Review: Melissa & Doug Grocery Store / Lemonade Stand (Giveaway!)

Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Product Reviews, Toy Safety 

Pin It!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Let’s start the new year off with a review and a fabulous giveaway, shall we? I try to make good choices with everything, including toys and gifts.  So when Melissa and Doug offered to let us test out their Grocery Store / Lemonade Stand I was totally excited. I love providing my son toys that foster his vivid imagination and this delivers.  He’s been actively playing Lemonade Stand daily since it arrived in early December… we saw some kids selling lemonade over the summer and he had been talking about it ever since.  So when we set this up he was totally psyched!

We have other smaller Melissa & Doug toys (puzzles mostly) and I love that all their toys are wood instead of a giant hunk of plastic.  Wood toys seem to look new longer and are really durable.  This was fairly easy to assemble (my husband didn’t swear once… ok maybe one time but he has no patience for any toy assembly no matter how easy).

The stand comes with a reversible canopy so they can play grocery store… with the 9 food bins they can stock their store with food (or in our case, small stuffed animals, matchbox cars and wood blocks), or flip the canopy sign over to play lemonade stand.  It also comes with 9 removable chalk boards so your little shop owner can label and re-label their bins as they please.  (This would make a great art supply station later too… the top is the perfect height for writing or coloring on.

Melissa & Doug take extensive precautions to ensure their toys are safe for our little ones. They audit and inspect their factories and test at various stages of the development process so that every step of the toy making process yields a safe product.   What I was happy to hear was that they regularly test their surface coatings and paints to ensure their toys meet or exceed government recommendations limiting heavy metals and lead in childrens items.

Win It!

Melissa and Doug are giving one Lemonade Stand to one of our lucky readers in the US.

To Enter:

  1. Visit MelissaandDoug.com
  2. Leave a comment telling us what Melissa and Doug toys you think your kids would enjoy!

For extra entries to win:

  1. Join our Facebook group
  2. Follow SafeMama on Twitter: @SafeMama
  3. Follow @MelissaandDoug on Twitter
  4. Tweet this entry:   Enter to win @MelissaandDoug Lemonade Stand on @SafeMama http://tinyurl.com/yf35bnx
  5. Add our button to your website or blog and let us know in a comment!

Please be sure to leave separate comments for each one, so that we can count your extra entries!

Contest ends on January 15th at 11:59PM. One winner will be chosen at random.  Open to US residents only.  Good Luck!

Giveaway Ended.  Thank you for entering! Congratulations to our winner Melissa (commenter #89) !

Get Your Own: This would be a great birthday gift for  Lemonade Stand available on Melissa & Doug’s website!

Posted by: SafeMama Kathy on January 4, 2010
RSS Bookmark to del.icio.us Search Technorati for links to this post Digg this post on digg.com Print This Post

Comments

131 Responses to “Review: Melissa & Doug Grocery Store / Lemonade Stand (Giveaway!)”

  1. erin Benesh on January 4th, 2010 4:40 pm

    chef play costume!

  2. Nexyoo on January 4th, 2010 4:42 pm

    I love the lemonade stand! So cute. It seems like it could also be used as an actual lemonade stand out on the sidewalk when summer rolls around…

  3. karen on January 4th, 2010 4:46 pm

    we are huge fans of melissa and doug toys. i think my two girls would love the multi-level solid wood dollhouse!

  4. Elisabeth on January 4th, 2010 4:56 pm

    Would love this for my 3 year old boy!

    I also am looking into getting him bead sequencing set, lace and trace shapes, and the lacing beads set!

    (Plus, after he outgrows them, they’ll be a great addition to the school where I am director!)

  5. Karen B on January 4th, 2010 4:57 pm

    I have joined the SafeMama FB group.
    Thanks

  6. Karen B on January 4th, 2010 4:58 pm

    And am now following M&D on Twitter

  7. Karen B on January 4th, 2010 4:59 pm

    and you too.. of course

  8. Elisabeth on January 4th, 2010 4:59 pm

    I am already a member of your Facebook group.

  9. Karen B on January 4th, 2010 5:08 pm

    I am hoping she will help me with gardening this year, so the Blossom Tote Set looks a winner.

  10. Angel on January 4th, 2010 5:19 pm

    Joined facebook group!

  11. Angel on January 4th, 2010 5:21 pm

    I don’t know if there’s a Melissa and Doug toy my child wouldn’t enjoy. But, he’s at the age where he could use a shape sorter and maybe the Pound and Roll toys. He also loves musical instruments! I love that they are wooden and safe.

