When looking for fun and age appropriate toys for my son I discovered that Melissa and Doug had a line of stuffed fabric toys in a variety of themes.  My favorite, hands down, is the Fill and Spill Picnic Basket.  I purchased this for my son when he was eight months old and at almost two years old, he still plays with it. 

The Fill and Spill Picnic Basket contains a soft yellow fabric picnic basket with clear/see-through walls so the contents of the basket are easily visible, with the measurements of 8" x 5" x 4".  The top of the basket has fabric "hinged" lids that open but do not detach, allowing hands easy access to the contents of the basket.  Inside the basket little hands will discover a fabric bottle of grape juice, a fabric slice of watermelon, a fabric chocolate ice cream cone, and a five piece fabric sandwich.  The sandwich consists of two pieces of bread, a slice of tomato, a slice of cheese, and a piece of lettuce, all that connect in a stack with Velcro fasteners.  Each food item has a happy face embroidered on it with a cute smile and makes a noise--a bell, a crinkle, or a rattle sound.  According to the manufacturer, Melissa and Doug, this toy is made from safe fabrics and phthalate-free plastic.  (See http://www.melissaanddoug.com)

This play picnic set has been a favorite of my son and I since he first started playing with it.  It is brightly colored, lightweight and easy to hold in even small hands, and safe to chew/teethe upon.  Emptying the basket is easy to do and the sandwich is a favorite to pull apart and reassemble in different combinations.  The recommended age is six months and up.  Recently, my son has easily adapted this play food set into his new kitchen set for imaginative play.  I like that this toy has outlasted many toys that he played with at one year old.  It is easy to spot clean when needed, and while I haven't done it, I imagine the stuffed food items could be washed on the delicate cycle in a pillow case or lingerie bag in a washing machine as needed. 

The Fill and Spill Picnic Basket has been a frequently played with toy at play dates with friends.  It seems to appeal to a variety of children and ages, although ages eight months to 18 months would probably enjoy this toy the most.  It is a great toy to travel with as there are not too many pieces and they are all stored inside the picnic basket that can be easily carried by a child.  Clean up is easy and quick with this toy too.  I think what I really love about the Fill and Spill Picnic Basket is that there are no batteries required and the sounds it makes are soft, gentle sounds, not annoying sing-songs. 

This toy is useful for teaching children the names of the foods in the basket as well as identifying the colors of each item.  Children are able to practice their fine motor skills by assembling the sandwich and filling or spilling the basket of its contents.  Older babies and toddlers can use their budding imaginations to have pretend picnics with this toy.  It is soft, safe and fun to use.

I purchased the Fill and Spill Picnic Basket at a toy store for $19.99, but have since found it available on Amazon.com for approximately $16.  It makes a great gift for a child.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 19.99
Type of Toy: Baby Toy
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months