Favorite Pretend Play Top and Bake Pizza Toy

Are you looking for a high quality toy that will encourage pretend play and imaginative learning?

Pizza is a weekly favorite around here. When I make pizza at home, our boys help with the real deal, then retreat to the playroom to make their own “pizza”. Our oldest son has been playing with this Melissa and Doug top and bake pizza counter for over two years, almost daily! Although its on the pricier side of toys for us, it has been worth its weight in gold.

You might be transitioning your toy collection to wooden, open-ended toys that spark pretend play. You might be looking for a gift that is suitable for children 3-6 years old. The opportunities for following multiple steps, counting money, sorting, and cutting are endless. As a mindful parenting educator and parent, this toy provides children with a sense of autonomy and children are able to feel as if they are in “charge” by taking pizza orders. We live in a world where adults so often tell children what to do. As children feel power over their lives, especially during play, their confidence and sense of self will soar. The power of play is priceless.

Here are some ideas on how your child can use the Melissa and Doug top and bake pizza counter during pretend play:

• Design a pretend pizza restaurant using blocks, chairs, pillows, etc.
• Take pizza orders using the pizza order menu provided for you.
• Teach someone how to make pizza. Make your child feel like an expert!
• Discuss topping that your child likes and doesn’t like. Talk about trying new topping next time you make or order pizza.
• Have your child sequence the steps in making pizza.
• Pretend play that you are hosting a pizza party for a birthday!

Happy learning and playing from our home to yours.