Showing posts with label puzzles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label puzzles. Show all posts

Friday, December 28, 2012

Magnet Express by Anatex Review

Magnet Express by Anatex
Average Reviews:

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For my almost 3 year old, I wanted a toy that would last for a while. This is perfect because she can use it now and for the next year or two at least. After that, it is always a loved toy whoever plays with it.
I found the others available to be too simple and limited in their use.
Don't be fooled by the colors on the maze. This is a solid product and is exceptional in every way. I haven't tried it while driving in the car, but I will see if it's good for long rides as well while in the carseat.
At home otherwise, it's perfect to play with mommy or another child alongside (two wands)

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3 years & up. A magical magnetic wand guides metal balls through this fully enclosed maze! Two wand extensions make the maze ideal for individual or cooperative play. Develop skills in problem solving, eye- hand coordination, visual tracking, and logical thinking. 12" L x 15" W.

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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Melissa & Doug Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle Review

Melissa and Doug Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle
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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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Melissa & Doug Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle

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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Friday, December 21, 2012

Melissa & Doug Latches Board Review

Melissa and Doug Latches Board
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We bought this for our 19 month old to take on a plane trip as the "new" toy to entertain her when needed. She *loved* playing with it through the entire trip. it's a bit big for a carryon, but we fit it in. It is now a car toy that gets swapped out upon occasion with others. The back of the puzzle says 4+, but I think it's a good challenge for younger children. There are 2 latches that she needs adult help with because they are too tough to move. I'm sure she'll grow into those with time, though.
updated 9/07:
My almost 3yo can now do all of the latches on this puzzle-has been able to for several months, now.

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This beautifully crafted board with polished brass locks, latches, hooks and clasps, has hide-and-seek pictures behind each door and helps develop fine motor and memory skills. A tremendous value!

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Maxim 50 Pc Tumbletree Town w/ Buildings, Vehicles and Accessories Review

Maxim 50 Pc Tumbletree Town w/ Buildings, Vehicles and Accessories
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I originally got these blocks for my 2 1/2 year old for Christmas and it turns out my 12 and 13 year old kids love them too! It seems no one is too old to enjoy building with blocks. The cars, trees and people add to the fun and imagination and my little one loves knocking over the towers even more than building them. What a great product!

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City planners can stack the decorated blocks to build a few skyscrapers, a bunch of medium-sized buildings, or just have loads of little one-story buildings. Each car and truck has a place to go in this busy town. After rescuing a cat from a tree, the fire engine can put down its ladder and go back to the fire station. The mail truck can deliver mail to all the buildings and then carry out-of-town mail to the train station for pickup by the next cargo train. If the people get tired of walking, the taxi can give them a ride. Besides being a great addition to any train collection, it's perfect for those times when you need to pack a few toys to take along on vacation or a visit to Grandma's. With trucks, cars, people, trees and signs, you don't need to bring along a whole train set to have hours of fun. Includes 29 building blocks with painted details, four trucks, three cars, four people figures, four trees and six traffic signs.

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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Clock Review

Melissa and Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Clock
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I recently bought this toy for grandchildren, ages 3 and younger, for when they are at my house.
Previous reviews complained that the shapes of numbers 5 and 6 might be confusing, and so I avoided this purchase for a while. BUT, the one I bought is NEW and the 5 is the pentagon shape and the 6 is the hexagon shape, so that is no longer a concern. Look at the picture of the product above - today the picture I am looking at on this page shows the correct shapes for 5 and 6, so it appears that Melissa and Doug have corrected this problem! If you were to purchase an older or used version of this clock be aware that it may have the wrong shapes - but the newest ones I would presume are correct. Mine is.
I rate this toy 5-star. It is certainly not a bells and whistles toy, no noises, no lights. Thank goodness. But I think there is a lot of value in this toy.
This is a concrete hands-on way for children to begin learning about not only clocks, but also shapes, order of numbers, and more, depending on the age and stage of the child. It is a toy that can grow with a child, one to be taken out and used for a while, then as interest wanes, put it away for a while, and then bring it out later for a child to explore at a different stage.
Please keep in mind that children will probably get more value out of any toy, where a parent, grandparent, teacher, sibling, babysitter, etc. first sits down and talks with the child about the toy and maybe models how the child might use the toy. Then expect them to try using it for different things - like stacking, or pretending that one piece or another is food for a doll, or whatever - and that is OK too - keep in mind kids learn in different ways than we might expect. (Of course keep an eye on younger children to make sure they are not putting pieces in their own mouths, pretending it is their own food!)
There is obvious shape-matching value for younger children.
A child might take the shapes outside of the "puzzle" and line them up - in numeric order, or just to compare shapes, colors or whatever.
With an older child, you might introduce time-telling vocabulary, in relationship to where the clock hands are.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Melissa & Doug Wooden Shape Sorting Clock

