Join Melissa & Doug on Pinterest
We are having a great time exploring all the fascinating and often beautiful visual content pinned on the boards of Pinterest! Are you on Pinterest too? Please check out our pins and boards – visit Melissa & Doug on Pinterest today!
Melissa & Doug on Pinterest
Some of our boards include:
- Parenting Articles You’ll Love (including 3 from Melissa!)
- Melissa & Doug Videos
- Sensory Bins
- Crafts for Kids
If you aren’t on Pinterest yet, we encourage you to sign up! It’s free, fun and easy but you do need an invite. Go here for an invite.
JOIN US! Melissa & Doug on Pinterest
Meet Our Very First Blog Ambassadors!
We are thrilled to announce our first ever Melissa & Doug Blog Ambassadors! We would like to congratulate these exceptional bloggers and welcome them to the Melissa & Doug family! We could not be more proud or excited to introduce to you, two incredible bloggers, Amy Mascott and Valerie Deneen! Please meet them…
MEET AMY:
Amy Mascott is a Reading Specialist, 
freelance writer, former high school English teacher, and mom to an 8, 6, and 4-year-old, Amy’s work has been featured on dozens of online and print publications. She is a contributor for Scholastic’s Parents Online, PBS Parents, and Mom’s Homeroom, and more. Amy is currently a parenting editor and contributor for The DC Moms. Amy has worked as a literacy consultant for DC-area charter schools, and she has shared many tools with educators and parents in both local and national speaking engagements. She has just completed work with MSDE creating English 12 online curriculum, and she’s currently working on her first book. On Twitter, she’s @teachmama, tweeting about education, literacy, play, books, dog-walking, and everything in between.
ABOUT AMY’s BLOG:
Amy is the creator of teachmama.com, where her focus is to share the tools and resources parents need to be the best teachers for their children. She’s not a full-fledged homeschooling mom; rather, she capitalizes on learning opportunities in the every day and uses games and play to get her own children prepared for school and excited about the world around them. Amy is paving the way for a more modern ‘lifestyle of learning’, empowering all parents to take a stronger role in supporting their children’s education. In February 2010, Amy created ‘we teach’ as a forum for parents and teachers to connect, share ideas, and grow into better educators—no matter the classroom. ‘we teach’ has grown quickly into one of the most successful and highly-trafficked educational forums on the web, recently partnering with the incredible educational toy company, Melissa & Doug.
MEET VALERIE:
Valerie Deneen is the author of Frugal Family Fun Blog, where she hopes to inspire parents to spend more quality time with their children and less money doing it. She lives with her husband Mark, and two daughters (ages 7 and 3). Valerie’s blog features over 1,000 inexpensive kid-friendly art projects, crafts, and activities – perfect for at-home or in the classroom. She is a frequent guest on various television talk shows to demo easy and frugal crafts to do with the kids. For more information, or to contact Valerie, visit her blog at www.FrugalFamilyFunBlog.com, or say hi to her on Twitter @FamFunBlog
ABOUT VALERIE’s BLOG:
Frugal Family Fun Blog is frequently updated with kid-friendly crafts and activities that won’t break the bank — many of which are made using items most households already have on-hand. The blog’s mission is to encourage readers to discover the joy that comes from simple pleasures, and to provide budget-friendly ways to foster creative play in kids. Over one million people from around the world have visited Frugal Family Fun Blog, and several projects have been featured on television, in magazines, or other websites!
————————————————————————-
At Melissa & Doug we strive to produce the highest quality educational toys for children. From puzzles to puppets, plush to play food, magnetic activities, music and more, Melissa & Doug is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of educational toys and children’s products. Started in 1988 in their garage, Melissa & Doug has something for everyone, with over 1000 unique and exciting products for children of all ages.
