10 toys to help your child learn through unstructured play, from Melissa & Doug
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Louisa Sherlock
Associate Editor10 toys to help your child learn through unstructured play, from Melissa & Doug
That’s because this ‘free play’ – where there are no rules, set goals (or screens!) – is a brilliant way to help your toddler or preschooler develop everything from their fine motor skills to learning numbers and colours.
Why not encourage this is by introducing your child to the Melissa & Doug range of toys. They are designed to ignite your child's imagination and help them grow in confidence, as well as increasing their awareness of the world around them.
(And don't just take our word for it. The toys were a big hit with the mums and dads – and their kids! – who made up our panel of Netmums testers.)
Quality toys have never been more important. Research by Melissa & Doug found parents spent 50 percent more time playing with their kids during lockdown than they had before. A third of parents who took part in the survey said this had improved their bond with their kids.
Child psychologist Dr Sam Wass, an expert on TV shows including The Secret Life of Four-Year-Olds, says this imaginative play is super important when it comes to helping your little one learn:
‘The benefit of unstructured time has been hugely beneficial for parents and children alike from strengthening bonds through to more play, story time and arts, crafts, and puzzles.’
He adds, ‘One of the things that there was a lot of time for during lockdown was repetition. And this is good, because repetition is really important for children.
‘If you look at the wiring diagram of a young child’s brain, it’s a real mess! Through play, and over time, their brains gradually learn which brain region talks to which.
‘And repetition is important for this – it helps the different parts of the brain learn to talk to each other.’
The survey also found a third of parents said they would carry on this playtime after lockdown. With this in mind, here’s our round-up of 10 Melissa & Doug toys that can help your child learn as they play … without a screen in sight!
We'll be trying out more Melissa & Doug toys shortly so keep your eyes peeled if you fancy being a Netmums tester!
1. Food Groups
As a parent, you spend a LOT of time making food for the family. So it’s no surprise your little one wants to copy you.
Why not encourage their pretend play with this wooden Food Groups play set. Not only will it boost their imagination as they make you lunch or afternoon tea, it’s also a brilliant way for them to learn.
Dr Wass says,
‘Early pretend play is often practical – so a child might use Melissa & Doug’s Food Groups to mimic their parents in preparing food, and feed it to others.
‘Even ‘down-to-earth’ imaginative play is important to help develop self-awareness, and the idea that one thing can stand for something else is important for abstract thought.’
The set includes everything from pretend watermelon to cheese, and four handy crates to store the food in.
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £14.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'The pretend food has already been used in our house as baby food and stock for a shop. My daughter absolutely loves it and it has fired her imagination. '
2. Fire Chief Role Play Set
Letting your child’s imagination run wild helps them learn about the world around them. And what better way to do this than through dressing up.
Dr Wass explains,
‘It takes longer for young people to learn that other people have thoughts and feelings too.
‘One thing that can help is to dress up as someone else – to literally step into their shoes! So dressing up in a costume like Melissa & Doug’s Fire Chief Role Play Set helps them explore what it feels like to be another person.’
The dressing up kit includes a machine-washable firefighter’s jacket, a helmet, fire extinguisher and a megaphone complete with sound effects.
Age: 3-6 years
RRP: £24.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'The fireperson outfit is of great quality and it is easy to put on and off along with the water bottle and megaphone. I would say this was a favourite in our house.'
3. Wood Blocks
One of your child’s favourite games is probably building an enormous tower ... and then knocking it down.
Melissa & Doug’s Wood Blocks are perfect for this demolition derby. Each set has 100 wooden blocks in four colours and nine shapes.
And that means your little one can build (and destroy!) whatever they fancy. The blocks also help your child practice their fine motor skills and recognise different shapes.
A top tip from Dr Wass is to clear away toys your child isn’t using so they can focus on one play task at a time.
‘Children’s brains find it harder to focus on just one thing and they’re easily distracted', he says.
'By reducing the number of different objects in a child’s field of view, it can help to encourage a child to focus and finish what they’ve started.’
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £14.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'I love the quality of these products and we are already looking at other products in the range to purchase.'
4. Wooden Kitchen Accessory Set
Research from Melissa & Doug found baking was one of the activities parents did with their kids during lockdown.
Why not use this as inspiration for some open-ended play with your little one. The Wooden Kitchen Accessory Set has eight cooking essentials including a frying pan, saucepan and an oven mitt.
To really make the most of this pretend cooking session, Dr Wass says:
‘Children are very sensitive to when you’re paying attention or where you are looking. Think about how you can use your eye gaze and your body position – particularly if you’re lying or sitting on the floor with them – to keep them focused without telling them what to do.
