Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Multi-Activity Table Review
It seems like these days every child’s toy features blinking lights, flying ninjas and computer software. The noise alone can drive a parent crazy and children are losing the ability to entertain themselves. However the Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wooden Multi-Activity Table contains features that keep your children entertained while encouraging them to use their hands to build and their imagination to bring their toys to life. It’s a wholesome toy that reminded me of my favorite childhood toys. Plus it is strong enough to be passed from child to child for hours of fun. I would choose it over a flying ninja any day, and so would my creative, active and intelligent children.
Read the rest of the Melissa & Doug Multi-Activity Table review:
Table of Contents (click ahead!)
Overview Activities FeaturesStorage Construction Safety Dimensions Color Pros and Cons Customer Reviews
Overview
The Melissa and Doug Activity Table is an all inclusive play zone for your children. It can accommodate everything from dollhouses and train sets to puzzles and Legos. It is large enough for most activities and features wood construction. Two children can use the large play surface at the same time without arguing over space. Clean up is a snap since toy parts and other messy items are confined to the tabletop and there is a large drawer for storage. This table is suitable for children ages 3 and up.
Activities
While this table can accommodate many activities it is especially useful for games with many pieces. Gone are the days of tripping over toy pieces and finding art materials stuck to the bottom of your shoe. The Melissa and Doug activity table allows art projects, dollhouses, train sets and puzzle pieces to remain confined to one area instead of being strewn about your home. The large tabletop surface area means the sky is the limit in terms of activities that your child will enjoy at this table.
While the most common use for this table is to build train sets, it is not just a train table. It does not have train scenes painted on it. Therefore your children can use the table for other items. This is especially useful as children age and their interests change.
Features
A double-sided play board makes this a very versatile table while its size ensures it can be used for large train sets, dollhouses and puzzles. The spacious surface means your child and her friends’ can all play together at this table with plenty of elbowroom to spare. There is a raised lip at the edge of the table to prevent small toys from rolling off.
It is suitable for both boys and girls as it accommodates train sets, dollhouses, craft projects, blocks and much more. The table comes with built in storage so that toys can be kept close at hand. Wooden construction means this table is exceptionally sturdy and it can handle heavy objects. Parents need not fear the table will collapse or fall apart. It is strong and lasts a lifetime.
Storage
Another great feature of this table is the jumbo sized pull out drawer. Your children can keep their favorite toys safely stowed away in this easily accessible compartment. The drawer is both wide and deep, making it a great dumping ground for toys with multiple pieces. Plus clean up becomes a breeze with such close storage space. Many reviewers noted how wonderful it was to be able to sweep Legos or train sets straight into the drawer without worrying about finding them on the floor or under the furniture later.
The table itself is large and will require a decent sized space in your home. However, the area beneath the table is open and you can store additional toy bins in this location.
Construction
This table sides and legs are made from wood, a safe and environmentally friendly choice. The removable tabletop itself is thinner and made out of ply board. All edges are sanded and rounded so you do not need to worry about your children bumping their heads on sharp corners. Adult assembly is required, however most users found the assembly process simple and quick. The construction is solid and this table is built to last with exceptional durability. It can handle even your most active, rambunctious children.
Safety
The Melissa and Doug Table does come with small parts needed for assembly. These can pose a serious choking hazard to children less than 3 years of age. Therefore the recommended age range for this multi-purpose activity table is 36 months – 7 years.
Dimensions
This sturdy table weighs 65.2 pounds. It is 5.7 x 25 x 57.5 inches.
Color
There is only one color option for the Melissa and Doug table. The double-sided play board is forest green while the table itself is white. These unisex colors mean the table can be passed down from child to child regardless of gender.
Pros and Cons
(Back to Top)
Pros: The size of this table means it can be used for large toys and by many children at once. It is tall enough to keep most toys out of a babies arm reach and the raised lip prevents small children from dragging things off the top.
Pros: Many parents cited the roomy storage drawer as a favorite feature. Additionally, the area underneath the table is completely open in this design so you can store additional bins of toys below the table.
Pros: The double-sided play table does not have a painted surface. This means the table transitions easily between boys and girls toys and allows children to use their imagination and define their play space on their own. It also makes the table more versatile than similar tables that come with pictures of trains of dolls. This table does not require batteries and requires a child to take control of playtime. Many parents preferred it because they planned using for several children with different interests and hobbies.
Pros: At half the price of similar tables, most reviewers found this table to be well worth the money and said they would make the same purchase again.
Cons: The table is not tall enough to allow children older than 4 to stand comfortably at the surface while playing. As you child gets older he will have to sit in order to comfortably reach the play surface. Unfortunately most child-sized chairs cannot be tucked neatly under tables surface.
Cons: If you live in a small space this may not be the table for you. Its large size is one of its main attractive features, however it also means you need a large space in your home to fit the table. People in cramped apartments may prefer a more compact, smaller, less versatile table.
Cons: This table requires construction. While most users found this construction easy, it is not foolproof. The main problem users had was getting the drawer installed properly. For some it failed to sit completely flush against the table. If not properly constructed the tables usually solid construction can appear flimsy and the table may easily break. For the average parent with no construction experience the table will take roughly an hour to assemble and there will be no issues. If you have a child under the age of three you will need to exceptionally vigilant, as the small parts used in table assembly can be a choking hazard and should not be left in an area where a baby is crawling.
Cons: Some reviewers noted that the white paint shows dirt marks quickly, but it can be washed.
Customer Reviews
“We bought this table for our sons 1st birthday. He adores it so much, he has played with it every single day for 6 months without fail. He stacks his blocks on top, and stands and plays with them for hours. Soon he will be old enough to have a train set up there too.
The table is strong and durable. The drawer holds an entire train set and we use the space under the table for storage bins as well. I was drawn to this table because it is not just a train table and can be used for all sorts of toys. I am definitely going to keep this table for future children to play with. The quality is really high and the price was very reasonable. This is a table that will last!” (read more here: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Activity Table reviews)
“I ordered this activity table online and it arrived promptly in thorough packaging. My husband assembled it really easily in no time at all. Since our son has a lot of toys, not just trains, I liked that this table did not come with painted on train scenery. This meant he could use his race-cars, Leggos and puzzles on this table without it being awkward. We had a table solely for trains before we got this table and I gave it away because it was just too one dimensional. This table allows for many more activities. I also like the white color since it fit in well without almost any room in our house.
We use the storage drawer for puzzle pieces and extra train cars. Another unexpected bonus is that this table is large enough to allow my eight year-old and five year-old to play on top at the same time without fighting over space. It is also much sturdier than our previous table.”
(read more here: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Activity Table Reviews)
Amazon Rating: 4.2 Stars
Check current pricing discounts:
To see how this Melissa & Doug activity table compares to other train and activity tables, check out our complete train tables comparison chart here!