If you are interested in becoming a Melissa & Doug Blog Ambassador please write us at Bloggers@MelissaAndDoug.com
Save 20% on Food Play: Get Your Kids Excited About Food & Nutrition
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
TEXT VERSION: $19.99 ($15.99 when you use *promo code NFOOD20 at checkout) Planning a well-balanced meal is child’s play with this wooden set. Items from the five food groups–including watermelon, milk, cheese, fish, eggs, and much more–are crafted of solid wood and come with four wooden baskets for sorting and storage. Extension Activities: More Ways to Play and Learn:
$19.99 ($15.99 when you use *promo code NFOOD20 at checkout) Wooden set features a wooden knife and seven pieces of sliceable fruit that can be cut into a total of seventeen pieces. Food makes a fun “CRUNCH” sound when sliced. With so many pieces, it’s also a great way to introduce the concepts of part, whole and fractions! Extension Activities: More Ways to Play and Learn:
$19.99 ($15.99 when you use *promo code NFOOD20 at checkout) Your chef can use the wooden knife to cut up lots of meat, red pepper and bok choi and then add it to the shrimp, mushrooms, and snow peas, stir-frying in the non-stick wooden wok. Loop and hook chopsticks are handy for stirring and serving! Extension Activities: More Ways to Play and Learn:
|
| Choose Your Offer:Save 20% on all food play with *promo code NFOOD20OR Save 15% on your entire purchase with *promo code NSAVE15OR Get Free Shipping Over $50 with *promo code FREESHIPFIFTY3 *Only one promo code accepted per order. Click for shipping details and offer limitations. Expires midnight EST 1/31/12. Valid only at www.MelissaAndDoug.com
|
Everyone Wins When We Reach 100,000 Facebook Fans
Help Us Reach 100,000 Facebook Fans! At 100,000 Facebook Fans Every Facebook Fan Will Receive a Special Offer from MelissaAndDoug.com to Start the New Year Off Right!
At 100,000 Fans Our Celebration Will Include:
1 Winner of the Deluxe Play Kitchen
2 Winners of the Multi-Activity Train Table
3 Winners of the Deluxe Art Easel
5 Winners of the Giraffe Giant Stuffed Animal
Just LIKE Melissa & Doug on facebook today and share the excitement with a friend!
——————————————————————
Over 1,000 Unique and Exciting Educational Toys for Children of All Ages!
Our Giant Giraffe Stuffed Animal Wows Hollywood at Awards Show
Robert Downey Jr. attended the 2011 Britannia Awards in Los Angeles this week. He brought a friend with him… the Melissa & Doug Giant Giraffe Stuffed Animal! He gave Ben Stiller an award (and our giraffe as a Birthday Gift).
———————————-
Over four feet tall, this gentle giant brings a touch of the exotic into any environment. The perfect accessory in a nursery, this eye-catching giraffe is a great addition to any décor! Attention to authentic details and excellent quality construction make this stuffed animal giraffe easy to love!
$99.99
Why Costumes Are Good for Kids by Melissa
Why Costumes Are Good for Kids
Our expert encourages the thrill of dress-up
by Melissa
The anticipation of Halloween generates excitement in children unrivaled by virtually any other holiday. The ability to truly take part in the holiday and choose exactly how they will be dressed gives children a tremendous sense of power and investment in the day. But the ultimate thrill comes in actually putting on their costume and displaying it to the world!
There is nothing more enthralling for a child than pretending to be someone or something he is not, and concealing the truth of who he really is from the outside world.
Let’s be honest, that’s a lot of fun for adults, too! What a wonderful opportunity to escape and explore the world from the perspective of someone else for a brief period of time. That makes Halloween a favorite of both young and old. Yet although Halloween is the only day of the year when children and adults everywhere are given official license to dress up, it shouldn’t be! At Melissa & Doug, we believe that role-play is a crucial, year-round activity and shouldn’t be put removed and placed into a closet on November 1!
Role-play is a critical form of pretend play, and a crucial aspect of early childhood development. It is also one of the best ways to help a child to develop an understanding of the world. When children are given the opportunity to choose a character they wish to portray, they are given the ability to explore the areas they are most interested in.
