Archive

Posts Tagged ‘Shapes And Colors’

Twister

March 5th, 2010

Twister




Twister is the game that ties you up in knots. Spin the dial and move a hand or foot to the colored circle on the floor mat. Can you get there’ dont touch the mat with anything but a hand or foot. It is for 2 or 4 players. It includes a spinner, a mat and instructions. Instructions are available in English and Spanish.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars a classic
Twister is great for people of all ages, as long as they don’t have any physical ailments.

4 Stars More than just a game
I purchased this game as an educational toy for my toddlers; what better way to learn their colors. The mat is very large and “waterproof” so it’s great for them to eat snacks on. They use it as a dance mat too.

5 Stars Classic!
This is just like I remember it! Spinner spins the arrow and around it goes…Great for young and old. We play this game at just about every birthday party and the grown ups love to have a turn!

Has some great educational value. This game has helped my DD’s learn colors and lefts and rights. Though they are small and can’t reach all the spots across the board. They have a blast! For adults you need to think about how you move. Because it could effect your next move.

Durable: So far so good! Even with 3 young kids who use it for other purposes. Cape…dance mat…house

5 Stars Parents in a twist
Although my 3 year old grandson knows his shapes and colors, he was not tall or long enough to reach the spots. He adapted the game so that he was in charge of the spinner and his parents did the “twisting”. He was thouroughly entertained and felt powerful in getting his parents into a twist. As he grows he will be all the more eager to play the game according to the real rules.

5 Stars fun!
Was at a party last weekend and saw this on the bookshelf. Somebody suggested getting it out, so we did! Lots more fun than we though and absolutely great for adults, especially those who want to get to know each other a little better. :)

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Melissa and Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards

February 28th, 2010

Melissa and Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards




These Pattern Blocks and Boards will keep children engaged for hours of rewarding play. They feature 10 simply designed, colorful patterns and over 100 pattern blocks in six different shapes and colors to replicate the pattern shown. Contents store neatly in durable wooden case. Develops shape recognition and spatial relations.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Pattern Blocks/Boards Melissa and Doug
I was searching for a product for a kindergartener who is easily bored, intelligent, and needs a challenge when I found this set of pattern blocks and boards. As a teacher’s aide, I know these blocks are educational as well as entertaining. I bought this set on sale, so I got a great bargain as well as a great item! The blocks and boards are durable and well made. I highly recommend this set. It will stand up to the test of time. . .and little kids!

3 Stars Needs some improvements
I loved pattern blocks as a kid. I remember playing with them in school and there were a ton of them. I never had a board or anything, just pushed them together, made designs.

We got this for my son when he was 4. It’s all right… but I see there is a bucket with twice as many blocks (plastic) available on Amazon for the same price. No boards. I think that would be the better way to go. More blocks would be more fun – the boards are OK but more blocks would be better.

What really bugs me about this set, though, is there’s no way to really keep it all together. It came with just a floppy flimsy plastic cover that didn’t stay on – it just laid over the box. So you have this solid wooden box with loose pattern tiles flopping around in one side. We got my niece the M&D cutting board & food set when she was 2 or so, and later bought the same for my son when he was 2 or 3. My nieces came with a heavy plexiglass sliding cover – my son’s came with no cover. I think that M&D have kind of cheaped out on packaging over the years. This should really have a heavy plastic sliding cover – it would make it so much nicer. We got rid of the flimsy plastic cover and I keep the tiles in a cloth drawstring bag – it’s really akward though. I guess if you have shelves for toys it’s not so bad but we tend to shove everything in drawers.

Anyway – all in all I guess this is just OK. I think you’re better off going for just the tiles, in a bigger assortment.

4 Stars good for pattern learning
I like this product for pattern learning. In addition to replicating the patterns on the boards, I can also start a linear repeating pattern and have the kids finish it, which is good for kindergarten readiness and one reason I chose this toy. My 3yo and 5yo both like it. I prefer it over a magnetic pattern board because I try to keep the magnetic toys to a minimum since my home frequently has small babies visit.

