Welcome to the famous MPMK Gift Guides and congrats on finding the most comprehensive and easy-to-use toy gift guide on the internet – already viewed over 7,000,000 times!
(If you’re not familiar with our famous lists, learn all about them here)…
On to our finds for dramatic play, yippee! Why am I so enthusiastic about this list, and dramatic play in general? Because I truly believe that this type of play is absolutely VITAL to kids’ development.
It teaches so many wonderful things – literacy through vocabulary and story-telling practice as well as social skills such as empathy, turn taking, and the identification of emotions.
It can even incorporate lots of practical mathematical and problem solving skills, and much, much more. Plus kids absolutely love it, which means carefully selected, engaging toys can lead to hours upon hours of both independent and cooperative play.
Don’t forget – you can check out all 15 of our 2016 Gift Guides here!
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Top 15 Toys for Quality Dramatic Play
#1 Learning Resources Pretend & Play School Set $17.99 (3 – 6 years)
This is such a popular toy and it’s no mystery why. Kids absolutely love playing school, especially when they have awesome props like this, and parents love how it fosters a love of learning. We bought it for my 4 and 6 year olds last Christmas and they play with it ALL THE TIME. From the manufacturer, “Part of the Pretend & Play line that fosters healthy early childhood development by helping kids interpret and imitate the world around them.
The 149-piece set includes tri-fold board, grade book, stickers, hall passes, dry erase board, hand pointer, crayons, double-sided calendar, double-sided map, and more.” From a reviewer, “I gave this to my 6 year old last Christmas and it has been one of the most-played-with gifts ever. She is now 7 and she still pulls this out and plays with it all the time. She loves to play school with her younger brother. This set is perfect for 5-8 year olds. Highly recommend!”
#2 Kidkraft Red Vintage Kitchen $123.86 (12 mos – 6 years)
I know what you’re thinking – a one year old is too little to enjoy a big dramatic play toy like this. Once upon a time, I would have agreed with you – but then my baby boy starting pulling up and I got to see first hand how much he LOVES opening and shutting the doors, turning the knobs, taking the sink in and out and putting food in and out of all the compartments.
Plus, I know he has years of enjoying it still ahead of him. We initially bought this for the big kids several years ago when they were 1 and 3 and couldn’t be happier with it as it still gets lots of play at ages 4 and 6. I really like the look of the thing and I think the vibrant red is nicely gender neutral. Despite a small footprint, this kitchen still has all the amenities and both my kids enjoy regularly playing at it simultaneously.
(Side note: people sometimes ask if kids will get too big for this smaller kitchen – mine are 95th percentile in height and haven’t had an issue). If you’re looking for a big wow gift from Santa (or parents or grandparents) this could very well be it!
#3 Learning Resources Teaching Cash Register $27.95 (3 – 9 years)
An obvious extension of the play kitchen and all the play food that comes with it, is playing store. And the biggest prop needed for some good store play is a cash register – which as an awesome tool for burgeoning math skills. My kids started hoarded the register at a local drop in play center for over an hour at a time a couple year and I knew we had to get one for Christmas.
A lot of research pointed to this one as being the best learning register on the market thanks to a working calculator and scale as well as being able to recognize real money and even incorporating math games. This is a toy that will grow with your kids.
#4 Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House Cleaning Bundle $38.36 (walking – 6 years)
One of the most surprising things about having toddlers and preschoolers is seeing how much they absolutely LOVE to clean! We’ve had a broom and dust pan set for years. The kids really enjoy breaking it out to help with clean up when the opportunity arises or just using it to play pretend. Every toddler we know has this set and totally adores it and our 18 month old completely freaks out when he can’t find it.
This year, though, I’m totally eyeing this Melissa & Doug Cleaning Bundle- it comes with so much amazing stuff!!
Not only will my toddler be able to sweep, mop, and dust to his heart’s content- he will also get to spray, wipe, scrub, and even squeegee. Do you KNOW how much toddlers love, love, love to spray and wipe down windows, cabinets and anything else they can get their hands on?
You can also buy just The Dust, Sweep and Mop Set or just The Spray, Squirt, and Squeegee Set at very reasonable prices.
#5 Pokeman Clip ‘N’ Carry Poke Ball Belt $19.79 (3 – 10 years)
Pokeman has taken the kid world by storm. If you have a Pokeman fan in your house, think about going above and beyond the Pokeman card set and go for 4D play instead. I gave my son just the Pokeman ball and Pikachu in his Easter basket and he flipped out… I think his head might have actually exploded if I’d found this belt set! This one is a winner for sure.
#6 Doc McStuffins Hospital Care Cart $39.99 (2 – 8 years)
Just like it’s predecessor, the Doc McStuffins Vet Checkup Center, this new Hospital Care Cart packs a lot of play punch. The mobile cart features a light & sound patient scanner with two interchangeable cards, a talking EKG area with a printout EKG roller, a kid powered blood pressure pump, a real working drawer, and a patient bed.
If your child is a fan of Doc McStuffins, pretend play, animals, or all of the above, they will play with this thing for hours on end giving their stuffed animals top notch healthcare.