Dressing up helps children (and adults) get rid of their fears and inhibitions, and be free to “act out” something they may not be comfortable expressing on a daily basis. Children develop social awareness and self-confidence and are more open to exploring themselves and expressing pent-up thoughts or ideas. Role-play offers an excuse to let go of one’s inhibitions and be free. Such free, unstructured creative play offers tremendous benefits developmentally. It builds strong imaginations and fertile, innovative minds!
Melissa
The best costumes are those which truly transport children to another place where they can begin to believe or act as the character they’re portraying actually would. In everyday life there are rules of conduct, and people may be viewed as odd if they go around town acting like wild animals, witches, or superheroes. But under the umbrella of make-believe, such behavior is not only desired but embraced! Testing the personas of different characters is a great way to teach children about different roles and their various behaviors. A pirate can talk with an accent; a police officer can speak with authority; and a chef can devise tantalizing recipes for an enthusiastic audience. Role-playing involves improvisation, having an awareness of how different characters act and portraying their characteristics and emotions!
The best aspect of pretend play is that it is completely universal. All children love to dress up. I have never met a child who hasn’t enjoyed being someone else, if only for a brief period. Usually the struggle is in getting the child to remove the costume and assume his prior persona.
You can easily incorporate dress-up and pretend play into your time with the kids. You can work with them to create a special dress-up or pretend play closet or chest in your home that they can explore whenever they visit. Accessories such as jewelry, makeup, wigs, and hats add to the fun. Role-play is a sure-fire, guaranteed recipe for a wonderful day. The grandchildren will anticipate every visit, and never want to leave!
———————————————————————-
Terrific Twenty Holiday Gifts for 2011
Press Release:
Melissa & Doug Unveils its Top 20 Holiday Gifts for Children
2011 lineup features intelligent, imaginative toys designed to inspire and educate young minds
WILTON, Conn., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The creative minds at Melissa & Doug have released their list of must-have products for the 2011 holiday season, including a broad range of timeless toys with unique imaginative flair.
Melissa & Doug’s Terrific Twenty Holiday Gifts for 2011
Company co-creator Melissa Bernstein says:
“Our strong holiday collection is in keeping with our signature approach: staying in touch with the way children naturally play, listening to their parents’ concerns and advice, and designing every toy we make to inspire a world of imagination. Our goal is always to spur the creativity of children, and this year’s lineup of holiday toys includes plenty of inspiration!”
Our Top-20 List includes toys for every age group!
6 MONTHS+
Caterpillar Gear Toy ($9.99)
Turn the gears slowly and watch each interlocking segment move the next, or see how fast your child can make the caterpillar “crawl” on the wooden base. This rainbow-colored gear toy is hands-on fun at any speed. With their bulky, notched shape, the colorful gears are easy for children to fit onto the color-coordinated pegs . . . then rotate, remove, and rearrange!
18 MONTHS+
Snowman Stacker ($12.99)
A classic childhood toy gets a touch of holiday magic in our wooden Stacking Snowman. Designed with a solid-wood rocking base for safety, it features eight wooden pieces and comes complete with a wintry scarf and hat.
AGES 2+
Butterflies and Bowling Balls
Your children will love exploring shapes, colors and sequencing with the Stack and Sort Butterfly ($14.99). Each wing holds bright colors, chunky wooden shapes, and lots of opportunities for sorting and stacking fun!
For a more physical pursuit, your kids will have fun to “spare” playing with the Happy Giddy Bowling Set ($19.99). This brightly colored plastic bowling set includes six bowling pins, a mini bowling ball, and a handy bowling bag with durable fabric handles for easy travel.
AGES 3+
Limitless Imagination and Learning!
Children will be fascinated by Sort & Snap Color Match ($19.99). This clever color-matching activity board is great for color recognition, sorting, and beginning math skills, and it even has 3-D picture suggestions.
