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Roll up your sleeves and get busy

Melissa and Doug Workbench

There comes a time in your life when you have to take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves, count to ten and then fix something. I remember my friends saying to me when we were students, “You can’t go through life never having wired a plug!” Well actually, I think you probably can avoid that particular task these days, but every now and then a floor board needs screwing down, a paint job needs touching up or a bannister spindle (it has happened to me) needs replacing. Whenever I am scratching about under the stairs trying to find my tool box, I think about how much I would have appreciated a Melissa and Doug workbench as a little boy.

Children have a natural inquisitiveness that often leads to favourite toys being taken apart and occasionally even put back together. Of course, this isn’t always limited to toys and parents have been known to find remote control units in bits and minus batteries, cupboard door handles have sometimes disappeared and let’s not even talk about the kind of items that have been found in DVD players. Of course, none of us wish to stifle this desire to learn how things work and how they are put together, but it would be nice to be able to change the TV channel every now and then and watch a DVD and that is why toy tools and workbenches come so highly recommended.

Melissa and Doug Pound a Peg A classic wooden toy.

 

Let’s take a look at the Melissa and Doug Workbench in a little more detail. This brilliant wooden workbench is sturdy and easy to assemble – one of our customer reviewers told us “even dads and grand-dads can do it”. The bench has a lower tray which is a great place to store the many pieces of wood, screws, nuts and bolts that are also supplied. A colourful suggestions sheet is also provided to give children a helping hand to start on some exciting projects. Mind you, nothing can be achieved without the correct tools and this is where the fun starts! Apprentice carpenters will enjoy using the wooden saw, hammer, chisel and spanner to complete the project of their choice. We think they’ll especially enjoy (because we would) using the wooden vice to hold pieces into place while they are working on them. Mums and Dads need not worry, as all these pieces and tools are made from wood and are very safe to use.

Melissa and Doug Workbench

Like so many wooden toys, this natural wooden workbench is not simply made for fun: children playing with this toy will improve planning and concentration skills; they will learn to solve problems creatively; they will improve their balance and fine motor skills; and they will learn – in a safe environment - how to use these basic tools which we all take for granted as grownups.

Last year we gave one of these workbenches to a guest reviewer. Click here to take a look at Christine Campbell’s unbiased and very positive review.

Here at WoodenToyShop we like this workbench so much that we’ve decided to give one away in this week’s Wooden Wednesday* competition. In a change from our usual competitions, we are asking entrants to complete the following slogan in no more than 50 words:

 

I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….

 

Competition Rules and How to Enter

 

1. Please click the Facebook ‘like’ button at the top of this page. (Don' t worry if you don't have a Facebook account. You can skip this part.)

 

2. Place your entry as a comment under this blog article. You have a maximum of 50 words to complete the sentence, but you don’t have to use that many.

 

All entries will be reviewed by two members of the WoodenToyShop team who will select the most original entry (in their opinion) as the winner. The judges’ decision will be final.

We will accept only one entry per UK household. (The prize can only be delivered to an address in the United Kingdom.)

The result will be announced on this blog shortly after entries close.

Please note: each entry has to be approved before it is uploaded to this page. There may be a delay before you can see your entry.

*Competition opens Wednesday 24th April and closes at 9am on Thursday 25th April.

Result

Congratulations to Sandy Hill who has won this week’s competition. Choosing a winner was extremely difficult, but in the end we liked the originality of Sandy’s entry and we laughed when we pictured a young toddler showing his parents how to use the TV remote.

Thanks to everyone for entering. This was great fun! Don’t forget to check in with us next week for another fantastic competition.

This is Sandy’s winning entry:

I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….

hubby and I are both rubbish at DIY, so we need him to learn and then teach us. It’s realistic – he’s already found functions on the TV & mobile phones that we didn’t know existed and he’s not even 2 yet!

 

51 thoughts on “Roll up your sleeves and get busy”

  • Siobhan Parker

    Our cheap plastic one broke recently as our 2 year old is clearly a strongman in disguise! We would love to replace it with one a little more hardwearing!

    Reply
  • Ruth G. Grover

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….
    at present Kris has 'imaginary' tools. He uses his hands, makes all the right noises and 'fixes' everything.
    A pencil is a screwdriver. My hand whisk is a drill and my iron has been used as a sander !!

    Kris would love this.

    Reply
  • Sophie Adams

    My son would love this!

    Reply
  • Danka Bakic

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because he is a little boy nearly 4 years old but a big helper when it comes to helping dad do some work around the house. He always runs to get the tool box even if its heavier than himself. It would be nice to win this lovely prize so he can play next to dad when his working :)

    Reply
  • Carolyn Gardner
    Carolyn Gardner April 24, 2013 at 10:58 am

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because I can then reclaim my table from all their bits an pieces.

    Reply
  • nicci cowdell-murray
    nicci cowdell-murray April 24, 2013 at 10:58 am

    My two nephews Jake and Dan already think they can fix things , this would be ideal for them to practice their skills

    Reply
  • Eileen Teo

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because I have a little helper who love to build himself a treehouse.