  12. Elisabeth on January 4th, 2010 5:25 pm

    Following Melissa & Doug on Twitter

    @ehunter1979

  13. Elisabeth on January 4th, 2010 5:25 pm

    Follower of safemama

    @ehunter1979

  14. Elisabeth on January 4th, 2010 5:26 pm

    Tweeted the Giveaway!

  15. Elisabeth on January 4th, 2010 5:29 pm

    And there is a Safe Mama button on my blog.

    hudsonsmom.blogspot.com

  16. jan on January 4th, 2010 5:35 pm

    i love the puzzles that they make!

  17. kate brandel on January 4th, 2010 5:37 pm

    definitely the puppet theater!

  18. melissa on January 4th, 2010 6:35 pm

    My son would love their train sets! I really like the swivel bridge set

  19. melissa on January 4th, 2010 6:35 pm

    I am a facebook fan

  20. melissa on January 4th, 2010 6:36 pm

    I follow on twitter @terrilleye

  21. Angela Smith on January 4th, 2010 6:40 pm

    Alex, my son, would LOVE the train sets with the activity table. He would also love the wooden pizza party and the tool set.

  22. Heather on January 4th, 2010 7:14 pm

    My son would love the take along tool kit and art easel.

    Thanks for this great giveaway!

    Heather

  23. Bess on January 4th, 2010 7:36 pm

    We love Melissa and Doug! My daughter just got the train set for Christmas and the small doll house for her birthday. They are both a HUGE hit. Right now, we have our eye on their new Sunny Patch line for summer.

    I’m now a fan on Facebook too!

  24. Alexandra McStay on January 4th, 2010 8:08 pm

    My daughter would love this lemonade stand. We live in a nice neighborhood but we only has 1 neighbor that has children and even though they play together a lot, I could see the 2 girls setting up a stand and selling lemonade or cookies to all the other neighbors on a weekly basis! How fun!

  25. Mia on January 4th, 2010 8:16 pm

    my little girl LOVES birthdays. she would love the wooden birthday cake with candles.

    (also follower on twitter)

  26. susie on January 4th, 2010 8:46 pm

    I have been wanting to get my daughter some more food. We have the fruit. But I want to get her the sandwiches and the pizza. She would LOVE the grocery/lemonade stand. She loves her kitchen so I know this would be a hit.

  27. kendra on January 4th, 2010 9:14 pm

    I think all their stuff is pretty cool, but I think my baby boy would love the Caterpillar Grasping Toy at his age (8 mo). He loves anything bright and red.

    I also have my eye on the play food, like the sushi set.

  28. kendra on January 4th, 2010 9:15 pm

    following Melissa and Doug on Twitter @kskeene

  29. kendra on January 4th, 2010 9:16 pm

    tweeted this @kskeene

  30. kendra on January 4th, 2010 9:16 pm

    following safemama on twitter @kskeene

  31. kendra on January 4th, 2010 9:17 pm

    joined the SafeMama facebook group.

  32. roberta rice on January 4th, 2010 9:26 pm

    We have tons of Melissa and Doug toys. My 7 month old loves the picnic basket and my 2 yr old enjoys her puzzles and stacking blocks. She would absolutely love to have this lemonade stand!

  33. Lyn on January 4th, 2010 10:04 pm

    the band-in-a-box is pretty neat! Looks like a great brand would look more into them. =)

  34. Lyn on January 4th, 2010 10:04 pm

    I follow on facebook!

  35. Alison on January 4th, 2010 10:24 pm

    I am now a FB fan.

  36. Alison on January 4th, 2010 10:24 pm

    Now following SafeMama on Twitter.

  37. Alison on January 4th, 2010 10:25 pm

    And following Melissa & Doug as well :)

  38. Alison on January 4th, 2010 10:27 pm

    What a great giveaway! We love Melissa & Doug at our house. My kids would enjoy the Ice Cream Parlor Set, the Basic Skills Board and any of the train sets!

  39. Robin on January 4th, 2010 10:46 pm

    I think my son would love the pizza set. He’s been fascinated with our pizza cutter for a while now and I think he would have fun with his own pizza he could cut :)

  40. Emily on January 4th, 2010 10:48 pm

    My daughter loves all her Melissa and Doug toys! I think she would really enjoy the Lemonade stand, and also the farmhouse and dollhouse, and any pretend play toys!

  41. kelly on January 4th, 2010 11:18 pm

    My kids would love to have the Stamp and Sort Mailbox! They’ve seen one at a friend’s house and were absolutely entranced! ;-) I think they’d love the Lemonade Stand too – and I’m getting a bit tired of my coffee table being turned into a “store” or a “yard sale” (depending on the day). Come to think of it, we could use that play money set from M&D too…!