When it’s time to get playtime really rolling, wheel out Melissa & Doug’s Low Loader ($19.99), a sturdy wooden truck that can haul the included steamroller and bulldozer, and Wooden Farm Train ($19.99), perfect for transporting a new cow or carting milk, fruit, and vegetable crates to the market.
Town Blocks Wooden Play Set ($29.99) introduces children to a whole community with sturdy wooden play pieces and endless pretend-play opportunities. Doorbell House ($29.99) sets kids’ sights closer to home with an engaging play set full of locks and keys, ringing bells, and four play people.
Broaden their palates with the Bake & Decorate Cupcake Set ($19.99) or Felt Food Sandwich Set ($19.99). Both include lots of free-form play-food fun, plus activity ideas that will have kids learning effortlessly while they play. Add another scoop of fun with the Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Playset ($29.99)!
Melissa & Doug’s Grocery Cart ($69.99) is a miniature version of the real thing, so kids can collect the ingredients they need to get creative in the kitchen. The two-sided Deluxe Floor-Standing Wooden Easel ($79.99) is the perfect “studio” for budding artists.
Our Giraffe Giant Stuffed Animal ($99.99) is a four-foot-tall gentle giant that will bring the wild world to your children’s fingertips!
AGES 3–6
Trunki ($39.99)
Available in six adorable colors, this innovative ride-on suitcase is perfect for sleepovers, vacations, storing toys, summer camp, and much more. Trunki can serve as luggage, riding toy, and travel companion and sports a pull-along strap, carry handles, secure catches, and integrated wheels.
AGES 4+
Make-a-Face Sticker Pad ($4.99)
Twenty faces and five sticker sheets (with more than 250 stickers!) make it easy to put your best face forward. This collection of facial features and styling accessories is the perfect activity set for the little artist in your home.
AGES 6+
Flipping Out and Sticking On
Flip-to-Win Hangman ($12.99) is the classic word game with a twist, complete with an erasable white game board, self-storing dry-erase marker and eraser.
Butterfly Treasure Box Peel & Press Sticker by Numbers ($14.99) encourages children to keep their fingers moving and young minds engaged. With sticker gems and a number key, kids will have everything they need to turn this craft project into a glittering jewel box!
AGES 8+
U.S.A. License Plate Game ($19.99)
Add excitement to car travel with this sturdy, reusable classic travel game. Children will learn the names and locations of all 50 states, identify them by their license plates, or help plot their trip by flipping the states along their route.
About Melissa & Doug:
Since Melissa and Doug started their toy company 23 years ago in the garage of the home where Doug grew up, the company has become one of the most trusted names in preschool toys. Through its unique distribution network of nearly 15,000 retailers and presence in 80 countries worldwide, Melissa & Doug has created nearly 2,000 proprietary products spanning virtually every category of children’s play. “We started the business to make incredible products that enrich children’s lives, and we treat our customers like members of our family,” Melissa says. “We also listen to parents—I talk with a lot of them!—to address needs in the marketplace and create products that can be trusted.”
Twitter Party Monday 1/16/12 9pm EST
Join Us Monday Night 1/16/12 at 9pm EST 
RSVP HERE
You must RSVP and attend the Twitter Party to be eligible for giveaways and to claim prizes!
This special Twitter party will emphasize both organization and staying healthy as a family.