The great news is that, unlike the Vet Checkup Center, the Hospital Care Cart has a great price tag for a toy this size. That could go up as Christmas gets closer but for now it’s a great deal.
#7 Mommy & Me My First Doll Stroller $19.99 (12 months – 5 years)
Around the time they start walking all kids, girls and boys, ABSOLUTELY LOVE pushing around toy strollers. When my daughter was a toddler, she liked her dolls, but wasn’t obsessed like some other little girls we knew. Yet she has always adored piling them into her stroller and taking them for a stroll around the house over, and over, and over again.
Recently, her stroller has been straight-up commandeered by her 18 month old brother who also can’t get enough of pushing it around all day. I promise you, if you a buy a toy stroller for your child, it will be one of the most-used toys you’ve ever purchased. Oh, and if you have a girl that does happen to be doll-obsessed, this 3-in-1 pram is a really fun and versatile option too!
#8 Kidkraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set & Table $119.99 (2 – 8 years)
We bought our son a train table for his 2nd birthday and we always say it’s one of the best purchases we’ve ever made. For over four years both he and his sister played with it several times a week. And now his 18 month old brother is really starting to get into it. At 4 years old our oldest was able to completely construct the track by himself using the map and that added a whole new level of building play to this fantastic toy.
I think the model we bought has been discontinued but this one is the same brand and has all of the same key components: a bridge, waterfall mountain, helicopter landing pad, and the all-important drawers for storing all the little pieces. If you’re going to be putting your train table in main living space, you may want to spring for the more expensive KidKraft Metropolis Train Set Table with Trundle Drawer. It’s got a nicer “furniture” look (and that double-decker bridge is pretty cool too). Also, over the years we’ve amassed quite a collection of Thomas trains to go with this table.
#9 Green Toys Tea Set $18.19 (2 – 6 years)
Whether playing with mommy or a favorite doll, tea time is always a fun way to pass some time. We’ve had this set for over a year and it still looks like new (despite lots of use in the playroom, bathtub, sink and even sand box).
Plus I love that Green Toys are 100% recycled, made from milk jugs, are FDA approved to eat and drink from, and do not contain BPA, phthalates, or lead paint.
#10 Kangaroo’s Pretend Doctor Kit with Light Up X-Ray Machine $29.95 (2 – 8 years)
A quality doctor kit is an excellent dramatic play toy for both boys and girls. Kids like being patients but really enjoy the power involved in getting to play care-taker (which can be really nice when your tired because you can play with your child by basically laying still and playing “patient”). These kits are also nice for easing doctor visit anxiety.
This new kit from Kangaroo has an unprecedented amount of unique props that do some really cool things– too many to list here in fact!
This includes battery operated instruments such as the thermometer (press tip down and see the temp change), the stethoscope that plays a heart beat, the x-ray machine, heart monitor, and blood pressure monitor that have actions and lights, the light up otoscope, spring-back syringe and so much more! It also include some great imagination props like glasses, a clip board and x-ray sheets.
You get a lot of bang for your buck with this toy and, accordingly, it gets a lot of rave reviews.
#11 Disney Princess Little Kingdom Magiclip 7-Doll Gift Set $33.39 (3 – 10 years)
When my daughter decided she wanted some princesses to play with, I wanted to get her a group of them without spending a ton of money. What I really liked about this set was that she can put them all into a play bag or purse and easily tote them around, plus – bonus – the plastic dresses are interchangeable and easily removed with a pinching motion.
My daughter REALLY, REALLY likes this set and has played with it almost daily for over a year. It works perfectly with the inexpensive castle we got her to go along with it too.
#12 Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set $19.83 (4+ years)
This kit of real science tools is perfectly sized for little hands. It comes with 10 double sided activity cards, beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, googles, large 6″ test tube and stand, and 2 small test tubes.
The authenticity of these items will have your little scientists dying to experiment and they’ll serve great double duty for dramatic play too.
#13 Melissa & Doug Dress Up Sets starting at $21.71 (2 – 6 years)
A big box full of dress up clothes was the kids’ main present several Christmases ago and we still play with it all the time, especially when hosting play dates. I filled it with lots of random items (shoes, jewelry, masks, hats, feather boas, etc.) as well as a few complete outfits.
For that, Melissa & Doug’s selection has always been my favorite. Go for their Delux Role Play Costume Bundle or check out their chef, Fire Chief, and pirate outfits as well as this very cool, non-M&D, astronaut getup.
#14 Hatchimals $59.99 (5 – 9 years)
These interactive, magical creatures that come (and eventually hatch out of) their own egg are The “It” Toy of the Year! Every elementary aged girl I know, including my kindergartener daughter, has one at the very top of her list and as of this writing in late October they are sold out everywhere.
The magic in this toy is how kids are encouraged to nurture it both to come out of it’s egg (tap and it will tap back) and once it’s in the world (Give your Hatchimal a name and raise it through 3 stages: from baby, to toddler, to kid). My suspicion is that this toy isn’t quite as cool once it hatches, but it does do a lot (walk, talk, dance, play games, and more) and though you can’t put it back in the egg, you can start it over as a baby whenever you want.