    Reply
  • laura miller

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because my son loves tools that much he trys to pinch & hide his daddys work tools,this way if I won this for my son he would be so happy and stop trying to play and hide his daddys tools .

    Reply
  • Wendy Collard

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….
    My sons like Bob the Builder but his name is Sam, if you need something banging he's your man and if he can't fix it no-one can and this workbench is akin to his future job plan! :-)

    Reply
  • Marie-Anne Marten
    Marie-Anne Marten April 24, 2013 at 11:05 am

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because my soon-to-be 4 year old has just finished reading the Collins Complete DIY Manual in preparation for his big building project of "a workroom for my daddy - so he can work from home and doesn't have to go away". He just needs the tools and workbench now.

    Reply
  • Laura Robinson

    I have two boys who would love this grown up version of the hammer and peg board. It's more than just playing, it develops practival skills on and creativitiy too.

    Reply
  • Lisa Troccoli

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because......his Daddy is not very good at getting the DIY jobs done around the house, too busy working and on travelling on trains all the time so my junior carpenter can replace him!

    Reply
  • Sarka Baran

    he loves DIY :-)

    Reply
  • Kelly Webb

    .......I would like to teach my son DIY from an early age, that way he would hopefully know what hes doing when things need fixing round the house....unlike his dad who 'fixes' things and they end up worse! x

    Reply
  • Liz B

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because…

    My little boy turns two this week,
    A special toy for his present I seek.
    This workbench would be just the thing -
    To make my little man smile and sing!

    Reply
  • Maggiemou

    ....my childrens' dad is SOOOO rubbish at doing DIY that it would be good to have four little people in the house who are able and willing to do it, while I sit drinking coffee and eating cake, and supervising ;)

    Reply
  • Tanya Cameron

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because my little girl is at the stage of copying everything and we have lots of DIY to do around the house and it would be great for her to get involved too and make it fun

    Reply
  • Tracey Hart

    This is stunning. I love wooden toys and feel all children should have them, much better than plastic rubbish. My little Joel's bbirthday is coming up so this would be lovely to win for him x

    Reply
  • jane orford

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug workbench,because our family has a history of botched jobs,wobbly chairs and sore thumbs,so start them young ,encourage a skill,that will be fun and useful when they have their own home to improve

    Reply
  • lesley

    hi like win this for my sons he loves to work with his dad so this would be good for my boys to use in stead useing dad stuffx

    Reply
  • andy wilson

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….my two and a half year old daughter just loves to copy daddy when he is doing all those DIY jobs around the farm and it would be so much safer and fun if i used my own tools and less stressful for mummy too !!!!!

    Reply
  • Sarah Maclean

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because ...
    playing whilst learning's a great idea,
    and I'll gain a helper for flatpacked IKEA!

    Reply
  • adeela  hussain

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because... i have a list of jobs that need doing around the house... lol.. so my little carpenter can help his dad.

    Reply
  • Rachael Lewis

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because....Daddy is a chef (a very good chef) and loves cooking food; whilst he's busy cooking scrummy food, the list of carpentry jobs that need doing around the house gets longer!...Hopefully the workbench will encourage junior carpenter to become senior carpenter when he's grown up & become Mummy's hero! :-)

    Reply
  • Diane Wareing

    When my son was a child he played for hours with a cardboard box and nails banging in the nails. (yes maybe a little dangerous and maybe I shouldn't have let him) however he left school and did his carpentry course and eventually got the real tools lol BUT I would love to win this so my grandson has a better start than my son.

    Reply
  • Katherine Aitken
    Katherine Aitken April 24, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because.....woodwork skills are needed to build the things of imagination. Banging and hammering to bring alive the desires of our future nation.

    Reply
  • karina roberts

    i would like to win this melissa and doug workbench for my junior carpenter because .......
    my little man loves to play
    with a workbench like this he could play all day
    so good at fixing things he makes grandad look like a fool
    with a workbench like this he'd have all the right tools !

    Reply
  • Nicola

    When the best dad can do is not good enough,
    My little guy can grab his stuff
    Set up his bench and get his tools
    This kind of work ain't for fools!
    With this work bench he can hammer and tinker,
    And create a masterpiece worthy of a great thinker!

    Reply
  • hannah staveley
    hannah staveley April 24, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because-

    My daughter millie was born 10 weeks early and has hydrocephalus ,Millie is in specialist nursery and would love to have something like this to help her with mortor skills & concentration at home as her brain does not work in the way ours does . This would help her so much .

    Reply
  • Anna Hibbert

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because :

    I love to help dad but his tools are no good for me,

    My own would be better I can hammer with glee

    I would make lots of toys to share with girls and boys

    it would make my day as there would be no end to my play

    Reply
  • Sandy Hill

    .... because hubby and I are both rubbish at DIY, so we need him to learn and then teach us. It's realistic - he's already found functions on the tv & mobile phones that we didn't know existed and he's not even 2 yet!