  42. Laura on January 5th, 2010 12:48 am

    The bowling game sparked my 4 year old boy’s interest.

  43. Judy on January 5th, 2010 1:09 am

    kitchen accessory set. my kid likes to pretend shes cooking with mommy.

  44. Lea Zwettler on January 5th, 2010 3:01 am

    my son loves music so band in a box or puppet show which we could use for musical displays as well

  45. Aimee on January 5th, 2010 3:29 am

    We LOVE Melissa and Doug toys! My daughter got to try the lacing beads last month and they are on our list to buy. I’m also going to pick up the Birthday Party set before our baby is born. My almost 2 year old will enjoy celebrating with it.

  46. PunkRockChic on January 5th, 2010 3:38 am

    My son would love the Take Along Tool Kit, the Pound & Roll Tower, the Pound a Peg, the Lacing Sneaker and definitely the Lemonade Stand. Honestly, he’d probably love playing with everything on the site, haha!

  47. cindy on January 5th, 2010 3:57 am

    Right now, my son is loving their puzzles!

  48. Emily O. on January 5th, 2010 4:12 am

    We adore M&D toys. My daughter actually asked for a grocery store for Christmas and we got her a cash register, the Lemonade Stand/Store would be PERFECT for her.

    My son got the Chomp Chomp push toy and loves it. He would enjoy the pound a peg wooden tool set.

  49. Emily O. on January 5th, 2010 4:25 am

    Joined your facebook group also!

  50. George on January 5th, 2010 4:58 am

    We love Melissa and Doug! I would love to get the food groups for my girls. I know they would love “cooking” with them and sorting them!

  51. Lettie on January 5th, 2010 4:59 am

    My girls received a kitchen for Christmas and are itching to have something like the “dry goods set” to play with. I love how durable Melissa and Doug toys are!

  52. deliarose on January 5th, 2010 2:33 pm

    The pizza party looks like it would be hours of fun!

  53. Danielle on January 5th, 2010 3:34 pm

    My daughter would love the slice and back cookie set and the wooden doll highchair.

  54. Jaime on January 5th, 2010 4:31 pm

    I love Melissa & Doug toys! My daughter got a kitchen for Christmas so I’m sure she would love the Food Groups playset!

  55. Diana on January 5th, 2010 5:55 pm

    My son loves to pretend he’s cooking, the chef set would definitely be enjoyed.

  56. aimee c. on January 5th, 2010 5:59 pm

    cute stand!

    i love melissa & doug. my son has grown up with them. we started with the puzzles, and now we’re on to their pretend foods!

    thanks so much!

  57. aimee c. on January 5th, 2010 6:00 pm

    we follow safe mama on twitter. thanks again!

  58. aimee c. on January 5th, 2010 6:01 pm

    i just tweeted the link to the giveaway! thanks AGAIN!

  59. Tiffany on January 5th, 2010 6:18 pm

    My son loves taking apart and playing with the puzzles. He also got the toolbox fill and spill set for christmas that he enjoys! I think he would enjoy the wooden manipulative toys as much as the plush toys. The caterpillar grasping toy would be perfect for him to carry around and play with all over the house. We love the Melissa and Doug toys!

  60. Angie on January 5th, 2010 6:44 pm

    Would love the M&D Knight Costume Role Play set.

  61. Andrea on January 5th, 2010 8:11 pm

    The “chomp & clack alligator” push toy is adorable and would be perfect for my daughter!

  62. Andrea on January 5th, 2010 8:13 pm

    Also a Facebook fan!

  63. kim on January 5th, 2010 9:11 pm

    We’ve had so many M&D toys over the years… my 2 boys have loved the puzzles, the play food, and the abacus. I think the Mighty Builders would make a great birthday gift for my youngest in March!

  64. Anne on January 5th, 2010 10:11 pm

    My son would love any of the food related toys: lemonade stand, pizza set… Although I have to say the enormous giraffe caught my eye! :)

  65. Anne on January 5th, 2010 10:12 pm

    I am now following @MelissaandDoug

  66. Anne on January 5th, 2010 10:13 pm

    I follow and tweeted the giveaway at Anne_McClure

  67. Melody on January 5th, 2010 11:41 pm

    The beginner bandset, any food or vehicles would thrill my son. He would be so excited to get the lemonade stand!

  68. Rebecca on January 6th, 2010 12:27 am

    My daughter would love any of the doll houses and the grocery stand. She loves her pretend food.

  69. Jillian on January 6th, 2010 12:42 am

    I think my 2 1/2 year old daughter would love the multi-level doll house.

