I was so excited to get our 2-year-old twins the Melissa and Doug Pretend Grocery Store for Christmas. Melissa and Doug toys are so well made, and I love that they are durable! There’s just something so aesthetically pleasing about wooden toys, and I love that they generally last a long time.
Honestly, my inner child comes out whenever I am shopping online for toys for our twins, I can’t wait to show them a special toy that arrives on our door step and play with them! It is funny to think that in this generation, my kids have never stepped foot in a toy store before! Do you remember Toys R Us or KB Toys? I do know there is still a Gepetto’s at a mall nearby but I haven’t taken them inside because of our wagon stroller (⬅️ read all about it) – I doubt it could go through all the aisles haha. Side note: sadly our exact wagon is currently not on Amazon anymore but the brand is called ZDTM.
I love buying what I call “heirloom-quality” toys — the kind that are made to last for years, not just break after a few months of play. I don’t mind investing in durable toys because I would rather have less toys that are well made than several toys that are constantly breaking. Heirloom quality toys. This also means that in a year or two, these toys won’t be obsolete or irrelevant because they were some trending fad. Why I love Melissa and Doug toys is because they mimic real life, so that children can pretend play grocery store, restaurant, kitchen, etc.
In this post, I am going to share with you my twins favorite play area, and why it is so beneficial for cognitive development.
Shop Fresh Mart Accessories!
- Crochet Fruits and Vegetables
- Fisher-Price Wood Pretend Play Toy Picnic Basket
- Melissa & Doug Wooden Pantry Products
- Melissa & Doug Wooden Fridge Foods
- Ryan and Rose Chop & Play Veggies
Why Every Playroom Needs a Grocery Store
Encourages Open-Ended Play
As a little girl, I loved playing “restaurant”, “library” and “store” with my mom. There’s something so special about getting lost in imagination and stepping into different roles through pretend play. I love observing our 2-year-olds play with the grocery store. Also, they don’t have much experience in grocery/retail stores, I can count on my one hand how many times they’ve been in a store. To be exact, our twins have been to a Trader Joe’s once, and Target four times in their lifetime. Thanks to online shopping, it has saved so much time and energy! I’ve watched our son “build a tower” with the pantry items and pretend the organic spaghetti is a phone. I’ve seen our daughter organize the fridge, or load up her grocery cart with all the pretend food. It is quite entertaining to watch how they interact with the grocery store.
Open-ended play is one of the best creative gifts we can give our kids. When a toy doesn’t light up, talk, or tell them exactly what to do, it invites them to think, imagine, and create on their own. Open-ended toys encourage problem-solving, storytelling, and critical thinking skills in a natural way. They also help children build confidence as they make decisions and explore new ideas independently. Instead of being entertained, they become the creators of their own fun. This kind of play nurtures creativity, strengthens social skills, and lays a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Lessens Screen Time
In a high tech world, it is getting harder and harder to live without constant technology vying for our attention. Sadly, years ago it seemed that only business men and women had a Blackberry-remember those?? Now everyone has a small computer in the palm of their hand – even young children! Believe me, I’m not anti-technology or anti-screens. Like anything good, though, too much of it can become a problem. Screen time is naturally addictive, and little ones simply don’t yet have the cognitive ability to regulate how much is too much.
Imaginary play helps kids sit in the front seat of creativity and learning, instead of simply holding a device and watching a fun show. When children engage in pretend play, they’re building stories, solving problems, practicing communication, and exploring the world in a hands-on way. They become the creators, the decision-makers, and the storytellers. That kind of active engagement strengthens their imagination, confidence, and critical thinking skills — all while they’re simply having fun.
Helps Develop Language and Vocabulary
When kids play "grocery store" or "restaurant," they are constantly labeling items and using action words. They learn the names of specific fruits, vegetables, and pantry staples, while also practicing conversational phrases like:
- "How much does this cost?"
- "Would you like some soup?"
- "Next in line, please!"
- “It’s time for me to pay for my groceries!”
Teaches Basic Math and Sorting Skills
Food toys are perfect for early STEM concepts. You'll often see kids naturally start to:
- Categorize: Grouping items by color, shape, or food group (e.g., all the "cold" items in the freezer section).
- Count: Counting out five apples or two loaves of bread.
- Understand Currency: Older kids can practice basic addition and subtraction by "charging" for items and giving back "change."
Strengthens Fine Motor Skills & Hand-Eye Coordination
Handling small grocery items, placing them on shelves, or using play knives to "cut" Velcro-connected food (a staple of the Melissa & Doug line) builds the small muscles in their hands. This translates directly to better pencil control and utensil use later on.
Builds Social-Emotional Intelligence
Role-playing helps children navigate the real world. By taking turns being the "shopkeeper" and the "customer," they practice empathy and patience. And as you can imagine, twins often have a difficult time sharing so they are learning how to take turns playing shopkeeper.
Our son loves knocking toys over, but since the toys are wooden, they make a lot of noise when they fall on the floor. This is a good coaching opportunity for me to teach him how to be gentle with toys. I enjoy being able to teach them simple lessons through play, and seeing them act out these lessons. For instance, I see how both our twins (boy and girl) are kind and caring towards their Melissa and Doug baby dolls.
Encourages Healthy Eating Habits
Studies suggest that when children become familiar with the shapes and names of healthy foods through play, they are often more willing to try them on their actual dinner plates. It removes the "fear of the unknown" regarding vegetables.
Since our twins were 6 months old and we started them on solids, it has been a goal of mine to be intentional about the foods we give them. We try to follow the 80/20 rule, 80% of the time we eat healthy, organic foods, and 20% of the time we enjoy sweets and treats. It is fun to see that most of the crochet fruits and vegetables they quickly recognize simply because they’re already part of our everyday meals.
In Closing
I highly recommend the Melissa and Doug Pretend Grocery Store for toddlers. It encourages imagination, builds social skills, and creates so many opportunities for meaningful, open-ended play. I love that it’s sturdy, thoughtfully designed, and made to last through years of little shoppers and shopkeepers.
If you’re looking for a playroom addition that sparks creativity while keeping little hands busy in the best way, this grocery store is such a sweet investment. It’s one of those toys that truly grows with your child and never seems to lose its charm.
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