11 best wooden roleplay toys for HUGE pretend play
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Kids love nothing more than imitating us, and there are lots of toys out there to encourage that behavior.
Take for example the nicest set I found, this Melissa & Doug dollhouse. A great set for a variety of role-playing and pretend play. It is easy to carry as it can be folded with a sturdy handle.
In this guide, I discuss the 11 best wooden playsets for role play and what you should pay attention to when purchasing.
Let's look at the top options in a short overview. Then I'll dive deeper into each of these choices.
Overall best wooden role play toy
The house has two floors and is painted in a delicate complexion. Very stylish and with many windows with shutters.
Best wooden roleplay care
Made of sturdy cotton and wood with 8 parts such as a mirror, brush, eye shadow set, lipstick, compact box and perfume.
Best wood cleaning role play
It doesn't really have suction, but it's more like a game where you have to “suck” the popcorn, pretzels and more by going over it with the machine.
Best wooden store role play
Everything you need is included. From a cash register that opens and closes to chalkboard compartments where you put the food.
Best wooden cooking roleplay
Great wood and sturdy oven knobs that actually click give it a very real feel.
Best Wooden Role Play Dolls
In a world where dolls are often hyper-realistic and have all their work clothes on, it's nice to see a perfectly normal family as well.
Best woodworking role playing game
The strap is adjustable to fit all children from 3 to 6 years old and it comes with a hammer, screwdriver, wrench, ruler and saw.
Best post role play
In a world where everything is digital, you can learn what it's like to make and post letters with this set.
Best garden role play
Also good to teach them the different types of garden tools and plants while they are still having fun playing.
Best retro roleplay toy
The spinning gears and kaleidoscope lens are a nice addition.
Best emergency services role play
Designed to build your child's confidence and social skills with this imaginative role play game.
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What we discuss in this comprehensive post:
- 1 Wooden role play toy buying guide
- 2 Top 11 Wooden Role Play Toys Reviewed
- 2.1 Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Dollhouse
- 2.2 PlanToys Make-up Playset
- 2.3 Melissa & Doug Tasks Game Vacuum Cleaner
- 2.4 Kidkraft Market stall
- 2.5 New Classic Toys Bon Appetit Play Kitchen
- 2.6 Hape Modern Family
- 2.7 Melissa & Doug Tool Belt
- 2.8 Melissa & Doug Mailbox Playset
- 2.9 Tender Leaf Wheelbarrow Garden Playset
- 2.10 Le Toy Of Wooden Hollywood Camera
- 2.11 Le Toy Of Doctors Kit
- 3 Conclusion
Wooden role play toy buying guide
Normally I pay a lot of attention to age when buying, but since all the toys on this list are in the 3 to 6 years category I won't go into that too much.
Some sets, such as Le Toy Van Doktersset, have small parts that can be detached. If your child is younger than 4, I would definitely stay with them so they don't swallow anything. Or not giving the smallest parts (yet).
Some sets may be just more fun for a 2-year-old, but there is not much age difference.
Then what do you pay attention to?
Replayability
Replayability is the likelihood that they will want to play with it again and again after doing it a number of times.
The number of functions is a big part of this so that there is always something new to discover, but also the challenge and the amount of creativity they can put into it is important.
Think, for example, of the Melissa & Doug dollhouse with lots of furniture or the vacuum cleaner that also turns it into a real game.
Things like that make them return to it more often.
I rated each toy for replayability on a 5-point scale.
Sustainability
You will also find a score for sustainability with each assessment.
- How long will the toy last under normal use?
- How well does it take rough play?
Especially if you have found a toy that they like, you want it to last a long time.
Fortunately, you are already choosing wooden toys when you buy something from this list. That is a lot more durable than plastic.
The construction of the individual pieces also plays a major role and how it is attached.
One-piece solid wood is the most durable. Glued parts a lot less, and extra fastening with the right screws can help a lot with this.
Top 11 Wooden Role Play Toys Reviewed
Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Dollhouse
- Many accessories in a handy carrying format
- Sturdy wooden construction
- No closure on the house so that it falls open
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From 3 years
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Best: 4 – 5 years
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Until: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Nurturing play, Dolls
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €51,38 – $48,99
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety Components: Non-toxic material
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender stereotyping
There are a lot of accessories such as a sofa, easy chair, cupboard, bed and a TV furniture. Plus 2 dolls to play with. The dolls are very neutral and can be used for anything, which makes the open-ended game high and appeals to the imagination.
The folding construction and the sturdy carrying handle make it a very handy set to take with you. Only a closure is missing from the house so that it remains closed.
Now you have to wear it very hard or make a closure on it yourself.
The house is a bit small to play with several at once and you can only reach it from one side, one of the few reasons that the play value is a bit lower than it could have been. Furthermore, both the house and the figures can be combined with a variety of other toys for even more replayable value.
