Well known for their well-made wooden toys, toy company Melissa and Doug® has produced a surprising number of dance-themed toys. These Melissa and Doug products can help toddlers and young children foster an appreciation for dance that extends beyond the studio.
Dance-Themed Puzzles
Puzzles help build early problem-solving skills as well as coordination, and Melissa and Doug has a ballet-themed one for every stage! Several dance-themed puzzles listed are made from real wood, allowing these classic toys to stand the test of time.
• 9-piece Chunky Puzzle for ages 2-4
• 10-piece Peg Puzzle for ages 2-4
• 12-piece Jigsaw Puzzle in a Box for ages 3-5
• 48-piece Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle for ages 4-6
• 48-piece Cardboard Jigsaw Puzzle for ages 4-7
• 100-piece Cardboard Jigsaw Puzzle for ages 6 and up
Dance-Themed Pretend Play
In case you don’t want your daughter wearing her good dance wear around the house, two dress-up sets fit most kids between ages 3 and 6.
You can let her dress like a dancer from head to toe shoes or provide her with four fun skirts, including a tutu, with this second set.
In addition to the children’s dress-ups, other dance-related pretend-play options from Melissa and Doug include a ballerina puppet and 14-inch ballerina doll; both are appropriate for girls from age 3 and up.
The ballerina puppet can be paired with other Melissa and Doug puppets, and the doll’s clothes can be exchanged with other 14-inch Melissa and Doug dolls, like this beautiful princess doll.
Dance-Themed Dress-up & Decorating
If you’d rather let her dress up a pretend ballet dancer, magnetic dress-up options include “Nina” and “Leah,” both geared toward children ages 3-6. A third magnetic dress-up toy provides a creative outlet, too: the Decorate-Your-Own version includes the pencils, stickers and glitter needed to personalize the ballerina and her outfit. Appropriate for ages 4-8, it’s similar to this other decoration doll.
Geared toward the over-8 set, these 3-dimensional Decorate-Your-Own Ballerina figurines come with the paint you need to make one-of-a-kind decorations, possibly to give as gifts to fellow dancers.
Dance-Themed Activity Pads
For multi-sensory coloring, velvet is a definite win! All 6 of the pages in this marker pad offer ballet-themed images. Geared for ages 5-7, this set includes the markers, making it the perfect travel companion.
Not every page of this foil coloring pad is all about ballet, but this mixed-media activity pad is great for ages 3 and up! Like all Melissa and Doug dress-up sets, the pieces are each made in a way that allows even preschoolers to easily put them on and take them off, all by themselves, and they’re made with lasting quality.
Image credits: Melissa & Doug
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