Hopefully, they will be back in stock by Christmas- you can pre-order on Amazon now and they won’t charge you until it actually ships.
#15 Football Guys and Soccer Girls $24.99 (4 – 12 years)
This deceptively simple line of tubs filled with miniature sports players, gear and fields (there’s also Baseball Guys, Hockey Guys and Soccer Guys) is an excellent open-ended dramatic play toy for slightly older kids. They rate 4.5 out of 5 stars and are Best Toy Award winners. Parents report their kids return to play with the sets again and again to set up imaginary sports plays and tournaments. They also have a lot of flexibility in that it can be enjoyed alone or with friends. Plus they clean up easily with their own storage cases.
I should also mention that there is a whole other gift guide for the most classic of dramatic play toys, dolls, here: Best Dolls & Accessories for Girls AND Boys.
Read on for over 30 of my favorite toys for quality dramatic play, broken down into:
- Dolls & Castles for Princess Lovers
- Cooking & Grocery Shopping
- Stand-Alone Dramatic Play Props
- Dress Up
- Doctor & Veterinarian
- Trains, Planes & Automobiles
- Construction
Special Note: In an effort to help you out as much as possible this year, I’ve included both prices and age recommendations for each item. Please take the age ranges as just that – recommendations – you know you’re child best after all!
Also, this time of year prices can fluctuate quite dramatically. So if you see something a little outside of your price range, it might not be a bad idea to click over and check it out anyway – you may get lucky and catch a sale.
Ready for the big list? Here we go…
Stand-Alone Dramatic Play Props
Aurora World Barn Yard Friends Carrier With Sound $15.26 (6 months – 2 years)
This is a plush farm and animal set that makes sounds and is the perfect thing for introductory imaginary play. For bigger kids, there’s the Melissa & Doug Fold & Go Mini Barn $33.79 (3 – 6). It’s a two-story barn stocked with seven realistic plastic farm animals, a wooden ladder and a folding corral.
Little Tikes Gas ‘n Go Mower Toy $20.99 (walking – 5 years)
This toy is great for taking dramatic play outdoors and, honestly, it’s totally worth getting just for the adorable pictures you’ll get of the kids following around Dad (or Mom) while they mow the lawn. Seriously, this toy is a real winner – it has lots of parts to interact with (pull cord, vrooming engine, push throttle, turning key and more) but doesn’t require batteries. It will ignite the kids imagination and get them moving at the same time.
Dirt Devil Junior Lights Sounds Upright Toy Vacuum $24.97 (walking – 7 years)
I had to include this toy vacuum because it was the absolute favorite of my son AND literally every other kid in his toddler group when he was 2 to 3 years old. The class had 3 of them and there were still daily tussles over them between the kids… and that’s without even being allowed to have the batteries in them.
(In fact, if you’re not a fan of toys that make sounds I’d suggest just never putting the batteries in – this will still be a fantastic pretend play toy). This Disney Minnie Bowtique Vacuum is also really cute and gets great reviews if you’re looking for something a little more, what’s the word, pink!
Hatchimals $59.99 (5 – 9 years)
These interactive, magical creatures that come (and eventually hatch out of) their own egg are The “It” Toy of the Year! Every elementary aged girl I know, including my kindergartener daughter, has one at the very top of her list and as of this writing in late October they are sold out everywhere.
The magic in this toy is how kids are encouraged to nurture it both to come out of it’s egg (tap and it will tap back) and once it’s in the world (Give your Hatchimal a name and raise it through 3 stages: from baby, to toddler, to kid). My suspicion is that this toy isn’t quite as cool once it hatches, but it does do a lot (walk, talk, dance, play games, and more) and though you can’t put it back in the egg, you can start it over as a baby whenever you want.
Hopefully, they will be back in stock by Christmas- you can pre-order on Amazon now and they won’t charge you until it actually ships.
Pokeman Clip ‘N’ Carry Poke Ball Belt $19.79 (3 – 10 years)
Pokeman has taken the kid world by storm. If you have a Pokeman fan in your house, think about going above and beyond the Pokeman card set and go for 4D play instead. I gave my son just the Pokeman ball and Pikachu in his Easter basket and he flipped out… I think his head might have actually exploded if I’d found this belt set! This one is a winner for sure.
Designed by You Doll House with Furniture $88.36 (2 – 10 years)
This doll house is great for the smaller dolls on this list (magiclip princess dolls and mooshka fairies) but it also comes with it’s own little people and serves as another great way for your kids to experiment with playing house. Whenever I make a big toy purchase for my kiddos, I obsess about it a bit. I research (a lot) to find the train table, play kitchen, etc. that’s not only going to hold up the best, but will also offer up the most beneficial play experience.
When my daughter indicated that she wanted a doll house for her birthday last year, my research led us to purchase this one and we’ve been really, really pleased with it. The rooms are easy to access and it came with a bizillion pieces of furniture that both my son and daughter use for lots of dramatic play. What I love most about it, though, is that instead of one permanent structure, the house is modular and can be reconfigured a bunch of different ways.
