Pretend ice cream carts let your child pretend to be a real-life ice cream vendor.
This is the perfect way for kids to learn about money and business. They can pretend to run their own ice cream stand and make money by selling delicious treats to their friends and family.
These carts comes with all of the accessories you need, including an ice cream freezer, cash register, cones, cups, spoons, and more. It’s easy to set up and use, so your child can start playing right away.
At a Glance:
Pretend ice cream shops come in three different types including pretend ice cream carts, pretend ice cream shops and pretend ice cream trucks. In this post our review team compared all the top selling ice cream carts and brought to you the list of the ice cream pretend shops that give best value to your money.
This pretend ice cream toys help boost confidence in shy and introvert kids as they learn to socialize while they communicate with other kids in the role playing game of customer and seller.
Pros and Cons of pretend ice cream shop
When it comes to whether or not kids should be allowed to play with a pretend ice cream shop, there are mixed opinions. Some parents feel that it’s fine as long as the rules are clear and the child knows that they’re not actually eating ice cream. Other parents feel that it could encourage a sugar addiction or send the wrong message about healthy eating habits. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual parent to decide what’s best for their child. However, if you do allow your child to play with a pretend ice cream shop, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
-Make sure the play area is clean and clutter-free so your child can focus on their imaginative play.
-Make sure that the kids with whom your toddler is playing won’t use any abusive language.
- Pros and Cons of pretend ice cream shop
- Our chosen pretend ice cream shops/ carts
- LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Cart
- Wooden Ice Cream Cart Kids Playstand
- Gizmovine Ice Cream Shop Pretend Toy
- Melissa & Doug Wooden Ice Cream Cart
- Ice Cream Cart from Tiny Land Store
- Noetoy Ice Cream Cart
- Ice Cream Truck Play Tent
- Little Tikes Lemonade and Ice Cream Stand
- Conclusion
Our chosen pretend ice cream shops/ carts
Design | Baby And toddler toys | Retailer |
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Staff Pick ![]() | Check Price | |
Budget Pick ![]() | Check Price |
LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Cart
Best Pick
It is special gift for ages 2 and older. It requires 3 AA batteries, batteries are included with it and our review team found that the batteries last almost more than a month. You can push the cart here and there to build complete motor skills while listening to happy songs and music. It is a good gift for toddler who has just started walking as it will help develop his muscles. It improves remembrance and thinking skills of the kid by following the instruction on six sets of cards. These cards can be used by kindergarten teachers to teach concepts like colors, numbers, flavors, and more. It is a good toy for young ones while they enjoy role playing as an ice cream seller. They will enjoy it while moving the cart here and there and enjoy the songs and music. They will feel happy with the magic scooper that scoops up the ice cream. It will make them happy to run their ice cream cart and make new friends across the street and neighborhood. They can ring the bell to tell the customers that their orders are ready.
Ice creams are specially designed in all flavors that kids like strawberry chocolate and two more colors.
From one part of the ice cream cart kids had to pick the cone and from the other part and assemble them to make a complete ice cream. If the toddler makes ice cream as per announced instruction a winning music is played.
Wooden Ice Cream Cart Kids Playstand

The ice cream cart measures 25 x 13 x 40 inches which is a suitable size for kids age 2 to 7. The children can pretend to play like an entrepreneur starting a business and then become rich by selling ice cream. It is made from high-quality wood and nontoxic paint so you can be confident that kids are safe even if they lick the ice cream.
The children love to play with it because they love ice cream and now when they have a full cart of ice cream. They are pleased with this toy as they can interact with other kids while selling ice cream. This toy has won the good housekeeping award of 2016 so you can surely add it to the toy bucket of your toddler. It is for children of age 3 and above and helps them stay away from mobile phones and enjoy quality time. There are over 30 ice cream pieces and an ice cream scooper.
These pieces look like the real ones and help improve the ability of kids to recognize different colors. This toy cart includes everything that is needed to start a pretend ice cream shop and to organize an ice cream part.
Kids can serve the ice cream in cups, cones and in the form of ice lolly as well.
For kids of Indian origin, ice creams in the shape of Kulfi are also included and small spoons used to eat ice cream are also part of the package.
Gizmovine Ice Cream Shop Pretend Toy

It comes with a 12-month warranty and friendly customer service so if you get a feeling that the toy is not up to the standard you can return it. Different shapes and colors of ice cream attract the interest of kids while they indulge in interesting conversation regarding buying ice cream including flavor or color of ice cream.
They are also great for kids to grow hand-eye collaboration, motor skills, and shape recognition. It is free from BPA, PVS, or Phthalates and according to the United States for toys of kids. It is for children who are 2 to 6 years of age and help them learn how to communicate with other kids and make new friends.
In this age group, colorful things fascinate children and this aspect is kept in mind while making this ice cream cart. It increases parent-children interaction as parent role play as a customer who comes to the shop to buy ice cream. Parents can teach different things to their children while playing with this toy like the color of the ice cream, names of different fruits and flavors of ice cream.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Ice Cream Cart