It's time to "block" around the clock! Two toys in one, this colorful clock combines shape sorting and learning to tell time. Place the numbered and shaped pieces in their proper place on the face of the clock, then move the hour and minute hands to make telling time fun! Measures 9" x 5".

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Friday, December 14, 2012

Educational Insights GeoSafari Wonder World Review

Educational Insights GeoSafari Wonder World
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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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Monday, December 10, 2012

Melissa & Doug Puzzle Portfolio Review

Melissa and Doug Puzzle Portfolio
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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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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Lauri Toys Number Puzzle Boards and Pegs Review

Lauri Toys Number Puzzle Boards and Pegs
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This is another great simple learning toy. All of my kids like to play with it, age two to teen. Each number comes out of its frame for easier recognition of the shapes of the numbers. Each piece fits only to the piece with the corresponding number of holes. This helps with understanding what the numbers actually mean. When all holes are filled with pegs, a number tower can be built up and knocked down. This toy provides hours of quiet, creative, learning play.

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3 - 6 years. This set provides progressive challenges as children gain math skills. Self correction number puzzles may be used alone or combined with pegs for counting and matching. Includes 55 pegs in 5 colors, 10 rubber number boards and a durable plastic storage tub.

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Friday, December 7, 2012

Melissa & Doug Frolicking Horses Jigsaw (48 pc) Review

Melissa and Doug Frolicking Horses Jigsaw (48 pc)
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My daughter is 2 1/2 yrs old and loves these puzzles. She does them over and over again. The wood backed pieces make them more durable than cardboard puzzles - and they are great for spatial reasoning.

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Ages 3 & up. The frolicking horses in this meadow enjoy a windfall of apples while the early bird catches the worm.Assembling this charming puzzle would be enough fun, but count the horses, apples, butterflies, and add another activity to the puzzle!This wooden, 48-piece jigsaw puzzle comes packaged in a sturdy, wooden tray for puzzle building and easy storage.

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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Chunky Puzzle - Tree Review

Chunky Puzzle - Tree
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We just received our tree puzzle in the mail and we love it! It is just the right size and is made from colorful, durable wood pieces. I think that the little guy we purchased this for will enjoy putting this together again and again.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Small World Toys Puzzibilities Level 1 ( Farm Triangle) 6 Review

Small World Toys Puzzibilities Level 1 ( Farm Triangle) 6
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Originally bought this for my eldest son. He did like it and played with it on occassion. It is quite durable as it has been stepped on, thrown in toy bin, and is now in use by youngest.

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Learn the favorite animals on the farm. Large knobs help little hands develop motor skills. Bright, contrasting colors stimulate visual differentiation. Limited pieces encourage success and build confidence. Familiar objects capture interest and encourage speech.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Melissa & Doug See & Spell Review

Melissa and Doug See and Spell
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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...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Melissa & Doug See & Spell

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

Alex Little Hands Princess Match It Memory Game
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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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Saturday, November 24, 2012

