Toy Review - Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center by Melissa and Doug

This toy review is also a bit of a construction review for the Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center by Melissa and Doug.  You see, toys don't just make themselves.  Every once in a while, I get the Elf like task of building toys at Town Square Toys.  Don't get me wrong, I love it; especially since I don't have Ming Ming asking me how many Etch A Sketches I made.  So, since I have this inside scoop, I thought I would share it with you.

Building the Grocery Store and Lemonade Stand Play Center is fairly easy and not terribly time consuming.  I was able to complete construction in under an hour, easily.  I didn't try to rush.  The bolts that you need are all included in a sealed plastic container and clearly labeled.  The only tool you really need is a small hex wrench that is also included.  Instructions are clear and easy to follow.  Melissa and Doug includes extra nuts and bolts just in case you lose some. 

The Play Center is held together with the type of hidden nuts that fit into pre drilled holes.  The bolts connect themselves through other predrilled holes.  I found that the holes and nuts and bolts all lined up very well.  I have built a fair amount of Melissa and Doug toys and find that they do a great job of having parts pre drilled accurately.  The only part of construction that really slowed me down was sinking the nuts in the holes that are pre drilled into the dowels, which serve as the bucket holders and the primary support of the Play Center.  The nuts have to be pushed deep into the holes and it takes a little bit of extra effort.  Once sunk in to the correct depth, they hold just fine.

The Play Center itself is very nice and sturdy once it is all put together.  The surfaces are nice and smooth and the joints are tight.  I would recommend waiting until the whole thing is put together before snugging all the bolts down.  The awning is reversable by the way; the picture shows the Grocery Store side, but the Lemonade Stand sign is on the other side.  The bins are bright and fit well in the Play Center.  You can fit all kinds of stuff in those bins.  One slick idea, I think, is the addition of small, chalkboard signs that fit on little hooks that are built into each bin.  You can change and rearrange them however you want.  Kids can totally customize their stand.

Overall the stand is a great addition to the line of Melissa and Doug pretend play toys.  I enjoyed putting it together.  You may too.  If you have no desire whatsoever to build one of these, but think your little one would thoroughly enjoy having one, come by Town Square Toys and get this one, or let me know and I will build you one.  See you soon!



Toy Review - The Magician's Apprentice Card Tricks Unshuffled by Melissa and Doug

The following is a special review by toy tester, Micah, age 13:

The Magician's Apprentice Card Tricks Unshuffled by Melissa and Doug is filled with very cool magic tricks all containing cards. It comes with four different card decks, an x-ray deck, secret code deck, duplicate deck, and a stripper deck. I can’t tell you too much about them because your friends might be watching. This product also includes trick cards and a very detailed book of tricks. With a little practice and patience you’ll be tricking people in no time. So have fun and go fool someone.





Clay Play Tools Playset Toy by Melissa and Doug

The kid in me loves this toy. So does the artist in me. Melissa and Doug did a fabulous job in designing this toy: there is such a wealth of textures and possible activities that this toy provides. You have a rolling pin, two more textured rolling pins, five textured blocks, a cutter, and four tubs of colored dough. Even the lids of the dough cups have an animal shape that can be imprinted. The set is designed with bright primary colors. And, with a little help and inspiration, your little one can be shown how to make the secondary colors as well so you can have a rainbow of colorful creations. The box is sturdy and wooden, great for carrying everything around. I wish I had had one of these when I was a kid. *sigh*

Toymaker Spotlight: Mellisa and Doug

One of our favorite Toymakers is Melissa and Doug. We carry a ton of their toys. Actually I think we carry several tons! They have some of the coolest wooden toys and puzzles; the toys you remember as a kid, those all-time, classic toys. They really believe in the toys that they make and produce, and they are a great group of people to work with.

-Brian

Here is a little bit more about Melissa and Doug from their website:

Twenty years ago, we started our company in the garage of the home where Doug grew up — we had to be careful not to disturb Doug's parents who were still living there! Thanks to your support, we've been able to move into a real office down the road, a building that actually has separate ladies and men's bathrooms! Our philosophy has remained the same over the years–to make each and every customer a happy and permanent member of the Melissa & Doug family, while offering products with tremendous value, quality and design. We've always welcomed customer suggestions, and we continually strive to make improvements to our products. We're honored by the faith you place in us and view it as our responsibility to continue to earn your trust in the years to come!

Crayons of the Future...Now!

So Steph brought home some of the Melissa and Doug crayons that we sell over at Town Square Toys. At first I was a bit skeptical. I, myself, was raised on Crayola crayons and have always been a big fan of the wonderful smell, texture and sight of the classic crayon of years gone by. I think anyone in my age bracket will recall the wonder and majesty of that old box of 96 crayons with the built in sharpener. You think I am joking? Here is a fellow crayon lover: http://dailyapple.blogspot.com/2008/02/apple-300-crayons.html

But I digress. The Melissa and Doug crayon set that we had on our hands was the 24 piece crayon set. We also have a 12 piece set and a big ol' 10 piece set to boot. But back to the 24 piece set. The first thing I noticed was the cool case to keep them in. Gone is the cardboard box of yore. There is instead a snappy, red plastic case with a clear front so you can easily see the crayons you have. The next thing I noticed, once I popped the top as it were, was that the crayons were triangular. Nice trick on the part of Melissa and Doug - no more crayons rolling off the table. I have three kids; I have spent months of my life picking up crayons off the floor or crawling under a table or chair to get one. Plus, Steph says it is better and easier for the kids to grip them. The third thing I noticed was the lack of paper. At first I thought this might have been a bad idea, but Steph brought up the fact, and it is certainly true in our family, that the kids love to peel the labels of the old Crayola crayons, first chance they get; now that problem is solved as well.
Overall, I think Melissa and Doug did a fab job on coming up with these groovy new crayons. The color variety in the 24 pack is great; a lot of interesting choices in there. I did have to give the old smell test a whilst they are not exactly the same as the classic I grew up with, they definitely could be the classic for my kids and yours. Try them out today!