This really extends the kids’ engagement because it makes it both a great building toy and a great dramatic play toy. For that reason, I would recommend this for both boys and girls (if hubby gawfs at buying your boy something pink, just paint over those two walls with chalkboard paint to add to the fun).*Post contains affiliate links.
MegaBloks American Girl Building Sets starting at $9.34 (4 – 12 years)
I’m so impressed with this line of LEGO-like building sets for girls. First of all, it’s American Girl brand, so that’s guaranteed to attract a lot of girls, even those who don’t gravitate towards building. Second, each set has a lot to it for girls to not only build, but also use as props during imaginary play- something girls are known to love to engage in.
There are a large variety of sets to chose from. I’m loving the Horse Stables Construction Set as well as Saige’s Art Studio and at $2 – $4 a piece, the American Girl figurinesmake great add-ons to any of the sets or stocking stuffers!
Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set $19.83 (4+ years)
This kit of real science tools is perfectly sized for little hands. It comes with 10 double sided activity cards, beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, googles, large 6″ test tube and stand, and 2 small test tubes.
The authenticity of these items will have your little scientists dying to experiment and they’ll serve great double duty for dramatic play too.
Learning Resources Pretend & Play School Set $19.70 (3 – 6 years)
This is such a popular toy and it’s no mystery why. Kids absolutely love playing school, especially when they have some awesome props like this, and parents love how it fosters a love of learning. My kids got this one for Christmas last year and it is has been one of their most played with toys all year long.
Green Toys Tea Set $18.19 (2 – 6 years) – Whether playing with mommy or a favorite doll, tea time is always a fun way to pass some time. We’ve had this set for over a year and it still looks like new (despite lots of use in the playroom, bathtub, sink and even sand box).
Plus I love that Green Toys are 100% recycled, made from milk jugs, are FDA approved to eat and drink from, and do not contain BPA, phthalates, or lead paint.
Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn “Say Please” Tea Set $14.39 (1 – 4 years)
And for the even younger set there’s this one. Toddlers and preschoolers naturally love anything that allows them to pour water over and over again. Add in a level of pretend play with the “tea time” experience plus voice prompts, sounds and songs teaching about numbers, shapes, opposites, manners, greetings and more – and you’ve got a winning toy guaranteed to provide hours of fun. With over 800 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars, parents agree.
Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House Cleaning Bundle $38.36 (walking – 6 years)
One of the most surprising things about having toddlers and preschoolers is seeing how much they absolutely LOVE to clean! We’ve had a broom and dust pan set for years. The kids really enjoy breaking it out to help with clean up when the opportunity arises or just using it to play pretend. Every toddler we know has this set and totally adores it and our 18 month old completely freaks out when he can’t find it.
This year, though, I’m totally eyeing this Melissa & Doug Cleaning Bundle- it comes with so much amazing stuff!!
Not only will my toddler be able to sweep, mop, and dust to his heart’s content- he will also get to spray, wipe, scrub, and even squeegee. Do you KNOW how much toddlers love, love, love to spray and wipe down windows, cabinets and anything else they can get their hands on?
You can also buy just The Dust, Sweep and Mop Set or just The Spray, Squirt, and Squeegee Set at very reasonable prices.
Educational Insights Grill & Go Camp Stove $27.05 (2 years – 7 years)
I’ve been a bit obsessed with camping since our family had such an awesome go of it the last two summers I really like how real looking this set is and I think it would be great both for kids already excited about the great outdoors and those you’d like to get excited by next summer. Our toddler group had a big pretend camp set-up one year and, then 2 year old, S loved this thing.
Melissa & Doug My Own Mail Box $13.99 (3 – 6 years)
Everyone loves to get mail! Having a play mailbox like this one is an incredibly cute way to encourage communication between siblings and they’ll adore leaving and finding notes in it. It’s also a great excuse to get in some practice with those reading and writing skills.
Toobs starting at $8.03 (3+ years)
After our Make Like a Montessori Mama: Animal Activities post few years ago, I knew I needed to get C some small animal figurines as soon as possible. A quick Amazon search revealed exactly what I was looking for. Not only are the handy Toob containers the perfect shape for a stocking, there are a million themes to choose from. Whether your little one are into horses, zoo babies, trains, pirates, dinosaurs, North American Wildlife, the arctic, or pretty much anything else – there’s a Toob out there for them.
Puppets & Puppet Theaters
- Melissa & Doug Puppets starting at $14.99 (3+ years)
- Haba Puppets starting at $14.24
- Educational Insights Puppets-on-a-Stick starting at $9.99
Playing with puppets is absolutely wonderful for storytelling and for learning about emotions, not to mention serving as a great tool for kids to communicate and learn through role playing. Each of these sets have their own unique features. The Melissa & Doug Puppets are very high quality and remind me of the type real puppeteers would use (and also of the muppets).
I also really like the creative component of their Deluxe Fuzzy Make -Your -Own Monster Puppet kit. The Haba Puppets are well-made versions of the classic hand puppets we’re all used to that come in so many different wonderful characters (I especially like the grandma and grandpa). Finally, Educational Insight’s award-winning Puppets-on-a-Stick are almost irresistible with their rubberized from and super fun movable mouths.