Melissa & Doug Beginner Pattern Blocks Review

Melissa and Doug Beginner Pattern Blocks
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This is a brightly-colored, sturdy pattern block set. I would give this set to a child between 20 months and 3 years. My 22-month old just loves it. As soon as he saw it (hidden away, intended as a Christmas gift) he kept at me to open it. I finally gave in, and I am so glad that I did. He is at the perfect developmental level for this toy! He tries to match up the shapes and colors, and is even starting to name the shapes on his own. This is such an exciting age!
I like how the solid wooden boards are double-sided and VERY sturdy. There are more than enough pieces to go around- even if a few are lost over the years. A few of the pictures arrived with some scratching, but I think this is more annoying for me than it is for my child.
Don't forget that these patterning blocks can also be used independantly of the boards. This enables your child to come up with more challenging creations as she or he developes greater skill in this area.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Melissa & Doug Beginner Pattern Blocks

Melissa and Doug 40 Piece Beginner Pattern Blocks The Melissa and Doug 40 Piece Beginner Pattern Blocks Set is great for early development of colors and shapes and increasing motor skills. It's really a multi-age toy - Younger tots will love laying out and stacking the blocks, and preschoolers will enjoy following the 10 included design patterns and creating their own special masterpieces! This educational toy even introduces little ones to basic geometry.Parents get their money's worth with Melissa and Doug toys. The sturdy wood components, unique designs and attention to detail make Melissa and Doug's imagination-inspiring toys treasures that last for years.

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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Magnetic Fishing Game Review

Melissa and Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Magnetic Fishing Game
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I have a 28 month old grandson. I wanted some new toys for him to play with at my house. I wanted something that would challenge him. He has several other things that I have seen him progress with skills while playing with them. I thought this one would be the same. First, he would learn to remove the pieces and eventually progress to putting the pieces back in. He came over and I got this puzzle out. It started out the way I thought it would. He figured out that he needed to put the magnet on the metal spots, which he did. As he took them out, we talked about the picture on the piece. He wasn't ready to replace the pieces, which was okay. That could come later. What I was not anticipating, but probably should have, was him draping the string around his neck. Talk about choking hazard. We stopped that activity and then he started waving the pole back and forth. We managed to take it away from him before he hit himself or someone else with the magnet on the end. The puzzle is now in the closet and we will wait until he is closer to or past 3 before getting it out again. I want to challenge him, but not at the risk of injuring him.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Melissa & Doug Deluxe 10-Piece Magnetic Fishing Game

Can you "catch" all these colorful sea creatures, then put them back where they belong' Redesigned artwork brings new life to these much-loved, creative magnetic games. Includes beautiful board with 10 magnetic pieces and magnetic wand. Measures 11.8" x 9.1" x .6".

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Sunday, November 4, 2012

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wire Puzzle Rack Review

Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wire Puzzle Rack
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I read the bad reviews, but could not find an alternate option for storing these beautiful but unstackable puzzles. I decided to email Melissa and Doug with a list of my puzzles and asked them if they would fit. M&D got back to me promptly, and assured me the puzzles would fit. I directed them to the bad reviews and asked if they were sure that the rack would work for me and they reiterated that it would. I decided to order it, and am pleasantly surprised to say that all my puzzles fit , beautifully - chunky, peg, big knob, and even some non M&D ones. Everyone including my husband is really complimentary of the rack and how it solved a storage issue. I highly recommend it and am glad I gave it a chance.

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A puzzle rack to solve your storage puzzle! This sturdy wire puzzle rack holds up to 6 large and 6 small puzzles for convenient clean up and organization.

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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Melissa and Doug Basic Skills Board Review

Melissa and Doug Basic Skills Board
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I purchased the basic skills board to help my 3-year-old learn to tie, snap, zip, clip, button and buckle. It's a bust. He doesn't use it because the functions aren't secured to the base. It's difficult to teach these skills when they're not stationary. And it's large, heavy and cumbersome for him. Being a puzzle just adds to the confusion of its function. I'm going to glue the pieces into place and mount the board to a wall. I think this will turn it into an investment rather than a waste of $[...].

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Newly redesigned board features a colorful bear with tons to explore! "Dress" the adorable bear puzzle, and learn to zip, buckle, lace, snap and more. Measures 15.5 x 11.5 x .5 inches.

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