‘Using words to describe excitedly what you’re doing also helps maintain concentration and ensures a child stays focused without you feeling that you’re having to work hard at it!’
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £22.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'My overall impression of these toys is that they are excellent! I was really impressed with them all. Great quality, educational, and fun.'
5. Doctor's Kit Play Set
Another fun dressing up outfit is this Doctor’s Kit Play Set.
Your little one will love pretending to check your temperature or blood pressure. And they’ll also be learning as they play, says Dr Wass.
‘Nurturing role play is particularly important for some children’, he explains.
‘Toys such as Melissa & Doug’s Doctor’s Kit Play Set are ideal as they give children the opportunity to nurture, and look after, one of their toys. And they can use it with their friends too – taking turns to play the role of the caregiver.’
The set includes loads of accessories including bandages, an ID card and even a magazine for their very own doctor’s waiting room.
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £24.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'The toys will help with cognitive and fine motor skills as well as allowing them to use their imagination.'
6. Latches Board
Your child’s fine motor skills help them with everything from colouring in to picking up their favourite snack. And there are loads of fun ways to help them develop this skill, including using a fun Latches Board.
Dr Wass says,
‘Fine motor skills, which involve small-scale hand-eye coordination, are important in everyday life – for eating, getting dressed and learning to write.
‘Melissa & Doug’s Wooden Latches Board has six tricky latches that children have to problem-solve to open, with rewarding pictures when they succeed.’
Behind each door your child will find different animals and colours, helping them learn even more!
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £19.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'Really good quality, very good for for motor skills and lots to develop skills in children such as numbers, colours and animals. My 16-month-old also loved this and found it a challenge to open locks and find the animals.'
7. Primary Lacing Beads
Looking for a toy that helps your child learn lots of different skills at the same time? You’re in luck ...
Dr Wass says,
‘The best toys look as if they’re developing one skill, but they actually develop a range of different skills.
‘Melissa & Doug’s Primary Lacing Beads look like a fine motor task, they’re tricky which requires emotion regulation and children may need assistance which requires language skills.’
The set has 30 wooden beads in different colours and shapes. Your child can be as creative as they like, threading the beads onto the laces in lots of different combinations.
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £8.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'Made of quality materials, durable, no excessive packaging. The toys inspire active play, are very sturdy and excellently made. They also challenge, but don't frustrate.'
8. Wooden Brew & Serve Coffee Set
Parenting involves sleep deprivation … and a lot of coffee. So you’ll love this pretend play set almost as much as your little one!
Your child can serve up a pretend mocha or hazelnut coffee for you, and even make an iced version if it’s a hot day.
To help boost their learning, Dr Wass suggests really concentrating on your child as they play at being a barista.
‘To play really well with a child, you have to constantly watch them, see what they’re interested in, and always be ready to stop in to elaborate and develop their interests’, he explains.
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £19.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'The toys can all be played with in so many different situations and places and help my child develop through playing, which is fun.'
9. Deluxe Pounding Bench
Unstructured play isn’t just for preschoolers or school-aged children. Your toddler will love it too, and will be learning as they’re doing it.
One fun game to play is ‘peekaboo’ which your little one can play on this Deluxe Pounding Bench. The set includes a mallet which they can use to hit the pegs as they go up and down.
It’s a game they’ll love playing again and again, which is brilliant for their development says Dr Wass:
‘The best play isn’t about learning things fast and moving on. Slowness, and repetition, are vital for young children’s learning.’
The game helps your child practice their fine motor skills and also learn the different colours of the pegs.
Age: 2+ years
RRP: £14.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'I was really impressed with the quality of Melissa & Doug toys. They tick every box: sturdy, top quality, creative, colourful, imaginative.'
10. Feed & Groom Horse Care Playset
Is your child desperate for a pet? If you’re not convinced, why not start them off with this pretend horse instead.
Boost their learning by letting your little one take the lead as they pretend to care for their horse.
‘Most of the time as parents, we’re focused on trying to get our kids to do things – to brush their teeth, not throw their food on the floor, get dressed, do their schoolwork’, says Dr Wass.
‘Playing with your kids is very different though. There isn’t a right or wrong, and your child is probably better at coming up with interesting new ideas than you are!’
The play set has everything your child needs for going for a ‘ride’ or grooming their horse, including self-stick horseshoes, a saddle, bridle and pretend hay.
Age: 3+ years
RRP: £22.99
See more details here at Amazon.
Our Netmums testers say ...
'The conversations that have happened with my three-year-old from all of these toys have been wonderful and things that we probably would never have thought about talking about without these props.'
