Checking Our List #4: Pretend Play Kitchens ~ Melissa & Doug Play Food Groups Review & Giveaway

With two little ones, it's important that the toys we have last through the wear and tear of daily use. I can't tell you how many times we've purchased a new toy, only to have it break after just a few months (sometimes even less!). That's why I'm a huge fan of high quality wooden toys and am always on the lookout for items like this when I'm shopping for my kids.

Pretend Play Kitchens is the place to go for high quality pretend play kitchens, toy kitchen accessories and play food sets. They are committed to customer service and making sure you not only get competitive prices, but that your packages arrive quickly and safely.


When I first came across Pretend Play Kitchens, I was impressed with their selection of pretend kitchens. I have always thought it would be fun to have one of these wooden kitchens for the kids and enjoyed looking at the different kinds available. Whether you're looking for something geared towards girls, boys, or both...they have it all! As I browsed further I found that they offer so much more than just great kitchens, they also offer a large selection of fun kitchen accessories and play food sets that any child would love.

I couldn't have been happier when I learned that we were going to have the opportunity to review the Melissa & Doug Play Food Groups.
Features/Benefits:

• Made of child safe wood construction
  
• 21 pieces
• Five food groups
• Dimensions: 12.5" x 8.75" x 2.5" Packaged
• Recommended for ages 3 and up
• 4 wooden crates

When the product arrived I knew Kaelyn would want to play with them right away. She loves to help me in the kitchen and enjoys pretending she is baking and cooking for us in her playroom. I love that toys like the Melissa & Doug Play Food Groups helps to encourage that love for pretend play.

We have owned several Melissa & Doug products over the years and have been very pleased with the quality. Once again, they did not disappoint! As I took the the packaging off the four crates, I was very pleased with the durable wooden crates and of course, the great quality of the play food. I could tell right away that this was going to be something that would last us a very long time.

I really like that the food comes in four sturdy crates. This not only makes it easy to store the food when it's not being played with...but since receiving it, we've had a fun time talking with Kaelyn about the different food groups and she loves to separate them into the crates.

The food itself is great, and I was very impressed with the number of pieces this set came with. There's a large number of items in each food group and with everything from watermelon and milk to fish and eggs...there's many options to make it easy for Kaelyn to 'prepare' balanced meals for us when we play with her.

We are very happy with this play food and know it will last us many years to come. Kaelyn has enjoyed every moment she's been able to spend playing with this food. The fact that it's all so realistic adds to the fun for her and makes her feel like she's right there in the kitchen helping me make meals. She is always asking us what we'd like her to make us, and of course, enjoys pretending that she's sitting down to eat some of it with us too.

The Melissa & Doug Play Food Groups is just one of so many quality products offered at Pretend Play Kitchens. This and others would make fantastic gifts for the children on your gift list this year!


Buy It: You can purchase the Melissa & Doug Play Food Groups for $28.95 at PretendPlayKitchenShop.com. There is now free shipping on all orders, and, if anyone signs up on their mailing list, they get an instant $5.00 off coupon!

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a Melissa & Doug Play Food Groups set like the one we received.

Mandatory Entry - Visit Pretend Play Kitchens and leave a comment letting me know your favorite item from their site.

Extra Entries: Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry)

1. 1 extra entry- Enter the Play Kitchen Baking Set Giveaway at Thanks, Mail Carrier

2. 1 extra entry- 'Like' Pretend Play Kitchens on Facebook

3. 1 extra entry- Follow Pretend Play Kitchens on Twitter

4. 1 extra entry- Sign up for the Pretend Play Kitchens Newsletter on our site (when you sign up you'll receive an instant $5.00 Off Coupon from them)

5. 5 extra entries- Add a Play Kitchens sidebar text link (linking back to www.pretendplaykitchenshop.com) and leave the URL where it can be found

6. 5 extra entries- Add the Pretend Play Kitchens button to your sidebar and leave the URL where it can be found

7. 3 extra entries- Grab our Checking Our List Holiday Gift Guide Button and leave a comment with the URL where it can be found.

8. 3 extra entries- blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and Pretend Play Kitchens) and leave THREE comments with the URL to that post.

9. 1 extra entry- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for one extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

Checking Our List Day 4: #Win a Melissa & Doug Play Food Groups Set from @PlayKitchen! #momsbalancingact http://tinyurl.com/2cqxztu 11/26

10. 3 extra entries- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

11. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

12. 2 extra entries- 'Like' A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

13. 2 extra entries- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

14. Enter any of my other Holiday Gift Guide giveaways running now. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

Leave one comment for each entry you complete above including with each, your e-mail address so that I can easily contact the winner!!

This giveaway will end November 26th and is open to the US Only!

**[Product review & giveaway disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."]**