My major problem with this toy is that the lid for the box is a flimsy plastic lid that tore after just a day. This seems to be a repeated problem with the Melissa and Doug brand: we have the same problem with the playfood collection and the letterboard toy. Some of them come with no lid at all, while the lids on the others are so flimsy as to be useless. The consequence is that the toys are difficult to store, and the pieces get lost or separated, which decreases the usable lifetime of the toy and negates the advantage of buying wooden toys that are meant to be kept for years. I keep the small pieces in a ziploc bag but this really doesn’t work that well as the bag tends to get torn by the corners of the wooden pieces.

2 Stars Great fun, Problem with Product though

This is a fun game for 4 or 5 and older. The concept is easy for younger ones to learn, but the boards are slippery and too hard for a smaller child to deal with on their own. It comes with a box to hold everything, but no top, so it is really not a storage box since the small pieces can easily spill out. Also a few of the puzzle boards have buckled slightly since opening the box a month ago.

4 Stars good educational toy
This is a good educational toy.There were some number of pattern blocks missing,but the rest of the toy is good.The colour patterns could have been more distinct from each other,eg. when making patterns,the dark green has to be put alongside dark blue.But overall a good product.

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Melissa and Doug Shapes Chunky Puzzle

February 17th, 2010

Melissa and Doug Shapes Chunky Puzzle




This hand-painted, playfully styled puzzle is sure to catch and keep the attention of curious tots. The thick, chunky wooden puzzle pieces fit neatly into their spots on the colorful board and also stand up for additional pretend play. Full-color pictures are hiding beneath each piece. Measures 12″H x 11″W x 1″D.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Best investment ever
Both my boys have loved this puzzle to pieces. I bought it when my older son was just over a year old and he spent hours learning each shape and color and fitting it into the puzzle. Everntually I packed it away… and brought it out when my younger son started to show an interest in shapes. He loves it, too! I have to search the house for the pieces because he loves to carry them around. This is the best money I have spent on any toy to date.

5 Stars Loved it!
This puzzle was fun and educational. My 2 year old granddaughter could handle the shapes with those little fingers. After she realized they would stand alone, it became a train of shapes. The colors were vibrant and another lesson for her. Great fun for us.

4 Stars Great for learning
Bought this for my daugther when she was 9 months old.ow she is 2 and half years old. Still love these. This is what taught her shapes and colors too. She did great and the toy is still in great condition. Very impressed.

4 Stars Great for learning shapes and colors
My daughter got this for her first birthday and it helped her to quickly identify shapes and colors. I love all of Melissa and Doug’s products and this product is no exception. It is great because the pieces are so chunky and easy for a small child to manipulate.

5 Stars Great product
I ordered this to use with a student that has severe special needs. He is legally blind, and has some fine motor difficulties. I am happy to report that he is able to effectively pick up the pieces and put them into the correct spots with minimal assistance. The colors are nice and bright and the quality exceptional.

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Melissa and Doug First Shapes Jumbo

February 12th, 2010

Melissa and Doug First Shapes Jumbo




Preschoolers will learn their very first shapes with this bright, bold puzzle. Extra-large knobs make it easy for small hands to remove each brightly colored piece. Pull out the pieces to reveal matching full-color pictures underneath. This super-sized, solid-wood puzzle with extra-chunky 1/2″ thick pieces is the perfect first puzzle. Measures 12.5″ x 12.5″ x 1.7″.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Pleasantly Suprised
I bought this puzzle as a filler item so I could get free shipping on a CD. We gave it to our 16 month old son for Christmas. A month and a half later this is still one of his favorite toys, it really keeps his attention. He plays with it more than most of the other toys he got for Christmas. It doesn’t light up, make any noises or play any irritating songs so it has become one of my favorites as well. It is a simple wooden toy with bright colors that is very sturdy.