  70. Karen on January 6th, 2010 12:53 am

    I think my child would enjoy the wooden shape sorting clock

  71. Theresa on January 6th, 2010 1:10 am

    We LOVE the puzzles. The kids’ faves are the ABC sound and animal sound puzzles!! My 3 yr old always refers to the ABC puzzle when she see’s other letters around the house or out and about. She’ll say “Oh a v. V as in vine. Right mommy?” TOO Cute! Her birthday is in March so what a great gift this Lemonade Stand would be!

  72. Theresa on January 6th, 2010 1:10 am

    We are also Facebook fans!!

  73. Sandi on January 6th, 2010 1:55 am

    I think my daughter would love lacing beads, or any of their puzzles.

  74. Joann on January 6th, 2010 2:18 am

    the multi-activity table looks so fun!

  75. Joann on January 6th, 2010 2:19 am

    twitter follower @jnmac102

  76. Meghan on January 6th, 2010 3:14 am

    My son really likes his M&D grilling set, so I bet he’d have fun with the the Stir Fry Slicing Set, too!

  77. taryn on January 6th, 2010 12:56 pm

    My son is a big fan of their puzzles and the tool box, but he would love a doll house – the opening and closing of doors is endlessly fascinating.

  78. Sarah on January 6th, 2010 3:05 pm

    My girls would love the victorian doll house & accessories. We love all our Melissa & Doug toys & puzzles.

  79. Sarah on January 6th, 2010 3:06 pm

    I follow Safe Mama @crunchNCgirl

  80. Sarah on January 6th, 2010 3:06 pm

    also am a FB fan

  81. Sarah on January 6th, 2010 3:08 pm

    tweeted @crunchyNCgirl

  82. Bridget Boggiano on January 6th, 2010 6:29 pm

    We have lots of Melissa and Doug toys that we love. My daughter would love the doll house and my son the Mighty Builders Garbage Truck.

  83. Bridget Boggiano on January 6th, 2010 6:30 pm

    I am a fan on facebook

  84. Bridget Boggiano on January 6th, 2010 6:36 pm

    follow safemama on twitter @bboggiano

  85. Bridget Boggiano on January 6th, 2010 6:40 pm

    tweeted the entry

  86. Jennifer H. on January 6th, 2010 7:47 pm

    We saw this lemonade stand at a toy store before Christmas, and my daughter could not stop playing with it! We almost bought her one!

    She would also love the Ice Cream Parlor Set and the Stamp and Sort Mailbox. But I would love a puzzle organizer!!

  87. Melissa on January 7th, 2010 12:52 am

    I love their play food, especially the sushi set. That would be perfect for the play kitchen we made DD for her birthday.

  88. Melissa on January 7th, 2010 12:53 am

    I’m following you on twitter (camelfam).

  89. Melissa on January 7th, 2010 12:53 am

    I follow Melissa & Doug on twitter (camelfam).

  90. Melissa on January 7th, 2010 12:53 am

    Tweeted!
    http://twitter.com/camelfam/status/7460564639

  91. Marian on January 7th, 2010 1:52 am

    My son would love the tool set.

  92. Sarah on January 7th, 2010 1:16 pm

    I’m a fan of M&D toys; their playfoods are just too cute. It’s so nice to buy our kids wooden toys instead of toxic plastic.

  93. Lauren on January 7th, 2010 3:40 pm

    I love the Take-Along Tool Kit…my son would love to pound away on those pegs!

  94. Bezen on January 7th, 2010 5:39 pm

    I love their puzzles

  95. Deanna K on January 8th, 2010 2:25 am

    any of the playfood would be great in our house!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  96. Sarah H on January 8th, 2010 6:24 pm

    The classic toys are cool, especially the wooden toys. I love all the blocks.

  97. Sarah H on January 8th, 2010 6:24 pm

    Following on Facebook

  98. lisa on January 8th, 2010 7:11 pm

    my son would loves his puzzles and I think the abc puzzle would be great at his stage right now.
    thanks

  99. Katharine Curtin on January 8th, 2010 8:20 pm

    I love safemama and we would LOVE to own the Melissa and Doug lemonade stand. I’m so happy that you endorse their products. We are reluctant to buy anything without your ok. Thanks for the chance to win one! We added your logo to our blog. http://katharineandjohn.blogspot.com/

  100. Katharine Curtin on January 8th, 2010 8:21 pm

    I love safemama and we would LOVE to own the Melissa and Doug lemonade stand. I’m so happy that you endorse their products. We are reluctant to buy anything without your ok. Thanks for the chance to win one! We added your logo to our blog.