PlanToys Makeup Playset
- Made from sustainable rubberwood and cotton
- Complete set with 8 parts
- Quite pricey for the size of the set
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From 3 years
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Best: 4 – 6 years
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Until: 6 years
- Material: Wood, Rubberwood
- Theme: Care game, Make-up
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €42 – $35
- Sustainability: Environmentally friendly
- Learning objective: Cognitive development, Pretend play
- Storage: Storage compartments
- Safety Components: Non-toxic material
- Playtime: Short (<10 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender stereotyping
This is a complete set made of sturdy cotton and sustainable rubberwood with formaldehyde-free glues and organic pigments. It contains 8 parts such as a mirror, brush, eyeshadow set, lipstick, compact box and perfume.
The play value is enormous. The cotton bag can be tied around a child's waist to hold the cosmetics like a makeup artist. So it's not just imitating you, but you can also play that they do it as work. This provides extra social interaction and appeals to the imagination.
The replayability is also good but could perhaps have been a little better if it was easier to combine with other types of toys. That would have also made it a bit more versatile. Many people complain a bit about the bag. They were expecting more of a makeup bag to carry it in, but it's really just to tie around your waist and put some of the accessories in.
PlanToys is a renowned brand for their sustainability and has won several awards including the Reddot Design Award, Oppenheim Gold Seal, Parent Choice Award Gold and the Spiel Gut Award.
Melissa & Doug Tasks Game Vacuum Cleaner
- Game and vacuum cleaner in one
- Great wooden construction
- quite heavy
- Maybe they still want to help with the real vacuum cleaner
Suitable for: from 3 years
The Melissa & Doug vacuum cleaner is quite different from the others on this list, but that is also a lot of fun!
It is made of wood, so if you like wooden toys, this is also a nice choice.
It doesn't really have suction, but it's more like a game where you have to “suck” the popcorn, pretzels and more by going over it with the machine.
As soon as your child does that, the piece of dirt, which is also all made of wood and looks very cute, will be picked up by the bin.
Kidkraft Market stall
- Sturdy wooden construction
- Cheerful awning and the chalkboard compartments are a nice addition
- Checkout is not very good
Does your child like to play shop? Then the Kidkraft market stall is a good solution. It is not a mega store so the space it takes up is limited.
Everything you need is included. From a cash register that opens and closes to chalkboard compartments where you put the food.
Quite a few of the toys can eat in whatever you might choose from this list and the market crates in particular work well with this stall.
It is sturdy and stands well on its feet. Only the checkout is not very good. The case is also sturdy, but the buttons feel very cheap and I don't think they will last very long.
New Classic Toys Bon Appetit Play Kitchen
- Solid wood construction, not laminate
- Oven knobs really click and feel very solid
- Rotary knob microwave does not click and tap is also less sturdy
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From 2 years
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Best: 2 – 5 years
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Until: 6 years
- Material: Wood, MDF
- Theme: Food and dining related, Kitchen
- Play Mode: Solo
- Price at time of writing: €105,99 – $114,99
- Durability: None
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Tricky
- Safety parts: No small parts
- Playtime: Extended (30+ min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
Extremely easy to use with no complicated functions but still some nice interactive things that increase the play value. For example, the rotary knobs of the oven give a real click, as if you were actually choosing a setting, which appeals to the imagination. The hobs light up and make a bubbling sound, but batteries are required for this and the hob is therefore plastic.
The chosen material is therefore not very good, with MDF wood from an apparently non-sustainable source and still some plastic.
There is plenty to play with the included pans, ladle, spatulas, pepper pot and salt set and even plates. A whole lot of accessories that you don't see in every kitchen, and all made of wood (except for the removable metal sink). This also makes it versatile.
With the many accessories and saving on material, the set is not that expensive at all, which makes it a good value for money choice.
Not too big, fits in a corner of the room like ours against the couch. This way it gives your child a lot of fun.
It also doesn't take too much space around it because everything happens at the front of the kitchen. You just need some space to open the oven, which folds down.
Thanks to all the accessories, it can also be combined with other toys, which improves the replayability. With us, the removable sink and pans always participate in games with color sorting and playing with sensory toys such as dried beans or corn.
The longevity is also very high, nothing has peeled off the verg in the 3 years we have had it and the durability is also high.
Hape Modern Family
- Nice normal family
- Not too much detail so they could be anything in role play
- Relationships between parents and children are a bit strange
In a world where dolls are often hyper-realistic and have all their work clothes on, it's nice to see a perfectly normal family as well.
That makes it good for role play. The dolls could be anything, your child can play with them as they please.
You have every role in the family so the first thing played is probably family, but then your child can come up with all sorts of creative storylines.
They are very cute dolls with soft clothes and movable limbs. This way you can let them sit or stand in different positions.
This set has won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award and there are several variants such as an African and Asian family.
The rope hair and soft clothes make it a lot more fun to play with than plastic variants.
