Melissa & Doug Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Typical of this manufacturer, the graphics are high quality and the cardboard is thick and durable.
The cuts on the puzzle are divided so that one piece is one train car. (Other puzzles by other manufacturers can be put together without ever knowing or dealing with the alphabet.) The only way to construct this puzzle is to know the proper order of the English alphabet and attach them in that manner. Each piece contains both the upper and lower case letter and an illustration to go along with that letter.
My son began playing with this when he was three and did not yet know the letters by sight. He did know the alphabet song. I found the way to play this with the least frustration and the most educational value is for me to play alongside him. I let him piece them together until he asks for help (before he is angry). We sing the alphabet song together to find the next letter in the alphabet. If he doesn't know it by sight he asks for help and I give phonetic clues such as "G makes a sound like "gg", what do you see that starts off like that sound" at which point he finds the goldfish. One complaint though is that the goldfish is sometimes mistaken for just a fish and the F. I wish something more blatantly "g" was chosen for that one. We progress in this manner until it is done. I feel this has helped him learn the letters by their sight.
The appeal for my son was that this is a train related toy. Learning the alphabet was a byproduct that he was not aware was actually my key motive in buying this.
I also appreciate both upper and lower case letters being shown as sometimes alphabet toys and activities use just one or the other.
If you like this type of learning activity I'd also suggest the numbers puzzle by this same manufacturer to help learn the numbers by sight.

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This Alphabet Train puzzle includes 28 extra thick pieces to keep your little one engaged and learning. The self-correcting pieces make learning the alphabet easy and fun. Measures 120" long.

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Melissa & Doug Under The Sea 100 - Piece Floor Puzzle Review

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(More customer reviews)My two girls (aged 4.5 and 3) love puzzles. They have different likes and dislikes so we have in our house "my puzzles" and "your puzzles." But this one is the first "our puzzle." It is challenging enough that both girls have to work together -- one on the tropical fish and the other on the dolphins, for example -- and what a joy when the patches would come together. The different areas on the puzzle would take on a different hue of blue (as the ocean goes deeper the color darkens, of course), so that the girls can sort out the pieces and start different "foci" on the floor. Therefore this puzzle really helps them learn multi-tasking, organization, and team work. It is definitely a step forward from the 24-piece or 50-piece sets, while still remaining manageable for preschoolers. My only minor, minor complaint is that one stretch of the puzzle (the sperm whale area) is dark, a bit simplistic in design, and somehow not preferred by either of the girls -- so I would always be assigned to complete that portion; just a little warning that you may find yourself putting together a giant sperm whale a couple of times a day. The bonus -- a chart that teaches the children names of all the sea creatures on the puzzle!

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Vivid colors and detailed images of sea-dwelling creatures bring the ocean to life with this floor puzzle that measures an amazing 4 feet long when completed. The 100 extra-heavy pieces form a beautiful scene that's ideal for exploring and learning about the ocean.

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Melissa & Doug Solar System 48 pcs Floor Puzzle Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this puzzle for my 3 year old son who was fascinated with planets and space stuff. I have never been so impressed with a toy purchase. You really can't find a better puzzle for kids. The pieces are quite large, and they're very durable. They also are "wipeable" in case sticky fingers get a hold of them. The picture itself is very colorful and pleasing to the eye. It shows all the planets, and includes the moon and sun. Even the asteroid belt. It's a great puzzle, and a great educational toy. I intend to get more puzzles from this company. Simply outstanding. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would.

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3 years & up. Large 24" x 36" puzzle with 48 jumbo pieces.

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Melissa & Doug Train Sound Puzzle Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The kids got a real kick out of this little puzzle.
However... it's really annoying. The train sound goes off ALL the time, not just when the last piece is inserted.
I put the toy away on a shelf and everytime someone walks past, jostling it ever so slightly, it Choo-Choos.
Also, every time I open or shut the door to the room, it Choo-Choos.
Also, every time I turn on or off the overhead light in the room (oddly enough), it Choo-Choos.
And this is after seperating the pieces from the board by putting them in seperate bags in seperate rooms.
But like I said, the kids love it... and my fiance has a good sense of humor about it always going off when nobody's playing with it. He thinks it's funny. I'm wondering how long it'll take the batteries to die.
:)

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Give your little learner an interactive puzzle that makes real train sounds. From Lights, Camera, Interaction, this clever Train Sound Puzzle adds a new twist to traditional puzzle play. As soon as the puzzle is completed, it rewards young builders by making fun engine noises.
Puzzle features easy-to-grip knobs and oversized pieces that are just-right for little hands. Measures approximately 11.5" x 8.5". Hand-crafted and made of real wood. Requires 2 "AAA" batteries (not included).

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