    Reply
  • Lucy Stratton

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because my 2 children would love to play with this ... and maybe with a bit of pretend sawing etc they will be good enough to do it with real tools (and lots of supervision, and a few years more maturity) and get all those jobs done around the house that their Daddy doesn't remember to do. Or their Daddy can have a wee play with the tools and then be inspired to do the real work.

    Reply
  • Dawn Nash

    My twin boys will soon be three - they love anything to do with tools, building and putting stuff together. I can imagine there wouldn't be a toybox or piece of furniture that wouldn't need mending if they had one of these. They love daddies tools and can certainly name more tools than I can x

    Reply
  • Emma Carter

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because since his little sister came along in November he has been a fantastic helper, a loving brother and so he deserves a treat. Also, his dad is useless at DIY and I need a door hung ;)

    Reply
  • Kate H

    My daughter is a real tomboy and her Dad is .. wait for it ... a Carpenter. She'd love this so she could join in and help him like when he is at work.

    Reply
  • Julie Beveridge
    Julie Beveridge April 24, 2013 at 3:01 pm

    because i have just recently registered as a childminder and the children in my care both girls and boys would have tremendous fun with this and could show off their masterpieces to share on the website

    Reply
  • Clare Shaw

    Because somebody in our house needs to learn DIY as Daddy is useless! ;-)

    Reply
  • Claire Quedley
    Claire Quedley April 24, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….
    His Melissa and Doug Hammer Bench has taken such a pounding that he needs to advance to the next stage....

    Reply
  • Clare Perquin

    I would like to win this Melissa & Doug workbench for my junior carpenter because;

    My little boy needs to find a hobby,
    This workbench would be just the jobby.
    His creativity would never stop,
    So please let us win Wooden Toyshop!

    Reply
  • Victoris Howe

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….Tristan loves helping his daddy with the DIY chores around our family home

    Reply
  • Sharon Hingley
    Sharon Hingley April 24, 2013 at 4:39 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa & Doug workbench for my junior carpenter because ......
    Daddy's tools are dangerous,
    I'm told I must not touch,
    But I love to watch him making things,
    Like my bunny rabbit's hutch.
    If I could have a workbench,
    I would learn just what to do,
    And have lots of fun with Daddy
    And fix my toys like new.

    Reply
  • Mary @over40andamumtoone
    Mary @over40andamumtoone April 24, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because…my little Monkey regularly tries to saw my arm off so he can mend it and glue it back on, He'd be in heaven if he had a workbench for his 'operations'.

    Reply
  • Kathryn Phillips ✩
    Kathryn Phillips ✩ April 24, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    my little girl loves copying her grandad but she hasnt got any tools of her own they sing hi ho hi ho together and i would love for her to have this set to be just like him

    Reply
  • Elizabeth Chandler
    Elizabeth Chandler April 24, 2013 at 8:43 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….

    My daughter only has girly toys, most of which are pink
    so this workbench I think
    looks like such a lot of fun, I wink
    and when my child is done
    we'll eat a pretend cake like a bun
    and think wouldn't it be just magical
    if my little girl won.

    Reply
  • Melissa Dexter
    Melissa Dexter April 24, 2013 at 8:54 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because…

    My 3 year old daughter's favourite shops are hardware shops, she tucks a toy hammer into her waistband and copies her Daddy doing work around the house. If she won this she would want to play with it constantly so maybe it would encourage Daddy to do work more often!

    Reply
  • David and Claire P
    David and Claire P April 24, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….
    Bob the builder is his favourite character. He dressed up as him for World Book Day. So he could have great fun trying out some projects on here.

    Reply
  • Alexandra McGahey
    Alexandra McGahey April 24, 2013 at 10:52 pm

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because at the moment his plastic toy workbench creates more stress than fun, as it is constantly coming apart and wobbling! I believe that good, quality toys are wooden and not plastic, and his workbench is the next on the list for the wooden toy replacement!

    Reply
  • Nicky Manson

    I would like to win the melissa and Doug workbench because
    My two year already thinks he is like his grandad fixing things and tells me his name is BoB the builder and he is a builder and the plastic ones are just not strong enough for my little Bob the builder x

    Reply
  • Hannah Bee Griffin
    Hannah Bee Griffin April 25, 2013 at 8:46 am

    I would like to win this Melissa & Doug workbench for my junior carpenter because........
    Every things a hammer, even when it's not ,
    from wooden spoons the catfood bowl & even flower pots
    This workbench would be the greatest fun,
    and teach my kids new skills,
    they could get creative learn and play
    because of you the one & only wooden toyshop

    Reply
  • Hollie Adlam

    I would like to win this Melissa and Doug Workbench for my junior carpenter because….wooden toys last a life time. This would be kept and treasured for many years to come, and hopefully pass on to my sons grandchildren, with all the memories attached. Thats why i love wooden toys so much!

    Reply
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