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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Educational Insights GeoSafari Wonder World Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw this map at a friend's house and had to buy it. The kids love putting the various animals and landmarks in their correct position.

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From the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Empire State Building to the Great Wall of China, Wonder World offers children a hands-on way to explore their world. The giant 4' x 6' cloth map, embroidered with the continents and oceans, becomes an interactive learning station as children fill it with the beautifully detailed felt animals, landmarks and vehicles; plus continent, country and geography labels. Eager explorers will enjoy the tactile experience of placing birds, fish, mammals and reptiles in their natural habitats. The set contains a huge map, 68 felt pieces in four cloth bags, and a guide. Everything comes in a plastic storage case.

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Alex Scribble and Doodle Girly Swirly Review

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(More customer reviews)My 3 year old daughter saw this at the airport Borders store. At first I was reluctant because it is a thick book and I didn't know if I could fit it in among all the other diversion toys/books I had in my bag for her already! However, she fell in love with it and I caved.
I'M SO GLAD I DID! After a 4 hour flight, she did not want to get back on another plane - that's when we saw this book. This book kept her occupied for the entire 2nd flight. I didn't have to get out anything from my bag to entertain her (even new toys I had stashed for just the occasion - she showed zero interest in them compared to this book!)
The crayons are cool - they're triangle stackable crayons that fit in a small hand perfectly. The stackable feature is what kept my daughter so well occupied! She stacked them and re-stacked them, pretended it was a rocket when all put together, then would crash the rocket and put it back together again. Since they are triangle shaped, they don't roll every which way. The crayons have to be facing a certain way when placed in the plastic holder for them so that was a bit annoying for me, and upsetting for my 3 year old (it does say ages 4 and up), but it's still awesome that the crayons can stay with the book. The crayons in stacked form measure 5 1/2 inches long by 1 1/2 inches high.
The back and front are VERY thick and sturdy cardboard. There are 75 pages total - this one is girl specific and you can either just color the 50 coloring book pages, listen to the directions on them - draw hair on the characters, draw jewelry on them, finish the other half of the princess castle, etc. There are 25 pages of blank paper at the end as well.
The book is held together by a very sturdy spiral - I know it's sturdy because my daughter has wrecked spirals before and she played with this and didn't do any damage.
I can see kids up through at least 6 years old really enjoying this. If you have an artsy kid who is older or picky, they may not like the triangle crayons, though they might be cool for a short time, and they may prefer regular crayons instead, but would still enjoy the book.

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Activity pad of 75 pages.
Creative way to teach colors andsimple words.
8" x 8" (20cm x 20cm) spiral bound pad with 50 preprinted and 25 blank pages.
Includes 8 finger crayons.

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Melissa & Doug Puzzle Portfolio Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this item for my 2 year old daughter. She loves putting puzzles together and I thought this would be a perfect way for her to recognize her letters and numbers. Very durable and great product for its price!

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Practical and durable, this handy puzzle portfolio can carry or store puzzles, games and supplies. It comes with three classic wooden peg puzzles-- alphabet, number and shapes-- and features four storage sleeves and a zippered closure!

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Melissa & Doug See & Spell Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My 3 1/2 year old daughter got this from Santa for Christmas, along with a few other Melissa & Doug sets. We are big fans of this toy company, so far all the sets we have purchased have been durable and well made, my daughter loved her alphabet puzzle with sound from last year, it still works great and looks brand new.
We got around to opening this set today, and she was all excited, and started to spell out several boards at once...then I discovered the problem, there were no letter "e" in the box, or "a"...only one each of the "d" and "o" letters. So being a long time purchaser of their products, called the number listed on the sticker on the back, and immediately was connected with a LIVE human being, no computer nonsense telling me to press 1 then press 2...that alone was amazing, lol...and the woman I spoke with took all the info quickly, and then without any hesitation told me a new set would be out to my daughter today...no asking me to return the defective set, she was quick, efficent, and very pleasant. This one problem with the set would not have turned me off to their toys, but with such quality customer service I am an even bigger fan than ever of this toy company...

