4-Pack
Sticker WOW! Refills Surprise Pack
Sticker WOW! Refills Pets Pack
Sticker WOW! Refills Favorite Things Pack
Sticker WOW! Refills Dinosaur Pack
Skills at Play: C-grip strength, fine motor skills, creative expression, number & letter recognition.
Ages: 3+
Wooden Chocolate Factory Play Set
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Sweeten up playtime by ordering, assembling, displaying, and gifting deliciously fun pretend play candy treats! The Melissa & Doug Wooden Chocolate Factory Play Set lets kids create imaginative pretend play chocolate candies with durable plastic tops and bottoms and colorful wooden fillings that can be decorated with stickers. Flip switches to indicate flavors, move the slider across a conveyor area, press a lever to drop fillings into bases, and turn the dial to drop on the tops!
Fun feature: Completed play candies slide down a chute, where kids 3+ can decorate with a pretend icing squeeze tube. Display in a fancy gift box, and pay for purchases with play money!
Skills at Play: Encourages fine motor, number, and matching skills, as well as color recognition, communication, cooperative play, and narrative thinking.
Ages: 3+
Sort Stock Select Vending Machine Play Set
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Satisfy hungry imaginations with the push of a button! Open up the back of the unique wooden vending machine and stock it with nine double-sided play food packages, including snack bars, drinks, and pouches. On the front, select an item, insert a color-matching play coin or bank card, press the corresponding letter and number button, and the snack drops into the collection drawer! There’s a sign that can be personalized and a reusable activity card for keeping track of what to stock and what to display. Requires no assembly. All the pieces are stored in the vending machine for easy cleanup.
Fun feature: No batteries required!
Skills at Play: Fun way to teach cause-and-effect and encourage imaginative play, sorting, counting, letter recognition, and other developmental skills.
Ages: 3+
Disney Snacks & Popcorn Wooden Food Counter
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Get playtime popping with pretend play popcorn and treats inspired by Disney’s Mickey Mouse and friends! There’s a Mickey-shaped wooden pretzel that hangs on a display hook, Mickey and Minnie Mouse-shaped wooden ice cream treats and cupcake, a cookie, a pineapple ice pop, popcorn, and drinks. There’s a magnetic menu board for matching activities, an ID badge to personalize for role playing, and play money to pay. All the pieces in the 33-piece play set store in the counter for easy cleanup.
Fun feature: Put four durable jumbo popcorn pieces into the compartment and turn the knob back and forth for real popping action—a see-through window lets the customer see the popcorn jiggle and jump while the vendor pops!
Skills at Play: Counter is a fun way to encourage imaginative role playing, sorting, counting, and other developmental skills.
Ages: 3+
Ms. Rachel Wooden Learning Blocks
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Inspired by Ms. Rachel’s popular baby and toddler videos, the blocks and activity cards set is made with love to support learning for littles. Help stimulate cognitive development with 30 wooden letter, number, picture, and activity learning blocks. Encourage language skills, turn-taking, and social skills with included game blocks featuring animals, body parts, emotions, and movements. A sturdy box offers easy cleanup and convenient storage.
Fun feature: The set includes 14 double-sided activity cards for matching, counting, play ideas, and developmental skill information and tips.
Skills at Play: Block play is great for boosting fine motor skills and self-esteem, as little hands grasp, build, and play.
Ages: 18 months+
Ms. Rachel Song Puzzle
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Sing along with kids’ favorite educator, Ms. Rachel! The six-piece Melissa & Doug® Ms. Rachel™ Wooden Song Puzzle includes favorites from Ms. Rachel’s popular baby and toddler videos: Lift to hear "The Wheels on the Bus," "I Love a Rainbow," "Can You Say Mama," "Hop Little Bunnies," "I’m So Happy," and "Come Play Out In the Sun." Durable pegs help kids 2+ easily grasp and manipulate the six adorably illustrated puzzle pieces. Pictures under pieces help children make the correct match, giving them a confidence boost.
Fun feature: An on/off switch allows quiet play (2 AAA batteries required, not included; sounds are light activated; for best results, use puzzle in bright direct light).
Skills at Play: This wooden song puzzle is great for boosting problem-solving skills, memory, and spatial awareness.
Ages: 2+
Ocean Easy-Fold Play Gym
Why it's a hot toy for the holidays: The Melissa & Doug Ocean Easy-Fold Play Gym with Quick-Close™ storage is thoughtfully designed to encourage babies to play and learn through multiple stages and ages! Sturdy, wide wooden arches are pre-assembled for easy set-up, and offer caregivers easy access to the baby. The arches stay secure on the comfy, reversible play mat with sensory ribbons and a crinkling peek-a-boo clam shell. One side of the mat features high-contrast black-and-white graphics for early visual stimulation, and the other includes a full-color ocean scene to keep older babies engaged as vision develops. Attach the included soft, skill-supporting toys to the gym or play with them independently! Mat and toys are machine washable. The included Play Guide illustrates the many ways the play gym supports the powerful role play has in brain development, physical well-being, and creating connections.
Fun feature: Press the innovative Quick-Close™ button to unlock the frame and easily fold for storage or to take the play gym on the go!
Skills at Play: Encourages sensory stimulation, hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor skills, and cognitive development.
Ages: Infant & up
Top & Bake Pizza Counter
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Mama mia, it’s pizza time! Create fresh-baked pizza, made to order, with this deliciously unique 41-piece pizza making set. Pieces stick together with self-stick tabs and can be sliced with the rolling wooden cutter.
Fun feature: The set comes with a grated cheese shaker, a wooden paddle, pizza box, a reusable menu for placing orders, a guide to help with pizza prep, and play money to pay for your order!
