NYIGF Part 2: New Melissa & Doug Toys

One of the best parts of attending the New York International Gift Fair is getting a sneak peek at products that haven't hit store shelves yet. With this in mind, I wanted to share a bunch of fun new Melissa & Doug toys that I had an opportunity to check out (thanks to the company for providing me with a tour of their products). Most of these will be available to purchase this Spring either in-stores or online (good places to check are the Melissa & Doug website or Amazon.com's Melissa & Doug homepage--the latter usually has lower prices).

"Canvas Creations" painting kits ($6.99; available February 28th at Amazon.com) include everything you need: a ready-to-hang canvas with outlines, paint, palette, and brush.


Lots of new chunky puzzles (entire right hand panel) with large, easy-to-grasp pieces for toddlers and young preschoolers.


A cute variation on the classic "pound a peg" toy; this one has grinning faces that pop up each time you hit a peg down.



New "Animal Pattern Blocks" Set ($16.29, just released at Amazon.com) for ages 3 and up. Great for puzzle-solving and sorting skills.


Melissa & Doug is renowned for its playfood and will be introducing several new play food sets made of felt, including sandwiches and cookies:



This Spring/Summer, Melissa & Doug will expand its popular "Sunny Patch" Outdoor Lifestyle collections to include (top to bottom) bubble making sets, tableware (perfect for BBQs), and gardening carts.




Last but not least, this product was introduced last year, but the Melissa & Doug's Car Carrier ($15.51 at Amazon.com) is already a top seller and a perfect preschooler birthday gift.


Which new Melissa & Doug products do you think you might buy for your children? And what have been your favorite toys from them so far?