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Place the colorful wooden letters in their proper places to spell words on the cut out two-sided wooden boards. Includes 16 playful pictures with three and four letter words to keep learning fun. Includes over 50 letters.

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Alex Little Hands Princess Match It Memory Game Review

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(More customer reviews)This was one of many gifts for my 5 yr old's b-day it's been one of her favorites. The cards seem durable they are made out of hard cardboard and are sturdy I can see she enjoys this game and is alot of fun for her.

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Princess-themed memory skill game in a coolsuitcase for storage.
32 big chunky cards.
Includes two crowns for make believe!
For 1-4 players.

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Alex Chanukah Banner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this for my 4 year old granddaughter and this banner turned out to be a family project that everyone had fun creating. After it was completed, my daughter in law hung it up in the house for all to enjoy.It was wonderful, and very colorful I might add.

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Make a Holiday banner to decorate any room!
Decorate 16 precut felt shapes and string along a satin ribbon.
Just peel and stick!
Includes 403 precut and sticky felt shapes, satin ribbon, easy instructions and one shape already decorated for you!

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Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Doll High Chair Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this highchair for my 4year old's birthday. I looked at several other models before purchasing that were between $25 and $30 but they seemed flimsy and looked cheaply made. This one is very sturdy and quite lovely. The legs are solid and round, not just a single piece cut out of 1/4" plywood like the others. It was easily assembled with clear instructions. And it handles a good amount of weight, as my 40 pound little girl decided to sit in with no problems. This is a solid, sturdy, well made toy that is pretty as well, just what I always expect from "Melissa and Doug" products. It was well worth the extra money in my opinion!

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Melissa & Doug CribYour little one will love playing pretend with her dolls and this gorgeous crib. Made from high-quality wood with delicate hand details, it's the perfect piece to add to any doll furniture collection. Scaled for dolls up to 20".For a complete set, also check out the Armoire, Bed, and Crib!

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Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Box Review

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(More customer reviews)This was a gift from Grandma for our 18 month old. Our daughter figured out how to cut a few months later. It's perfect for age two and up. She loves to cut up all the fruits, veggies, and bread. It comes with two cutting boards and two knives so a friend can play along too. It keeps her entertained for a long time and, as others have mentioned, teaches her the names of a few fruits and veggies along the way. Everything comes in a nice wooden box with a slide-on lid, which is great for storing all the pieces and for the fun of "in and out" of the box. My only complaint is that the velcro stickers which hold the pieces together are not compeletly durable. I've reglued a few of them, which has been no big deal to do. Overall a great toy, well priced, and nicely made.

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Melissa & Doug Toys - Cutting Food Box. Melissa & Doug Toys - Cutting Food Box This set contains eight pieces of wooden food, a cutting board and a wooden knife. Food makes a fun CRUNCH sound when sliced. With 31 pieces, its also a great way to introduce the concepts of part, whole and fractions! Share hours of fun with your child! Order the Melissa & Doug Toys - Cutting Food Box today, from Brookstone. Dimensions: 2.8" x 12" x 11" Packaged

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Melissa & Doug Castle Blocks Review

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(More customer reviews)These were so popular in a group of five cousins, ages 2 to 5, that they caused squabbles over who got to use them, while most of the rest of the many new presents sat neglected! They are well made, seem quite durable, and a are nice change of pace from the usual plain wooden blocks. I generally subscribe to the argument that plainer toys encourage more imaginative play, but a little color is nice to add sometimes, and they encourage more imagination, I would say, than a Playmobil or Lego castle set, where the pieces are more detailed and therefore leave less to the imagination. A variety of toys could play within a castle built from this set - dollhouse dolls, Lego or Duplo or Playmobil people, etc. Recommended by this mom of 3!

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Smart Snacks Sorting Shapes Cupcakes Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an excellent toy for both pretend playing and shape matching. All parts are made of a heavy-duty soft rubber. Vibrant colors. Same can be said of the stacking ice cream cone sister product made by the same company. It fits perfectly into the oven of the Step2 Lifestyle Kitchen. My two year old daughter and 4 y.o. son both love playing with this.