And if one or more of your kids really has a love for weaving tales, I’d also recommend looking into a puppet theater. Just like the puppets above, there are lots of options available and you’re sure to find one that’s the perfect fit for your budget and space. I really like the play clock and chalk board that are built in to this stand alone version from Melissa & Doug.
This pop-up play-tent version from Kidoozie is great to also use as a fort, reading nook, toddler hang out, etc. And this hang-it-in-your-doorway version from Haba gets high marks from parents for it’s space-saving qualities and for being very easy to put up and take down again.
Football Guys and Soccer Girls $24.99 (4 – 12 years)
This deceptively simple line of tubs filled with miniature sports players, gear and fields (there’s also Baseball Guys, Hockey Guys and Soccer Guys) is an excellent open-ended dramatic play toy for slightly older kids. They rate 4.5 out of 5 stars and are Best Toy Award winners.
Parents report their kids return to play with the sets again and again to set up imaginary sports plays and tournaments. They also have a lot of flexibility in that it can be enjoyed alone or with friends. Plus they clean up easily with their own storage cases.
Cooking & Grocery Shopping
Grocery shopping and cooking dramatic play has long been popular with boys and girls alike. As such, there are a bevy of toy props to go along with this type of play in all sizes and price ranges. Here are a few of our favorites.
Kidkraft Red Vintage Kitchen $142.95 (12 mos – 6 years)
I know what you’re thinking – a one year old is too little to enjoy a big dramatic play toy like this. Once upon a time, I would have agreed with you – but then my baby boy starting pulling up and I got to see first hand how much he LOVES opening and shutting the doors, turning the knobs, taking the sink in and out and putting food in and out of all the compartments.
Plus, I know he has years of enjoying it still ahead of him. We initially bought this for the big kids several years ago when they were 1 and 3 and couldn’t be happier with it as it still gets lots of play at ages 5 and 7. I really like the look of the thing and I think the vibrant red is nicely gender neutral. Despite a small footprint, this kitchen still has all the amenities and both my kids enjoy regularly playing at it simultaneously.
(Side note: people sometimes ask if kids will get too big for this smaller kitchen – mine are 95th percentile in height and haven’t had an issue). If you’re looking for a big wow gift from Santa (or parents or grandparents) this could very well be it!
Learning Resources Teaching Cash Register $54.99 (3 – 9 years)
An obvious extension of the play kitchen and all the play food that comes with it, is playing store. And the biggest prop needed for some good store play is a cash register – which as an awesome tool for burgeoning math skills.
My kids started hoarded the register at a local drop in play center for over an hour at a time a couple year and I knew we had to get one for Christmas.
A lot of research pointed to this one as being the best learning register on the market thanks to a working calculator and scale as well as being able to recognize real money and even incorporating math games. This is a toy that will grow with your kids.
Melissa & Doug Cutting Food $15.99 (3 – 6 years)
Regardless of whether you go for a play kitchen, cash register, or both – you’re gonna need some food to cook or buy. We got this cutting food from Melissa & Doug before we ever got the kitchen and it was an excellent toy all on it’s own, both for dramatic play and for building fine motor skills.
Our kids have been playing with these pieces for years and still found them very enticing on their own up to age 3 or so (after that they were good props for kitchen play).
Little Tikes Cozy Shopping Cart $31.99 (2 – 5 years)
Another option, I absolutely love because it’s like 3 toys in 1, is this shopping cart/cozi coupe. Kids not only get to push their dolls around, but also fill up a shopping cart and get in and drive away. So many awesome play possibilities at such a great price!
Melissa & Doug Shopping Basket and Play Food $16.71 (3+ years)
As much as we love the cutting food, for a store setup it’s less frustrating to also have some food that doesn’t fall apart when being scanned and bagged. I like the array of items in this set, as well as the realistic shopping basket (a great alternative if you don’t want to go for the cart).
Melissa and Doug Shopping Cart $44.95 (3 – 7 years) – A shopping cart isn’t totally necessary for shopping play but if you have the space, kids absolutely LOVE it, both for playing store and just for pushing their dolls and other pals around in. Depending on your child, and the amount of space you have, they may prefer the above cozy shopping cart or this more classic version. (This option bundles the cart with a wooden pantry food set and a fridge food set.)
Dress Up
Dressing up is a great way to encourage roll playing, which really gets kids thinking critically about the world around them and their place in it. It also often leads to improved emotional intelligence as children explore how their interactions with each other effect feelings and emotions.
Melissa & Doug Dress Up Sets starting at $21.71 (2 – 6 years)
A big box full of dress up clothes was the kids’ main present several Christmases ago and we still play with it all the time, especially when hosting play dates. I filled it with lots of random items (shoes, jewelry, masks, hats, feather boas, etc.) as well as a few complete outfits.
For that, Melissa & Doug’s selection has always been my favorite. Go for their Delux Role Play Costume Bundle or check out their chef, Fire Chief, and pirate outfits as well as this very cool, non-M&D, astronaut getup.