Skills at Play: Great for developing counting, sorting, imaginative play, storytelling, and fine motor skills.
Ages: 3+
Super Smile Dentist Kit Play Set
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Smile, the dentist will see you now! This 25-piece dental care play set features an oversized set of pretend teeth so young dentists-in-training can give cleanings, treat cavities, and even fit retainers and braces! Spark a child’s creativity and imagination, and to inspire young dentists for years to come.
Fun feature: The set includes realistic instruments like a pick, mirror, and floss, a dental rinse bottle and cup, 2 gauze pads, 2 tooth polish cups, and an instrument tray to keep organized.
Skills at Play: A fun, engaging way to teach good dental health practices, and to ease kids’ fears or feelings of stress associated with a visit to the dentist; promotes fine motor skills, creative expression, and storytelling ability.
Ages: 3+
Food Groups
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: 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.
Fun feature: 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
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: 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. Sturdy, top-quality wooden construction means it will stand up to years of creative make-believe meal-making!
Fun feature: Includes oven, stove, microwave, sink, refrigerator with working ice dispenser, freezer, ample storage space for easy cleanup.
Skills at Play: Gross & fine motor skills, storytelling ability, cooperation, and creative expression.
Ages: 3+
Slice and Bake Cookie Set
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: 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!
Fun feature: 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+
Outer Space Glow-in-the-Dark Puzzle - 48 Pieces
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Piece together 48 sturdy jumbo cardboard jigsaw pieces for an experience that’s out of this world! Assemble the detailed and colorful space scene in a brightly lit room.
Fun feature: When the 3-foot by 2-foot puzzle is complete, turn out the lights and watch as hidden pictures and details appear in glow-in-the-dark ink! (NOTE: The puzzle must first be exposed to bright light to activate the glow-in-the-dark feature.)
Skills at Play: Great for storytelling and sparking imaginative play, motor skill development, and encourages problem-solving and critical thinking.
Ages: 3+
Barber Shop Play Set
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Cut, trim, shave, and style with pretend play shaving essentials for a trip to the barber! Kids can check their look in the hand mirror that flips to stand as they finish with textured pomade in a tub, comb, and brush. Includes a reusable double-sided activity card. Everything stores in a sturdy zippered shaving kit for easy cleanup.
Fun feature: The included trimmers vibrate when the tab is pulled—no batteries required!
Skills at Play: Encourages creative play, promotes fine motor development and language skills.
Ages: 3+
Bake & Decorate Wooden Cupcake Set
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: This special set has three dry-erase markers shaped like icing tubes to decorate the smooth, removable, wipe-off cupcake tops. With colorful baking cupcake sleeves and decorative wooden candles, these pretend cupcakes will be the hit of birthday and tea parties!
Fun feature: Perfect for learning! Through pretend play, children learn to understand the world around them, build vocabulary, and develop important social skills as they repeat the actions and rituals of the adults around them.
Skills at Play: This "sweet" introduction to pretend-kitchen play encourages hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, creative expression, and imaginative play.
Ages: 3+
Wooden Cool Scoops Ice Creamery
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Scoop up cool pretend play creations with this full-service ice cream shop! The sturdy wooden counter features an ice cream and soft serve dispenser. Use the scooper to lift wooden scoops and fill a soft, fabric, roll-up waffle cone. This 42-piece play food set offers kids 3+ countless opportunities to develop early learning skills and to create, imagine, and role play as both the customer and the server. All the pieces are stored on the counter for easy cleanup!
Fun feature: Add toppings like sprinkles and hot fudge for an extra special treat!
Skills at Play: Helps kids develop fine-motor, sorting, and counting skills and promotes imaginative play and storytelling.
Ages: 3+
Deluxe Grill & Pizza Oven Play Set
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: Fire up pretend play with this perfectly kid-sized wooden barbecue grill, smoker, and pizza oven play set! Budding young chefs 3+ will love creating make-believe barbecue favorites -- and even play pizza! After mealtime, the more than 60 accessories and play food pieces all store neatly on the grill and storage shelf for easy clean-up.
Fun feature: Grill includes built-in timer, dials to raise and lower “flames,” a smoker box with chimney for play wood chips, movable utensil rack, side burner, storage shelf, lid with safety-close hinge; removable thermometer can press into holes in wooden play food to test if they are “done.”
Skills at Play: Promotes hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, sorting and counting skills, storytelling ability, and imaginative play.
Ages: 3+
Take-Along Railroad
Why it’s a hot toy for the holidays: 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.
Fun feature: 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+
Ocean Tummy Time Triangle
Why it's a hot toy for the holidays: Make baby’s tummy time extra special with this engaging, double-sided folding cloth triangle toy! Three fold-out panels with adorable ocean-themed graphics and friendly characters lie flat or fold and connect into an upright pyramid. The Tummy Time Triangle helps babies stay engaged and strengthen muscles during tummy play.
Fun feature: One side features high-contrast black and white graphics, great for important visual stimulation during baby’s first months. The other side includes colorful sea creatures with developmentally appropriate features.
Skills at Play: Encourages gross motor development, visual and tactile stimulation, and interaction with caregivers.
Ages: Infant & up
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For more great holiday toy content from Melissa & Doug, follow the links:
Best Toys for Babies and 1-Year-Olds
Best Gifts for Kids By Interest
Shop Melissa & Doug Toys by Age
Shop All Melissa & Doug Pretend Play Toys
Shop All Melissa & Doug Learning Toys
Shop All Melissa & Doug Puzzles
Shop All Melissa & Doug Arts & Crafts Toys
Shop Melissa & Doug Outdoor Toys & More
Explore Melissa & Doug Living Playfully Blog
Learn More About Melissa & Doug Skills at Play