4 Stars Great toy & opportunity for teaching!
This is a great puzzle! It gives a chance to teach both shapes and colors to your little one, all while they are learning to solve puzzles. Behind each puzzle piece is the corresponding color to remind you child which piece shold go where. My son received this puzzle for Christmas, and he plays w/ it so much that I will be buying one for my godson’s B.Day this spring.

5 Stars I expected no less
When I buy a Melissa & Doug puzzle I know what I’m getting – great quality, perfect sized pieces, easy for a toddler to handle, and most of all always fun to play with. He LOVES puzzles!!

5 Stars Educational yet fun!
Our one year old daughter loves this toy! Thanks to this puzzle, she now knows circle, square, and triangle (we’re still working on rectangle and oval!). I noticed a few other reviews complaining that the pieces only fit in if turned a certain way (i.e. the circle), but we have not had this problem. Our daughter often puts the pieces in upside-down, but they always fit! I recommend this puzzle for the big chunky handles and the large simple shapes – perfect for little hands!

5 Stars Great puzzle
I love this puzzle. The pieces are really big and the knobs on it are easy to hold on too even for the smallest of fingers.

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Cranium Cariboo

December 12th, 2009

Cranium Cariboo




3 years & up. Magical treasure hunt game that reinforces four early learning fundamentals: letters, numbers, shapes and colors. Includes Cariboo Island game board, six treasure balls, two sets of cards (beginner and advanced), one key, a treasure chest, and rules sheet. For 2 to 4 players.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Kids love it
At the start I found this game to be dumb, but it has since grown on me. We love to play it with my daughter (She loves it).

Very educational for the little monkeys.

The biggest weakness of the game is that when you open a door, you can see under the adjacent doors. My daughter loves to cheat by looking under. My wife “modded” the rules to close the door after opening it. (Thus all doors are closed at all times). This has made the game more challenging because of the need to remember previously opened doors.

5 Stars Perfect gift
This is a perfect gift for children 2+. My 2 1/2 year old daughter has not lost interest since we received it 3 months ago. My 5 year old enjoys playing it with her sister and likes the advance play with both upper and lower case letters and larger quantities. Last month we Cariboo as a gift and the little boy who turned 2 has not put it away for weeks. His mother is amazed how he is learning his colors and shapes. What a great game!

5 Stars Great Game! Highly Recommend!
I can’t say enough good things about this game! My 3-year old son got it for Christmas, and still is as excited to play it as he was when he first got it. It is very easy to assemble, the instructions are very easy to understand, and kids and adults alike have a great time playing! It doesn’t take a long time to play and keeps little ones interested and learning (colors, shapes, numbers, letters) all at the same time. A great buy I would highly recommend for anyone who is looking for a great toddler game. It even comes with additional advanced cards to change out as your child gets older. Great game!

4 Stars Kids Crave Cariboo
This game is rated for 3+, but my 2-year-old loves it as much as my 4-year-old. The key and the balls are the highlights, and it’s fun to get the treasure to pop up at the end. While they are having fun, they are also practicing colors, shapes, numbers, and a few letters. Cute game!

4 Stars My 4 year old loves this game!
This is a neat game, got if for my son’s 4th birthday based on other customer reviews and was not disappointed. My son loves playing it, loves opening the doors with the keys and asks to play it again and again. My two year old who does not really understand the concept of the game also loves the use the key to open the doors and find the colored balls. I would definitely recommend it as a fun toy for preschoolers. I have a few complaints about the game, but they are minor. It is very quick to play, it only takes a few minutes and I wish it lasted a little longer so we didn’t just play it over and over again. We haven’t had it long and the plastic doors are already getting a little stuck/broken and the cards fall out easily so I worry a bit about its durability, and lastly I wish there was a way to put different “treasures” in the chest to keep it interesting and surprising for the kids. Instead there is a big pink gem in the treasure chest that is not removable, so opening the treasure chest at the end of the game is not very exciting after the first time you play. Overall though its fun and creative and gets my kids thinking about numbers, colors, and letters – a good toy!

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