Hey, cupcake: The Melissa and Doug cupcake kit is an awesome birthday gift for your preschooler.

My kids can play "birthday" pretty much every day. We have a ridiculous number of play cake sets, and if they're not around, my girls are happy to crumple up a piece of paper, stick a Q-tip in it and belt out Happy Birthday anyway. So wh…

Melissa & Doug cupcake set: Still one of the best toys for preschoolers and young kids
My kids can play "birthday" pretty much every day. We have a ridiculous number of play cake sets, and if they're not around, my girls are happy to crumple up a piece of paper, stick a Q-tip in it and belt out Happy Birthday anyway. So when I got a look at the brand new Bake and Decorate Cupcake Kit from Melissa & Doug I knew we had a home run. The latest offering from the most famous little toy company that made it big is another great option in their line of toys that inspire imagination and creativity. Four sizeable wooden cupcakes come with plastic "frosting" little hands can snap on and off, plus sturdy paper liners, a muffin tin, a potholder, and four big wooden candles that velcro onto the tops of the cupcakes. The frosting tops act like dry erase boards, and three markers dressed up like icing tubes let kids decorate the cupcakes--and inadvertently, their hands. Let's just say the markers can be as messy as real frosting, although I'm less inclined to lick my fingers afterward. For under $20, it's a really smart gift for preschoolers or thereabouts. The age reco is 3+ but I am not sure why - the pieces aren't particularly small and my 2.5 year-old can spend an entire day playing with it. Not even exaggerating. In fact if someone would like to come over and sing Happy Birthday with her 600,000 times in a row or so, I could sure use the break. Find the new Melissa and Doug Bake and Decorate Cupcake Kit at our affiliate amazon with free prime shipping.

More in KidsView all picks →

Q&A with children's book creator LeUyen Pham

Q&A with children's book creator LeUyen Pham

If you've been following us lately, you know how excited we are about our new Q&A books series. The chance to chat with authors like Sophie Blackall , LeUyen Pham, and the others coming up soon has been thrilling and delightful. And we'r…

Hanna Andersson: The pajamas we splurge on because they last forever

Hanna Andersson: The pajamas we splurge on because they last forever

Some kids’ pajamas are cute for approximately five minutes—and then they’re stretched out, faded, or covered in breakfast and stained forever. If you’re going to spend a little more on children’s sleepwear, it makes sense to choose somet…

Cool clothes for stylish kids

Cool clothes for stylish kids

Some kids’ shopping feels like a treasure hunt—in the best possible way. Maisonette is the online destination for moms who want children’s clothes, toys, accessories, and home finds that feel a little more special than the usual lineup. …