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Pretend Play Favorites

From feeding a baby to cooking dinner, playing doctor, or dressing up, pretend play gives children a chance to explore the world around them, eventually creating a world of their own.

Early Pretend Play:
12-24 months

Simple imitation of familiar routines.  Feeding a baby, talking on a phone, pushing a stroller, stirring with a spoon.

HABA SNUG-UP
SOFT DOLL

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A soft, simple first doll that supports early pretend play and gives toddlers something to hold, carry, and care for.

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MELISSA & DOUG MINE TO LOVE FEEDING SET

Everything little ones need to feed and care for a favorite doll, encouraging nurturing and early pretend play.

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FISHER PRICE LAUGH AND LEARN PURSE

A playful first purse for filling and emptying, exploring everyday objects, and encouraging early pretend play.

MY FIRST DOLL STROLLER
 

 ParentFavorite

Perfect for toddlers who love to push, carry, and take their “baby” along as they move through their day.

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BRIO PARKING GARAGE

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Drive, park, and send the cars on their way, encouraging simple vehicle play that grows into more imaginative play.

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ELLINJAN FARM ANIMALS

Chunky farm animals made for little hands to hold, encouraging animal sounds, simple imitation, and early imaginative play.

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GREEN TOYS TEA SET
 

Pour, serve, sip, and share while practicing familiar routines and beginning to play together with others.

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MELISSA & DOUG WOODEN FOOD GROUP SET
 

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Familiar play foods for feeding dolls, serving meals, and beginning to imitate everyday routines.

Pretend Play Grows:
2-3 years old

Longer play sequences and more purposeful imitation: cooking and serving, fixing and building, caring for dolls, and acting out everyday routines.
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MELISSA & DOUG WOODEN
CLEANING TOY

 Kid Favorite

A child-sized cleaning set for imitating grown-ups, building independence, and encouraging early pretend play.

BASKET OF BABIES
 

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A natural next step into pretend play, as toddlers start caring for, carrying, and interacting with dolls in simple ways.

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MELISSA & DOUG TAKE ALONG TOOL KIT

Hammer, screw, build, and “fix” things while practicing fine motor skills and imitating the grown-ups around them.

TINY LAND WOODEN
TRAIN SET
 

 Kid Favorite

Build the track, move the trains, and create a little world around them as simple train play grows into imaginative stories.

TINY LAND PLAY KITCHEN
 

 ParentFavorite

This becomes a go-to for everyday play, as kids start acting out what they see, cooking, serving, and creating their own stories.

Role Play & Storytelling:
3-4 years old

Pretend play becomes more story-driven. Kids take on roles, invent simple scenarios, and begin creating their own characters and storylines.
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HAPE ALL SEASONS DOLLHOUSE
 

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Create a whole little world of family routines, relationships, and stories as kids arrange the rooms and act out everyday life.

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WOODEN TOOL BENCH
 

A sturdy wooden workbench for hammering, turning, building, and “fixing,” encouraging hands-on problem-solving and pretend play.

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WOODEN COFFEE MAKER
 

Set up a café, serve drinks, and turn a familiar grown-up routine into imaginative role play.

JANOD DOCTOR'S SUITCASE
PLAY SET
 

A natural extension of pretend play, as kids start acting out familiar routines like going to the doctor and taking care of others.

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MELISSA AND DOUG SCHOOL TIME CLASSROOM PLAY SET
 

Create a classroom, take turns being teacher and student, and act out familiar school-day routines through imaginative role play.

BORN TOYS DRESS UP & PRETEND PLAY KIDS COSTUMES
 

 Kid Favorite

Once kids start dressing up, the play expands quickly. This gives them a simple way to step into different roles and create their own stories.

Complex Pretend & Small-World Play:
4-6 years old

Imaginary play becomes longer and more elaborate, with multiple roles, detailed storylines, rules, and whole worlds kids build and manage themselves.
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CALICO CRITTERS RED ROOF HOME
 

Create a whole little world of family routines, relationships, and stories as kids arrange the rooms and act out everyday life.

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MELISSA & DOUG FRESH MART GROCERY STORE COMPANION
 

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Turn everyday shopping into pretend play as kids choose groceries, check out, pay, and take turns being the shopper or cashier.

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MELISSA AND DOUG STAR DINER  PLAY SET
 

 Kid Favorite

Serve up coffee, eggs and pancakes, take orders, and play restaurant as kids switch between cook, server, and customer.

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PLAYMOBIL RECYCLING TRUCK
 

Small-world play with vehicles, workers, and everyday city routines kids can build stories around.

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West Village, NY​

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