The dolls are 1:12 size dollhouse dolls but the adults are very small. Only 4'3” or 1 meter 23. The children's dolls are the right size.
Melissa & Doug Tool Belt
Nice on its own or together with the Melissa & Doug tool box because the pieces also fit together.
Of course, a construction worker needs a belt to store his tools.
The strap is adjustable to fit all children from 3 to 6 years old and it comes with a hammer, screwdriver, wrench, ruler and saw.
The 8 building pieces are not very many so that will get boring quickly, but this set is not really intended for that.
The belt and tool are very sturdy. Those will last for a while. As with the toolbox, the bolts are also glued, so that is a little less for older children.
Melissa & Doug Mailbox Playset
- Very sturdy mailbox with hinged door
- Fun playset with rewritable cards and stickers
- Door sticks a bit
In a world where everything is digital, you can learn what it's like to make and post letters with this set.
With a sturdy wooden mailbox and a bright red flag you can immediately see when there is mail again! The mailbox has a sturdy hinged door.
They can personalize everything with the stickers. And I especially like the letters, on which you can write or draw, which you can also wipe off.
To be able to use it as a game, there are drawing activities and play ideas. So there is always something to send.
A nice set for 4 to 6 years. The door jams a bit, making it really difficult for smaller children to play independently.
Tender Leaf Wheelbarrow Garden Playset
- Many activities in one set
- Colorful and sturdy
- The flower is top-heavy, so it falls quickly
- The wheelbarrow is very small
An incredibly fun toy where they can play all kinds of things from the garden.
Also good to teach them the different types of garden tools and plants while they are still having fun playing.
Includes a wheelbarrow with 3 seed bags, 3 flower pots (sunflower, carrot, tomato), a water jug, pruning shears and trowel.
In addition, Tender Leaf makes its wooden toys from the rubber tree, a renewable form of toy making. So it is also better for the environment.
He's very small. To be able to drive it around you have to bend over a lot as a child. But to put it down and play with it is a lot of fun.
There is also quite a bit to play. For example, you can cut the flower with the scissors and the tomatoes are attached with Velcro so that you can pick them.
Le Toy Van Wooden Hollywood Camera
- Sturdy wooden design
- Gears and kaleidoscope lens are very nice
- Pretty small, it's not a big hollywood camera for your kid
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From 3 years
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Best: 3 – 4 years
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Until: 5 years
- Material: Rubberwood
- Theme: Props, Camera
- Play Mode: Cooperative
- Price at time of writing: €28,69 – $22,80
- Sustainability: Sustainable production
- Production: Manufacturing
- Storage: Compact
- Safety parts: Rounded corners
- Playing Time: Longer (10 – 30 min)
- Gender inclusiveness: Gender neutral
What great play value you get here. Easy to use, high open-ended game and appeals to the imagination. In addition, it is designed to stimulate social interaction because you, brothers or sisters or boyfriends and girlfriends will surely want to be in front of the camera.
It also has quite a bit of interactivity with a push button and a jog wheel and a kaleidoscopic lens. The fact that it doesn't make any noise and doesn't need batteries is actually an advantage.
The replayability only suffers from the lack of versatility and possibilities to combine it with other toys, although it can also be used well with dress-up clothes.
With the sturdy rubberwood construction (also very durable) and the great timeless look, that is actually the only point where the toy score could have been higher.
Le Toy Van Doctors Kit
- Good solid set of overalls
- Very fun activities that you can really use
- Stethoscope breaks quickly
- Quite pricey
This toy is designed to build your child's confidence and social skills. And it couldn't be more fun than with this imaginative role-playing game.
This set from Le Toy Van is also made of durable rubber wood and is extremely sturdy. Includes a stethoscope, thermometer, syringe, blood pressure monitor, ear scope, reflex hammer, scissors and two vials.
Get ready to be examined!
I really mean that. Many of the other toys on this list can also be played on their own, but not the doctor set.
If you like to participate, or a brother or sister, or friends who often come to play, it's fun. But if you don't always want to play with the set yourself, then it's better to buy something else.
But you can also always encourage your child to thoroughly examine the teddy bear collection.
It also seems more made for that. For example, the strap of the blood pressure monitor is too small and does not fit around a child's arm.
There are very sturdy parts, but the stethoscope breaks quickly, I see after reading a lot of reviews. Many positive ones, but also a couple where parts broke off.
That is a pity for such an expensive set.
Conclusion
These are the best wooden playsets for perfect role play. What will your little one take on his next adventure?
Always something to do for the holidays or rainy day?
Play Choice now has the ultimate activity book collection, with over 60 pages of fun coloring pages and educational puzzles.
Joost Nusselder, the founder of Speelkeuze.nl is a content marketer, father and loves trying out new toys. As a child he came into contact with everything related to games when his mother started the Tinnen Soldaat in Ede. Now he and his team create helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with fun play ideas.
