Melissa & Doug Pound and Roll Tower

Early childhood is a time of simple pleasures: mastering basic physical skills, watching things move, and whacking things really hard when you can get away with it. The Pound and Roll Tower from Melissa & Doug is made for whacking: kids use the included mallet to pound the brightly-colored balls through holes, and then watch the balls roll down the ramp. Replace, repeat, enjoy!

This classic wooden toy teaches plenty of early skills: kids practice fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination by hitting the ball with the hammer, and you can use the Melissa & Doug Pound and Roll Tower to teach colors and counting, too (try telling your child to hit the red, yellow, green, or blue ball). It appeals to a wide age range, as well: kids who are too young to handle the hammer can push the balls through with their hands or drop them through the sides, and kids as old as age 5 still enjoy playing with this toy. Recommended for ages 2 and up.