Disney Dress Princess Outfits starting at $11.03 (2 – 6 years)
These are pretty much all our daughter wanted for her 4th birthday so she got several from friends. They have all held up impressively well amidst repeated dramatic play use (while I may not be the biggest princess fan, I do LOVE the creativity these dresses have brought out in my girl). Our favorites include Snow White, Aurora, Anna, and Merida.
Learning Resources Pretend & Play Fishing Set $19.76 (2 – 6 years)
If you’ve got a parent or grandparent in the family who likes to fish, your little one will especially love this comprehensive fishing play set. Complete with lots of cool fishing gear including an adjustable vest and tackle box, plus a magnetic fishing pole and fish that come with 6 pages of write and wipe, fishing-themed activities so the set can be used for game play as well as dress up.
Little Adventures Girl Superhero Cape $14.99 (3 – 8 years)
There’s something so confidence-inspiring about getting to be a superhero. Be sure to get a cape for your boy too.
Doctor & Veterinarian
Kangaroo’s Pretend Doctor Kit with Light Up X-Ray Machine $29.95 (2 – 8 years)
A quality doctor kit is an excellent dramatic play toy for both boys and girls. Kids like being patients but really enjoy the power involved in getting to play care-taker (which can be really nice when your tired because you can play with your child by basically laying still and playing “patient”). These kits are also nice for easing doctor visit anxiety.
This new kit from Kangaroo has an unprecedented amount of unique props that do some really cool things– too many to list here in fact!
This includes battery operated instruments such as the thermometer (press tip down and see the temp change), the stethoscope that plays a heart beat, the x-ray machine, heart monitor, and blood pressure monitor that have actions and lights, the light up otoscope, spring-back syringe and so much more! It also include some great imagination props like glasses, a clip board and x-ray sheets.
You get a lot of bang for your buck with this toy and, accordingly, it gets a lot of rave reviews.
Doc McStuffins Hospital Care Cart $39.99 (2 – 8 years)
Just like it’s predecessor, the Doc McStuffins Vet Checkup Center, this new Hospital Care Cart packs a lot of play punch. The mobile cart features a light & sound patient scanner with two interchangeable cards, a talking EKG area with a printout EKG roller, a kid powered blood pressure pump, a real working drawer, and a patient bed.
If your child is a fan of Doc McStuffins, pretend play, animals, or all of the above, they will play with this thing for hours on end giving their stuffed animals top notch healthcare.
The great news is that, unlike the Vet Checkup Center, the Hospital Care Cart has a great price tag for a toy this size. That could go up as Christmas gets closer but for now it’s a great deal.
Melissa & Doug Doctor Role Play Set $26.20 (3 – 6 years)
You get a lot in this set, including lab coats, face masks and an array of props like the working stethoscope.
Dalmatian Vet Kit $24.08 (2+ years)
We got this for our then 2 year old daughter. She’s one of those kids that likes caring for stuffed animals and dolls, but doesn’t go nuts about babies like some of her friends. This has been be a nice, non-baby dramatic play option for her. We packaged it along with a book about the vet staring one of her favorite characters, “Biscuit Visits the Doctor“.
Playmobil Super Set Animal Care Station $25.14 (3 – 10 years) and Playmobil My Take Along Vet Station $39.99 (3 – 10 years)
When I reached out to our newsletter subscribers asking for their favorite toys for this list, I got lots of replies that Playmobil sets were a hit with their kids. These two options look like they’d provide lots of opportunities for role playing taking care of animals both big and small.
Trains, Planes, & Automobiles
Kidkraft Waterfall Mountain Train Set & Table $119.99 (2 – 8 years)
We bought our son a train table for his 2nd birthday and we always say it’s one of the best purchases we’ve ever made. For over four years both he and his sister played with it several times a week. And now his 18 month old brother is really starting to get into it. At 4 years old our oldest was able to completely construct the track by himself using the map and that added a whole new level of building play to this fantastic toy.
I think the model we bought has been discontinued but this one is the same brand and has all of the same key components: a bridge, waterfall mountain, helicopter landing pad, and the all-important drawers for storing all the little pieces. If you’re going to be putting your train table in main living space, you may want to spring for the more expensive KidKraft Metropolis Train Set Table with Trundle Drawer.
It’s got a nicer “furniture” look (and that double-decker bridge is pretty cool too). Also, over the years we’ve amassed quite a collection of Thomas trains to go with this table.
Fisher-Price Little People Lil’ Movers Airplane $17.99 (1 – 3 years)
Like the entire line of Little Peoples Movers, the stocky size of this airplane is perfect for little hands still developing their fine-motor skills. This plane, which lights up and plays multiple sounds gets tons of rave reviews from parents for it’s durability as well as how many ways there are to play.
Complete with a pilot, two passengers, a piece of luggage, a door that opens, six windows, including the pilot’s windshield, a handle over the cut-out top, and working wheels (which make the pilot and passengers go up and down as if encountering turbulence). Push down on the pilot in her seat for flashing lights, a tune, flight attendant commentary, and swooshing airplane sounds.
Bonus: big kids still love playing with the people from this sets long after they’ve outgrown the airplane.
