Melissa & Doug Toy Review | hellobabydirect.com

If you are already planning ahead for Christmas (yes, I went there) then you’re not alone. I like to get as much of mine done as I can in October, so that I can chill as much as I can in the lead up to the festive season. With a December birthday in our house too, November is more planning for that, so October is the time I crack on with it all.

I am definitely someone who shops online for all things festive. It is just so much easier than having to head to town, especially when I don’t really know what I’m looking for. Sites like Hello Baby are great for shopping for younger ones in the family, as there is a range of things from baby essentials to pre-school (and school age appropriate) gifts. They’ve got a range of brands to choose from too, which is always a good thing.

I have heard of the brand Melissa and Doug before, and have always been impressed with the quality of the items. And being items that are wooden, rather than plastic, it really makes a difference; toys that are built to last. So when Chloe was offered the chance to try out the Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Counter, I was pleased to see what it is all about.

First Impressions

For starters, I was very impressed with how well made the ice cream counter is. There are sturdy handles to carry the counter (as it is light enough to be moved from floor to table), as well as how well made the ice cream parts are too. They are wooden, with one or two bits of plastic, but they’re sturdy and you can tell they will last a while and will survive being dropped and so on, as toys often are. The colours on the counter are really striking too, and it just looks like a perfect little ice cream counter.

I really liked how the ice cream scoop really works, with a click button, and there are choices or bowl or cone, as well as different toppings, so the imagination can really run with it. It comes with some play money too, which is great, as well as a menu that you could put prices on, or use to take orders with. It is a wipe-clean material, so would work well with a felt-tip pen. For me, this just makes it much more than just a regular toy.

Value for Money

Because of how well made the Melissa and Doug items are, and being made predominately from wood, they aren’t something that you would class as cheap. As you can see here, https://www.hellobabydirect.com/melissa-doug-ice-cream-counter, the ice cream counter is priced at £47.99. So if you’re on a strict budget, then it might not be the toy for you. If it is in your range, I do think that you get excellent value for money, as you can tell that it is well made and much more durable than an alternative plastic version. So for me, I do think that you get good value for money, because you are getting a good solid product, and not a cheap throwaway toy.

Play Benefits

As someone who has a childcare business as well as all things blogging, I am always much more aware of what toys or games can offer children. Of course, they need to be fun. But what can the children learn or develop when playing with them?

The ice cream counter definitely helps imaginative play, as they can create different scenarios where they serve customers and work in the shop, which is great. It also helps them to create in an expressive way, and for them to learn different skills like please and thank you, as well as hand-eye co-ordination, using the scoop and so on.

I am really impressed with the ice cream counter set, found at www.HelloBabyDirect.com. The site is easy to navigate and order from, and the range of toys is great. I’d recommend the ice cream set for a gift this Christmas, especially if you have a preschooler or someone just started school – it is the perfect age for it! (though having said that my seven year old has loved playing with it too).