Melissa and Dough have created such a beautiful designed cart that NBC news calls it ‘ the gold standard in early childhood play ’. This wooden snack and sweet cart is a great gift for children ages 3 to 7 years. While playing with snacks and ice cream cart children enjoy the feeling of a real entrepreneur. They have ice cream and snacks that look like real ones. It increases children’s imagination and they get the practical experience while playing with the toy which fascinates them. It also develops a sense in them that they have to grow up, bear responsibilities and earn money.
The ice cream cart has a sliding transparent cover that kids move to open and get the ice cream out of the cart. Ice creams are already visible lying in the cart which makes them a source of more temptation.
The ice cream cart is of an ideal height for kids of age 3 to 7 years so that they won’t have to bend in order to play with this toy.
Another great feature is that the kids can also use this ice cream cart as a hot dog and burger cart as well. When they are not in the mood to role play as an ice cream shop they can play different games and have more fun. When they role play as burger shop owners they are provided with chips and ketchup bottles and plates to serve to clients as well.
Ice Cream Cart from Tiny Land Store

The ice cream cart is made very strong and its durability keeps the children safe from any sort of accident while they sell ice creams. It is made with a strong steel frame, iron poles, and durable cotton-polyester canvas fabric. It is built strong so the children remain safe while playing with this cart and kids can even run holding the cart and make videos.
It is designed for kids whose ages are 2 to 10. It is good for any occasion like picnics and you can even put it in your car and take it along.
Children can take it from one place to another with ease as it is very light weight.
Children can play with it at birthday parties, the playground, and the classroom where there are a lot of children and they learn how to communicate effectively. Playing with the ice cream cart not only promotes healthy outdoor playing activities but also helps them to know how to manage money, learn math, how to count the cash, and deductive skills. They learn the business while playing with their ice cream cart and grow up with a healthy mind set.
Assembly of the ice cream cart is quite easy but had to be done by some elder family member of the family. The video instructions are available at YouTube and the whole assembly hardly takes 5 minutes.
Noetoy Ice Cream Cart
Staff Pick
Noetoy has excellent ratings at amazon and with just a very small price tag of as low as 20 dollars you can get a real value for your money. The ice cream cart is specially designed by keeping toddlers in mind and has round edges from all sides. The music and rhymes audio quality is superb and kids instantly start dancing when they reach the ice cream cart.Flash lights are part of the ice cream cart which makes it look superb even at night time.
This ice cream cart comes with a wide variety of ice creams, drink cans, crisps and other accessories, which add more pretend play fun.
Ice Cream Truck Play Tent
Budget Pick
This ice cream cart is designed in the shape of an ice cream truck as in some cities of the United States ice cream trucks with music are quite popular among the kids. The ice cream truck comes with 6 sweet melodies for selling ice creams that kids can choose from. This gift of yours to your kid is your first step is to take him away from electronic gadgets and games.
Ice cream truck is quite roomy (55 x 31.5 x 27.5 inches) and you can fill it with balls and kids can play inside. If you have 2 or more kids at your home it’s an ideal gift for them.
If your kid is under confident and won’t speak with other friends you can tell him that we are opening a shop for you where you have to take orders. This will surely boost his confidence as he sells ice cream and collects money using the fake currency notes that come with this pretend ice cream cart.
On the wall of the ice cream truck is a complete list of various ice creams available at the cart and the kids who are pretending as buyers have to tell from the list.
Little Tikes Lemonade and Ice Cream Stand

Little Tikes is a famous brand in kids toys and it is known for durable toys and this ice cream cart is not an exception. If your kid has some more pretend food items like pretend pizza set or pretend fruit set, then this ice cream cart can be used to sell any thing your kid wants to. The ice cream cart is very realistic and has a button that start playing music that attracts the customers and inform them that ice cream seller is here.
A chalk board and chalk is included in the package so that kids can design a personalized menu for their ice cream shop.
The list of accessories included in this play set are 3 ice cream scoops, 2 ice cream cones, 2 ice cream sandwiches, 2 pull-apart popsicles, red white & blue popsicle, 2 lemon slices, ice cream scooper, lemonade pitcher, 2 cups, 2 bowls, 2 spoons, umbrella, bell, towel, & chalk.
With so many accessories kids can have a lot of creative role playing games and this enhances their imagination.
Conclusion
Personally, I think that an ice cream cart is a great toy for toddlers as they learn basic math and the art of buying and selling. This pretend toy enhances their communication skills and make them more confident.
You can buy this toy for a physically disabled kid also who can just sit and pretend selling ice cream to other kids.
If you are planning to buy one, I hope my list will help you out.