Playskool Heroes Transformers Rescue Bots Starting at $13.61 (3 – 6 years)
The perfect introduction to transformers, the highly rated rescue bots have a great book series of the same name and are easy for small hands to manipulate.
Imaginext Rescue City Center $42.95 (3 – 8 years)
This rescue center play set gets a lot of kuddos for having a high number of working parts for the kid to interact with and for doing a great job in stimulating dramatic play. One Amazon reviewer wrote, “The toys are clever and witty and well designed with hidden doors, functions and scope for imagination. They are some of the most played with toys–besides Legos–in our house… These are some of the coolest toys out there that meet the need for non-licensed (usually no licensed toys beyond the Batman line) for lots of fantastical, imaginative play.”
The set also gets high marks for durability and two-sided play that allows for more than one child to play at the same time without crowding.
Green Toys Airplane $10.49 (1+ years)
Ever since the kids were babies, I’ve always appreciated the non-toxic and eco-friendly nature (as well as the lack of small parts) on Green Toy vehicles – so great not to have to worry about them putting these toys in their mouth. These make the perfect gift for baby.
Melissa & Doug World Airplane and Luggage Carrier Set $19.99 (3 – 6 years)
This simple set is charming. It’s the perfect thing for promoting lots of imaginative play and I’m smitten with the little wooden luggage and luggage cart.
Playmobil Rescue Ambulance $19.99, Rescue Helicopter $28.99, and Fire Rescue Station $34.99 (3 – 10 years)
I’m eyeing these sets for my 5 year old son this year. He’s in a rescue phase and I think he could set up some amazing scenarios with a few of these together (may have to recruit the aunts or grandparents to get him some too).
Plan Toys City Series Parking Garage $99.99 $82.49 (3+ years)
My oldest got this garage for Christmas several years ago. He and his sister really like the working elevator and it’s a favorite toy for group play during play dates. I really like how durable it’s been.
Construction
Bruder Construction Vehicles $15.59 and up (3 – 8 years)
If you’ve got a true vehicle lover at home then you know they can NEVER get enough construction vehicles to push around the floor (or around the sandbox). The Bruder versions are each realistic, high quality options that won’t disappoint. They cost more but they hold up and my son and his little brother are seriously smitten with how well this crane truck works.
Melissa & Doug Construction Worker Role Play Set $24.99 (3 – 6 years)
Ideal costumes for any construction vehicle loving kiddo in your life.
Green Toys Tool Set $19.59 (2+ years)
A tool set is another “must-have” toy in my book. They’re fantastic for dramatic play (my kids love finding new things to “fix”) all by themselves. Add in some working nuts and bolts and you’ve got fine motor practice to boot. We bought a wood tool set for C and have been happy with everything except the durability, so far we’ve had a wrench and pliers snap.
I think this set from green toys would be a lot more durable (there are sets available in blue, yellow, and green or brown, red, and blue as well).
Melissa & Doug Wooden Project Workbench $58.10 (3+ years)
If you’ve got a serious tool lover in the house, and have the space, this deluxe tool bench is another great option and the price is pretty good when compared to dramatic play toys of similar size, such as play kitchens and stores.
Dolls & Castles for Princess Lovers
Thanks in no small part to the movie Frozen, my 4 year old daughter officially got into princesses this year – which led to quite a bit of research on princess dolls and castles for her birthday. So, new this year is an entire section on princess dramatic play – enjoy!
Disney Princess Toddler Dolls Starting at $17.99 (18 months – 6 years)
These super popular and cozy dolls are the perfect size for a child to drag around all day long. And, again, the price is really good! If you’ve got a little one that just wants an Elsa, Anna, Mulan, Belle, ect. to call her own and cuddle with at night – this is a great choice!
Disney Princess Little Kingdom Magiclip 7-Doll Gift Set $33.39 (3 – 10 years)
When my daughter decided she wanted some princesses to play with, I wanted to get her a group of them without spending a ton of money. What I really liked about this set was that she can put them all into a play bag or purse and easily tote them around, plus – bonus – the plastic dresses are interchangeable and easily removed with a pinching motion.
My daughter REALLY, REALLY likes this set and has played with it almost daily for over a year. It works perfectly with the inexpensive castle we got her to go along with it too.
Mooshka Fairytale Fairies starts at $6.49 (non-mouthing kids and up)
Last summer my daughter and I slowly worked on putting together a small fairy garden in our back yard. So, naturally, when her summer birthday got close, I started hunting for some small but durable fairies that could be used to play in it outside.
It took a little searching, but these Mooshka fairy dolls absolutely fit the bill. They are the perfect petite size and nice and washable. My daughter also absolutely loved how each one came with a little furry friend (I loved the great price).
I’ve also heard good things about the larger, and more cuddly, Sing Around the Rosie (which sings) and Goodnight Starlight Doll (which sings and lights up).
