Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Pretend Play
CountryRoads 07:12 AM 06-18-2019
Does anyone have the Melissa and Doug grocery store set?
I need to update and get some new toys, but it is almost $200, so just want to make sure it's worth it and can withstand some abuse.
Or, if you have any other suggestions for pretend play, I would love to hear them!
I'm probably not going to, but just curious if anyone else charges a "supply fee" or asks for donations for toys, etc.? This gets expensive! I don't think parents realize that we have to pay for everything out of pocket.
I need to update and get some new toys, but it is almost $200, so just want to make sure it's worth it and can withstand some abuse.
Or, if you have any other suggestions for pretend play, I would love to hear them!
I'm probably not going to, but just curious if anyone else charges a "supply fee" or asks for donations for toys, etc.? This gets expensive! I don't think parents realize that we have to pay for everything out of pocket.
Cat Herder 10:22 AM 06-18-2019
I went to shake and tip it over in the store because I loved the idea of it online. It was super cute to look at, but my guys would have it destroyed by the weekend. 
Even the store had it roped off so kids could not destroy it.
Even the store had it roped off so kids could not destroy it.
Rockgirl 11:23 AM 06-18-2019
We’ve set up our own grocery store before, and the kids absolutely LOVED it. I saved empty food boxes for a few weeks, and we lined them up on shelves. I don’t have a grocery cart, but they were happy with hand-held baskets. The cashier wore an apron and used an old computer keyboard. I let them use my reusable grocery bags. They played and played. I need to do it again!
Ariana 01:51 PM 06-18-2019
I have a ton of wooden Melissa and Doug food and toys and to be honest it is a waste of money! I ended up replacing a lot of it with plastic food and they play more with the realistic plastic stuff. The paint ends up chipping off and it looks terrible.
I have my eye on super realistic play food on Amazon. It is made of a rubber material and looks like the real thing. You have to buy the pieces individually though. My guys love the kitchen area so I made it 1/3 of my space.
I have my eye on super realistic play food on Amazon. It is made of a rubber material and looks like the real thing. You have to buy the pieces individually though. My guys love the kitchen area so I made it 1/3 of my space.
Josiegirl 02:26 AM 06-19-2019
Originally Posted by Rockgirl:
We’ve set up our own grocery store before, and the kids absolutely LOVED it. I saved empty food boxes for a few weeks, and we lined them up on shelves. I don’t have a grocery cart, but they were happy with hand-held baskets. The cashier wore an apron and used an old computer keyboard. I let them use my reusable grocery bags. They played and played. I need to do it again!
We've done that too and the kiddos had so much fun!We’ve set up our own grocery store before, and the kids absolutely LOVED it. I saved empty food boxes for a few weeks, and we lined them up on shelves. I don’t have a grocery cart, but they were happy with hand-held baskets. The cashier wore an apron and used an old computer keyboard. I let them use my reusable grocery bags. They played and played. I need to do it again!
I'm disappointed with M&D stuff. It's exactly as another poster said, the paint chips away, looks awful. It always looks sooo nice in the stores.
Pestle 06:34 AM 06-19-2019
Melissa and Doug is the very lowest-end of all wooden toys. They're sort of okay for home use with only one or two kids who are gentle with toys. Crummy with regular use. If you have the money to spend, HABA and Hape and Plan Toys are so much better.
Cat Herder 07:52 AM 06-19-2019
I really like ECR4kids, Young Time, Childcraft, Kidkraft, Step2, Constructive Playthings, and Jonti-Craft.
Flash Furniture and Amazon Basics classroom furniture are really coming along nicely with affordable and durable options, though.
Flash Furniture and Amazon Basics classroom furniture are really coming along nicely with affordable and durable options, though.
Josiegirl 08:30 AM 06-19-2019
Say what you want about plastic(and I love good wooden toys as much as the next person LOL) but I still like Fisher-Price and LT. Some of that stuff you just cannot destroy and it lasts forever.
Not to mention I just sold a LT doll bed/cradle for 20 bucks, inlcuded with it was about 8 dolls, clothes and blankets. Have had it many years. I looked on ebay for a lot of the stuff I was getting rid of, just for kicks. That same doll bed was going for up to 150!! Vintage is what they call it now. Lol
Not to mention I just sold a LT doll bed/cradle for 20 bucks, inlcuded with it was about 8 dolls, clothes and blankets. Have had it many years. I looked on ebay for a lot of the stuff I was getting rid of, just for kicks. That same doll bed was going for up to 150!! Vintage is what they call it now. Lol
Cat Herder 10:49 AM 06-19-2019
Originally Posted by Josiegirl:
Say what you want about plastic(and I love good wooden toys as much as the next person LOL) but I still like Fisher-Price and LT. Some of that stuff you just cannot destroy and it lasts forever.
Not to mention I just sold a LT doll bed/cradle for 20 bucks, inlcuded with it was about 8 dolls, clothes and blankets. Have had it many years. I looked on ebay for a lot of the stuff I was getting rid of, just for kicks. That same doll bed was going for up to 150!! Vintage is what they call it now. Lol
Definitely. I will straight up wrestle someone at a yard sale for 70's and 80's Little Tikes. Indestructible. A little bleach and elbow grease will do ya to make it look new.Say what you want about plastic(and I love good wooden toys as much as the next person LOL) but I still like Fisher-Price and LT. Some of that stuff you just cannot destroy and it lasts forever.
Not to mention I just sold a LT doll bed/cradle for 20 bucks, inlcuded with it was about 8 dolls, clothes and blankets. Have had it many years. I looked on ebay for a lot of the stuff I was getting rid of, just for kicks. That same doll bed was going for up to 150!! Vintage is what they call it now. Lol
LK5kids 12:35 PM 06-20-2019
I have the grocery store set up as an ice cream parlor right now. I got it for $99 after Christmas. I’ll get my $99 out of it.
I read posts on FB day care pages that parts have easily broken off of it.
I love my M$D puzzles, the cute 10 level parking ramp with the small wooden cars that stack. My kids adore the house with the keys and doorbells. I got this for $5 & it’s $29 new. Almost all my M&D is used and holding up well.
I don’t t have the wooden food. I do have a double set of the wooden village and the kids love that too.
I read posts on FB day care pages that parts have easily broken off of it.
I love my M$D puzzles, the cute 10 level parking ramp with the small wooden cars that stack. My kids adore the house with the keys and doorbells. I got this for $5 & it’s $29 new. Almost all my M&D is used and holding up well.
I don’t t have the wooden food. I do have a double set of the wooden village and the kids love that too.
Mom2Two 01:05 PM 06-20-2019
My toy kitchen is set up on a wooden cedar chest. I have a solid wooden cooktop toy and then two wicker baskets full of toy food and toy kitchen stuff.
The kids haul it around and play on other surfaces or they play right there. It works well and it's all very solid. And you can acquire the toy food as you are able.
My toy food is a mostly wooden mix of HABA, Melissa & Doug, and others. I've been collecting it a long time. I also have stainless toy pots, wooden chopping board and wooden knives and the velcro toy food that "slices."
The kids haul it around and play on other surfaces or they play right there. It works well and it's all very solid. And you can acquire the toy food as you are able.
My toy food is a mostly wooden mix of HABA, Melissa & Doug, and others. I've been collecting it a long time. I also have stainless toy pots, wooden chopping board and wooden knives and the velcro toy food that "slices."
Mom2Two 01:16 PM 06-20-2019
Oh, and there's a mirror behind the cedar chest.
Attached:
IMG_20190620_140749.jpg (575.6 KB)