Twitter Party Tips:
___ Follow @MelissaAndDoug on Twitter
___ Follow @TeachMama on Twitter
___ Follow @FamFunBlog on Twitter
___ LIKE Melissa & Doug on Facebook
___ LIKE Frugal Family Fun Blog on Facebook
___ Know your hashtag: #MDparty
___ Think of a kids’ joke to share – Winter/Valentine’s Day-themed is the best!
___ Tell a friend to join us!
___ Prepare for Fun!
FAQ:
Q. What’s a Twitter Party?
A. A Twitter Party is a virtual party where partygoers connect over Twitter. A host leads the discussion and partygoers tweet to join the conversation, using a special hashtag to categorize comments as belonging to the party. A party can be searched by its hashtag. (See also http://www.twitterpartyguide.com/what-is-a-twitter-party)
Q. What’s the hashtag for the Melissa & Doug Twitter Party?
A. #weteach
Q. What is a hashtag?
A. A word becomes a hashtag, or keyword, when it’s preceded by a # symbol. This signals Twitter to categorize a tweet according to that keyword so it will come up in search results. So, for instance, when you do a Twitter search for #MDparty, you’ll see what an amazing time we’re having Monday night! (Also see https://support.twitter.com/articles/49309-what-are-hashtags-symbols)
Q. Why do I have to RSVP?
A. We pick names from the RSVP list for our prize giveaways. So technically you don’t HAVE to RSVP–but you won’t win prizes if you don’t! (To be eligible for giveaways, you’ll need to RSVP attend the party and participate by answering our party questions.)
Q. How far in advance should I RSVP?
A. You can RSVP as late as right before the first question is asked. We refresh the RSVP list right before our first giveaway.
Q. How long does the party last?
A. Our Twitter parties usually last one to two hours. You can come for just a few minutes, stay the whole time or anything in between.
Q. Do I have to participate?
A. You may participate as little or as much as you’d like. You need only be present and participating to be eligible to win prizes and giveaways.
Q. What will we do at the Twitter party?
A. During the Twitter party the host (@MelissaAndDoug and/or @weteach) will ask questions about parenting, toys, winter activities, Valentine’s Day, telling kids jokes and more, and you can answer each question or comment on another person’s answer. Remember to use hashtag #MDparty so everyone can see your comments.
For example, @MelissaAndDoug might ask, “Q1: Do you do anything special for your child on Valentine’s Day? #MDparty” You could answer “@MelissaAndDoug Yes, I always put confetti hearts in with his lunch that day! #MDparty”
Each question is tied to a giveaway. Partiers are given a few minutes to answer each question. Once the question is closed we choose a winner for that question.
Throughout the party we also share information about our website, new products, upcoming events & promotions, tell jokes, get advice from other parents and more. Each party is different, but they are always fun!
VOTE: Grand Finalists of Our Ultimate Melissa & Doug Display Contest
We are pleased to present the Five Grand Finalists from our Ultimate Melissa & Doug Display Contest!
Please VOTE for Your Favorite Here!
- Toy Zone – Burnsville, MN
The Toy Center - Richmond VA
Julies Corner Store - Lacon IL
Christian's Kinder Laden - Batesville IN
Boutique Foubrac - Baie-Comeau, QC, Canada
Please VOTE for Your Favorite Here!
8 Ways to Keep the Happy in Your Holidays by Melissa
8 Ways to Keep the Happy in Your Holidays
by Melissa for grandparents.com
No one can deny that the meaning of the holidays can easily get lost during this frenetic time of year. All year, it feels as if we are moving ever faster to keep pace with technology and the daily changes in the world around us. Yet that pace only becomes magnified at the holidays. Parents are increasingly worried about “delivering the goods” by bringing home that must-have toy and not disappointing their children. Black Friday sales begin ever earlier (10 pm on the once-sacred Thanksgiving Day), with many deals leaked to generate mass consumerism.
I have to ask, “Isn’t there something missing?”