Disney Frozen Color Change Elsa Doll $24.99 (2 – 10 years) and Disney Frozen Anna & Kristoff Dolls 2 Pack $24.24 (3 – 10 years)
Given the insane popularity of the Frozen movie, it’s surprisingly hard to find good quality Frozen character dolls. These all get high marks for their quality and large Barbie-like size. The two pack is an especially good deal and kids will love Elsa’s “magic” dress which has a pattern that appears when it gets wet. And don’t forget the Disney Frozen Olaf Doll $14.99 (3 – 10 years).
This guy is the perfect companion for the Frozen dolls mentioned above. He too is a good size, plus he comes apart and can be put back together again (just like the real Olaf) and his facial expressions change when you push down on his head. A great little toy for both boys and girls and a reasonable price – this guy will likely end up in one of my kids’ stockings this year.
Barbie Mariposa and The Fairy Princess Castle Playset with Mini-Dolls $21.51 (3 – 10 years)
No one was more surprised than me when I found myself putting this plastic Barbie castle in my Amazon cart but I just couldn’t stomach spending $60 – $100 on a wooden castle that I would prefer when I knew what my daughter really wanted was something that was purple and pink and sparkly. (Plus, I wasn’t totally convinced how much she’d play with a castle and those wood versions have a BIG footprint – I really liked the compact size of this one.)
So, after a lot of research, I ordered this one and crossed my fingers that it wouldn’t be a piece of junk that fell apart in a few weeks. Thankfully, my daughter loves it, it’s the perfect size for the 4″ magiclip princess dolls we got her and it’s held up remarkably well. Plus it came with two additional fairy dolls that actually “fly” around the top.
Disney Frozen Glitter Glider Anna, Elsa and Olaf Doll Set $23.80 (3 – 10 years)
Now that we have the Disney princess dolls and the Barbie Mariposa castle above, we’ll be adding this set of 4″ Anna and Elsa dolls to our daughter’s collection for Christmas. Not only do the dolls in this set have removable, glittery dresses, they also “glide” around on new rolling mechanism. Plus, I love that an Olaf figurine comes with the duo.
There are also Glitter Glider dolls available in other Disney princess as well as a Disney Princess Glitter Glider Castle $35.00 (3 – 10 years). This wasn’t available when I first did my searching and were I to do it again I think I’d be just as likely to buy this one although the Barbie Fairy Princess Castle still has a slight edge with the room it allows for dramatic play (and accompanying props).
LEGO Disney Princess 41055 Cinderella’s Romantic Castle $59.97 (6 – 12 years)
As is attested to by the LEGO section of our “Best Building & Construction Toys” gift guide, we are a LEGO loving family (we even have an entire LEGO station in our house). So it’s no surprise that one of the few princess castles I recommend would be a LEGO castle.
When fully assembled, this is a thing of beauty and it comes with a lot of nice accessories. Plus, it’s a castle that promotes both imaginative open-ended play and spatial reasoning skill through building – win, win!
Melissa & Doug Folding Princess Castle $63.16 (3 – 10 years)
Had my daughter been a die-hard princess fan instead of a brand new one (and I knew she’d spend a lot of time playing with a princess castle), then this is undoubtedly the one I would have picked. I’m a fan of Melissa & Doug toys in general and I love that this play castle has lots of accessible reach-in play space thanks to multiple play levels and an open courtyard.
The impressive palace playscape also includes removable turrets, bedrooms, a working drawbridge, a stable, and more. Plus the wooden construction and hand-painted accents are wonderful and I like the fact that it expands large enough for several kids to play on at once but also folds into a smaller size when not in use.
Disney Dress Princess Outfits starting at $11.03 (2 – 6 years)
These are pretty much all our daughter wanted for her 4th birthday so she got several from friends. They have all held up impressively well amidst repeated dramatic play use (while I may not be the biggest princess fan, I do LOVE the creativity these dresses have brought out in my girl). Our favorites include Snow White, Aurora, Anna, and Merida.
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Still want more ideas? Don’t forget to check out all 15 of the MPMK Gift Guides,organized by your child’s age:
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The Best Toys for Babies
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The Very Best Toys for Two-Year-Olds
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Go-To Gifts for Preschoolers
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The Most Exciting Gifts You Can Give a Kindergartner
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Go-To Gifts for Elementary Aged Kids
For the hottest toys of the year see:
Plus, the rest of our guides organized by interest:
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Best Toys for Fostering S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineerin, and Math) Skills
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Best Toys for Staying Active Inside and for Getting Outdoors
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Best Toys for Art & Craft Lovers
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Best Kid Games for Family Game Night, Playing with Siblings, or Playing Alone
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Best Learning Toys for Quiet Time & Independent Play
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Best Building & Construction Toys (Including Best LEGOs)
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Best Dramatic Play Toys
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Best Toys for Vehicle Lovers
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Best Toys for Doll & Princess Lovers
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Best Toys for Baby
Tens of thousands of parents use these lists every Christmas to find the perfect gift!
If you like these recommendations, I encourage you to pin or bookmark them for later when you’re ready to start shopping.
I would also love it if you forwarded the list to your parenting friends or shared it on facebook – trust me, your friends will thank you for the help and you get to be the cool mom (or dad) with all the best resources. It’s a win-win.
Also, don’t forget for even more recommendations and alerts when we spot our gift guide items on sale: