Top Gifts for Imagination Play

With the arrival of baby number 3 in our family, my kids have loved playing "family" with stuffed animals and dolls. Although I've given her my favorite dolls from my childhood, Strawberry most enjoys her Melissa & Doug Jenna - 12" Doll which she received for her first birthday. This is the perfect doll for a little child because it is small and light. A must-have accessory is the Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker, which helped her as she learned to walk since it is made of strong molded plastic. It was perfect for her baby doll! Melissa & Doug have many other 12-inch doll models, as well as many other accessories.

Strawberry keeps her baby doll in a small wooden crib that my father made for my doll when I was young. If you don't have your own family heirloom, the Badger Basket White Doll Crib may work for you.

Strawberry also enjoys her Sofia Toddler Doll, which she can comb and dress, or talk to like a friend. Add your child's favorite stuffed animal as well, and your child can become a parent who loves to play "house" too!

Lower cost alternative: Use real baby accessories, like newborn-sized diapers or a small umbrella stroller, to enjoy imaginative play.

The best imagination play in our house has to be related to our pretend kitchen. My son loves to cook, and now that he's old enough, he helps me out in the kitchen frequently. He's been "playing kitchen" for years, though! Now Strawberry has joined him in the playroom kitchen.

I love the Little Tikes Get Out n' Grill Kitchen Set because it provides a grill space, a burner for cooking, a sink, and underneath storage, but it does not take up as much space in our playroom as a full-sized play kitchen would. We have a simple bookshelf next to the grill to provide additional storage, to act as a microwave, or to fulfill any number of additional imagination roles. If you want a high-quality full-sized kitchen, the KidKraft Grand Gourmet Corner Kitchen or Step2 Heart of The Home Kitchen Set get fantastic reviews!

But while we have a smaller sized kitchen play unit, we do have a large number of food items for play, including the Melissa & Doug Food Groups, Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set, Learning Resources Market Set, Melissa & Doug Wooden Pantry Products. Don't forget the pots, pans, and dishes or the cash register for cooking and checking out the food!

Lower cost DIY alternative: Save empty containers, such as mini-cereal boxes, for imaginary play. Or, cut food out of felt in the desired shapes.