When the moon hits your eye like a wooden pizza pie, that’s amore!
The Melissa & Doug Top & Bake Pizza Counter turns kids ages 3 and up into the chef of their very own pizza place! The set comes with more than 40 items, including toppings like pepperoni, green peppers, olives, and mushrooms; a pizza board to put the pizza in the oven; a pizza cutter; and the dough, cheese, and tomato sauce that make up a classic pizza.
Kids who like to play pretend can take on a new role with this set, which is chock full of imaginative play potential. Little chefs can take pizza orders using the order sheet and take play money from their customers. They can also put together the pizza using the felt cheese and tomato sauce pieces, then add on the requested toppings, which are kept in small bins on the counter. Once the pizza is prepared, they can stick it into the oven to “cook” before putting it in the cardboard pizza box. For a final finishing touch, there is also a bottle of parmesan cheese that kids can pretend to sprinkle on top of their pies. The pizza pieces all stick together using a strong velcro, so kids don’t have to worry about their pizzas falling apart while they’re in the oven or being delivered to the customer.
Taking orders from friends and family with this set is a great skill-building opportunity for toddlers. They can learn to count and make change with the play money. Using the picture-based menu can show kids how to put orders together without having to memorize them, while also helping them practice following instructions.
For the most part, the set and its pieces are very sturdy — just watch out for splinters since the set is made from wood. The only exception to this is the cardboard pizza box that comes with the set. It is a real pizza box, which means kids can’t treat it as roughly as the rest of the set. When it’s time to put the counter away, most of the pieces can fit into the pizza box, with the exception of the cheese bottle and the pizza board. Then, kids can put the pizza box and pizza board into the oven for storage while the cheese goes in the toppings tray above.
Overall, the Melissa & Doug Top & Bake Pizza Counter is a fun spin on classic pretend restaurants and kitchens. Order up!