Thankfully, children’s joy emanates from the simplest pleasures, which is the antithesis of the commercial aspects of the season. The holidays are meant to be full of miracles, hope, and tradition. Those were the principles on which they began, and are the basis of the stories told generation after generation. Yet in the minds of many, the season has become more synonymous with traffic jams, endless searches for parking, and hordes of pushing and shoving shoppers. Saddest of all, parents are not feeling joy, but tremendous stress at the thought of disappointing children on that special day. This makes what should be a magical time into a competitive, aggravating experience. And that is NOT what the holidays are supposed to be about!
| More from Melissa: The best thing you can do for your grandkids |
 |
For the children’s sake, it is imperative that we parents and grandparents set a good example and instill in them the meaning of the season. Done correctly, this WILL bring cheer to all! And the best news is that implementing these traditions costs little, and is a cinch to execute. All it takes is targeting the basics, and focusing on the simple aspects of celebrations that are most meaningful.Here are a few of my favorite holiday activities to do with children:
- Play holiday-themed music in the car and at home. Print out lyrics and get EVERYONE to sing along! This always puts us in the holiday spirit.
- Fill the house with homemade decorations. All children love to do arts and crafts, and what better theme than the holidays? Paper snowflakes, seasonal cutouts, and paper chains are a few of our favorites and make the house look festive and special.
- Make holiday-themed food. Kids LOVE baking, and devouring their concoctions. And sugar cookies have no religious denomination! They can be cut in any shape and size, and decorated in various colors to be enjoyed by all.
- Make homemade gifts. Request that everyone in the family give one gift that is handmade and truly from the heart. This can include a drawing, a photo in a hand-decorated frame, a poem or story, a scrapbook, or any other homemade creation or inspiration.
- Make holiday cards. Share suggestions as a group, and create a special family message, poem, joke, or quote for the season. Then decorate each card with personal flair. Cards are the perfect way to spread joy to family and friends — especially those who live far away!
- Create an evening focused on your family’s culture. Eat traditional holiday foods, read holiday stories, and play traditional games. This will become something children look forward to year after year.
- Turn off the lights, and enjoy the glow of candles or tree lights. Go around the group and ask everyone to detail what they like most about the holiday, and to state their wish for the season.
- Give the gift of giving! Have the children go through their entire toy inventory and designate a pile to give away to those in need. Plus: Ask each child to choose one NEW gift to give to a less-fortunate family. Go with the children yourself to help drop off their gifts, and then volunteer with them, wrapping gifts or serving at a soup kitchen. The more children give to others, the less focused they will be on what they receive.
The holiday memories children will carry with them longest will be those of family togetherness, tradition, and giving to others. The holidays should be a reminder to us all that family matters and that we care about each other — with that group extending to all of humanity and those who are less fortunate. That human connection is much more powerful than material gifts, and will endure well past the season.
3 Great Holiday Offers Including a Special Puzzle Promotion
3 Great Holiday Offers to Choose from Including 25% off Puzzles!
Use *promo code NPUZZLES25 for 25% off all Melissa & Doug Puzzles thru midnight 12/6/11
OR
Use *promo code NSAVE15 for 15% off your entire MelissaAndDoug.com purchase.
OR
Use *promo code FREESHIPZERO for Free Shipping with no minimum purchase necessary.
GIVEAWAY:
Enter to Win 1 of 5 Train Table & Wooden Railway Set Prize Packs! Sponsored by Melissa & Doug and Raining Hot Coupons! 1 entry allowed between 12/5/11 and midnight EST 12/9/11.
*Promo codes good thru midnight 12/6/11 only at MelissaAndDoug.com. Free Shipping offer applies to orders shipping via ground shipping to the 50 United States excluding AK, HI, PR and other non-contiguous US locations. Only 1 promo code can be used per transaction.
Don’t Miss Our Cyber Tuesday Deals!
Don’t Miss Melissa & Doug’s Cyber Tuesday Deals!
Great educational toys with great savings just for you!
15% off any purchase
Use *promo code NSAVE15
OR
FREE Shipping with no Minimum Purchase Required!
Use *promo code FREESHIPZERO
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER TODAY FOR SOME FUN GIVEAWAYS TOO!
promo codes expire midnight 11/29/11. Only valid at MelissaAndDoug.com. Only one promo code allowed per purchase. Free shipping is only for ground shipping within the continental United States.