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Sort shapes with these fun cupcakes. They look good enough to eat, with yummy white frosting and colorful sprinkles. Great for developing fine motor skills and shape recognition, these 2-part cupcakes pull apart to reveal a hidden shape. Each shape fits tightly into the matching pan. Shapes include square, triangle, clover, half-moon and circle. Six cupcakes measure 2.5" x 2.25".
Awards:
Honors Award Winner-National Parenting Publications Awards for Children's Resources (NAPPA-2003)

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Melissa & Doug Wooden Take Along Tool Kit (24pc) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this for my 2 year old Bob the Builder fan. It is difficult to use the toolbox to hammer into, but if you turn it on it's side your builder can hammer all day long. It's a little tight at first, but after you hammer a couple of nails and pull them out it gets easier. I like this toolbox because its a little more difficult for little hands. My son has to really think about hitting the nails and turning the wrench and screwdriver, but he can do it. This set looks real and my son loves that. If he sees his daddy using tools he will go get his tools so he can help. Some kids might get frustrated with it, but I think that it's teaching fine motor skills.
We love it

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The Take-Along Took Kit is an incredible value for the budding carpenter! It includes 25 smoothly-sanded wooden pieces for hours of pounding, screwing and cranking fun. Kids will love pretending to be a carpenter.

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Magnetic Fishing Game Review

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(More customer reviews)I was a little concerned about purchasing a game with realistic pictures of fish for my four year old girl who loves dress-up dolls, the color pink, and anything with the word "princess" in it. She loves it! She talks to the fish just like she does her dolls, picks them up with the magnetic fishing rod, and then "puts them to bed" or "home" by returning the fish to their proper place in the puzzle. I've been pleased with the quality of every toy I've bought from this manufacturer, and now look for them when shopping online or at the store.

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Catch a fish, seahorse and more with this Magnetic Fishing Game. Game includes a special piece that magnetically captures the wood puzzle pieces on the game boards. This interactive game is great for developing dexterity and improving hand-eye coordination, visual perception and fine motor skills. The 9" x 12" board has 10 removable pieces.

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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 Sandwich Stacking Games Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We used this game at our Harvest Fest this year. The quality of the sandwich pieces held up to several hundred kids. I appreciated the booklet that came with the cards and durability of the sandwich pieces because it gave us a variety of options. The games can be played by one or several kids. It was a hit and will be used again next year. I'm glad that I ran into this at our local toy store!

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Here are ten good reasons to play with your food! These unique activities use 4 bread-shaped gloves, which can self-stick to 14 sandwich filling layers, and 20 sandwich cards. Race to match the sandwich on the picture card in Fast Food or try to toss a sandwich filling onto a bread glove in Service on the Fly. Inspiring children to burn calories while improving memory and matching skills will put fun on the menu every time. Instructions include variations on many of the games to extend the fun.

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Educational Insights Magnetic Art Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this as a "travel" toy, and my 2 and 5 year old love it. We have magnetic letters and numbers that we play with on it too. Very fun and educational!

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"Imaginative shapes help kids distinguish shapes and colors as they create fun designs and scenes. Complete kit comes with 11-inch x 14-inch magnetic board, instruction guide, and 80 magnetic pieces in 6 creative shapes and 4 bright colors."

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Melissa & Doug Soccer Bank Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This bank was purchased for an adult to have on their desk. It is an excellent conversation piece and fun. She has gotten many positive comments on but not too many coins. Well built and great for any current or former soccer player. Good coach's gift as well.
It works well and is cute.

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It's a goal and a save with the Wooden Soccer Sport Bank! Kids will enjoy learning the value of money and saving with this brightly-colored, Wooden Soccer Sport Bank from Melissa & Doug that measures 8.5" x 5.5" x 4." Any sports or money collector will enjoy dribbling into savings and kicking a financial goal with the Wooden Soccer Sport Bank from Melissa & Doug! Ages 3 and up.

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