  101. Katharine Curtin on January 8th, 2010 8:22 pm

    We also joined your facebook group and I am seriously considering opening a twitter account just to keep up with you. I rely on your info daily – THANK YOU for the work that you do! I love safemama and we would LOVE to own the Melissa and Doug lemonade stand. I’m so happy that you endorse their products. We are reluctant to buy anything without your ok.

  102. Pam on January 8th, 2010 10:30 pm

    I love our son’s train set!

  103. Pam on January 8th, 2010 10:30 pm

    Facebook group

  104. Lisa on January 9th, 2010 5:50 am

    I would love to have a complete grocery pretend play area including the grocery cart.

  105. Lisa on January 9th, 2010 5:51 am

    I follow on facebook.

  106. Kimberly Rauda on January 9th, 2010 7:32 am

    Not sure if my daughter would like it but I do, the Stir Fry Slicing Set. Maybe then she would eat the dinner I make.

  107. Kimberly Rauda on January 9th, 2010 7:34 am

    I joined your FB group as Kimberly Magda Rauda

  108. Kimberly Rauda on January 9th, 2010 7:35 am

    I follow safemama on twitter as 1sttime40mom.

  109. Kimberly Rauda on January 9th, 2010 7:35 am

    I follow melissa & doug on twitter as 1sttime40mom.

  110. Kimberly Rauda on January 9th, 2010 7:49 am

    Tweeted (can we do this once a day?)
    http://twitter.com/1sttime40mom/status/7550792215

  111. Kimberly Rauda on January 9th, 2010 7:50 am

    I added your button to my blog.

  112. Lauren R on January 9th, 2010 9:50 pm

    I joined the SafeMama FB group!

  113. Lauren R on January 9th, 2010 9:53 pm

    I’m following you on Twitter!

  114. Lauren R on January 9th, 2010 9:53 pm

    I’m following Melissa and Doug on Twitter!

  115. Lauren R on January 9th, 2010 9:54 pm

    I tweeted Enter to win @MelissaandDoug Lemonade Stand on @SafeMama http://tinyurl.com/yf35bnx

  116. Viki on January 10th, 2010 2:25 am

    the stir fry set would be a hit with my crew, since they LOVE stir fry!

  117. Cathy on January 10th, 2010 3:54 am

    My son loves their shapesorter!

  118. Meghann Phillips on January 11th, 2010 6:42 pm

    My son loves the Melissa and Doug puzzles, I think he would get a kick out of the lemonade stand. Any of the other “food” toys would be a hit at our house as my son loves to play with pretend food/utencils!
    ~also joined facebook group

  119. Carleigh on January 11th, 2010 6:42 pm

    I follow @SafeMama

  120. Carleigh on January 11th, 2010 6:43 pm

    I am following @MelissaandDoug

  121. Carleigh on January 11th, 2010 6:43 pm

    my daughter would LOVE the lemonade stand! we love M&D toys!

  122. Carleigh on January 11th, 2010 6:44 pm

    I’m in your Facebook group!

  123. Ana on January 12th, 2010 5:09 pm

    My son would love the grocery cart and the kitchen set!! He loves the puzzles he has now too.

  124. Lisa on January 13th, 2010 1:32 am

    My daughter would love the kitchen as she plays with them whenever we go somewhere with one!

  125. Melanie on January 13th, 2010 4:25 am

    Food play is a HUGE play time at our house, Mommy loves to cook so do our twin 3 year olds!
    We would love the lemonade stand.

  126. Amanda Gore on January 13th, 2010 3:31 pm

    My little guy would love anything from their wooden car or train set. Especially the Parking Garage!

  127. AMBER DUNLAP on January 13th, 2010 4:50 pm

    WE LOVE MELISSA & DOUG TOYS AT OUR HOUSE! MY 2 YEAR OLD ESPECIALLY LOVES THE PUZZLES!

  128. Tara on January 14th, 2010 5:33 am

    My kids would love the pizza party set- my youngest especially loves playing chef and Pizza!
    thanks

  129. Amanda on January 15th, 2010 2:50 am

    My son would love the puppet theater. He plays with Melissa and Doug toys every day.

  130. Jamie Rana on January 15th, 2010 6:20 pm

    My daughter would love the number shape puzzles and puppets!

  131. Sarah on January 15th, 2010 10:28 pm

    We love Melissa and Doug. My son would love the wood play pizza set. He loves pizza and enjoys helping me make our pizza. A little one of his own would be great.

Latest CPSC Childrens Products and Toy Recalls

Car Seat Recalls

Latest FDA Recalls

Latest Recalls in Canada

Safer States Action Alerts





395256_125x125 Abes Market



Current-Special

I'm going to BlogHer '12