Editorial Review

Music stimulates the brain and encourages early learningskills. This interactive cube lets children choose from any combinationof five different instruments--harp, French horn, piano, flute, andviolin--to collaborate on eight Mozart tunes. A solo flute might playan excerpt from "Ah! Vous Dirai-je, Maman (Twinkle, Twinkle)," or aFrench horn intone a theme from The Marriage of Figaro. Otherchoices include "Country Dance #5," "Come Sweet May," "Der Vogelfanger"(from The Magic Flute), "March in D," "Landler," and "LàCi Darem la Mano" (from Don Giovanni). Press the "orchestra"button and hear all the instruments play together. As the songs play,each selected instrument button flashes to the beat. The sound is notorchestral quality, but you get a fair electronic approximation of eachinstrument. Operates on three AA batteries (not included). --TamiHoriuchi ... Read more

Reviews (107)

fabulous for babies and toddlers
My daughter loved this toy when she was six months old, and still loves it at 18 months. I have had no durability issues, and when I noticed the instruments playing out of sync I replaced the batteries, which solved the problem. I love that she can select different instruments to listen to, and that it exposes her to more than the usual canned electronic baby music... she now has a love for instrumental music! This is a fantastic addition to her toybox.

Great music, but it doesn't hold my son's interest.
I seem to be more interested in this toy than my 8 month old. There are lots of beautiful songs and the music is very high quality for an electronic toy. It's too bad my son doesn't like to play with it, because the music is so much nicer to listen to than any of his other toys!

BEST toy we have, by far!
This toy was given to me for my 1 yr old daugther. She is almost 2 yrs now, and she still LOVES playing with it. It is very durable, considering how much she tosses it (and that another baby played with it before they gave it to us). Also, we have only had to change the batteries once. We take it with us every where we go, and it has served us very well in the car - especially in those moments when she just doesn't want to be put in the car seat. It has been very educational as well, in that she can now identify each instrument by name and picture, and presses the appropriate button. She will keep playing the instruments over and over - and yet we don't get tired of it either. This is one of the best toys we have, by far.

He loved it- while it lasted
This toy gets my son's attention- and did since he got it for his first Christmas (9 months)- but unfortunately, it is NOT DURABLE. You cannot let the child actually play with the toy- if they throw it at all, it's history. And guess what- most babies throw things when they get excited. They tend to drop things, too- the toy is heavy for a small child. He loved the lights, and he loved pressing teh big buttons- the music is not too bad, either- but for the cost, you want it to be durable so the baby can play with it.

Best toy yet!
My parents gave this to my daughter when she was three months old, and she seemed to like the musical sounds as we pressed the buttons. She is now eight months old, and she STILL loves it! It is her favorite toy. At 5 months, we would put it between her legs for balance while she learned to sit up, and she would make the music play. Now she's learning to crawl, and she always goes for this toy! The music is NOT annoying, and we enjoy listening to it as much as she does. We feel like she will enjoy this toy for a long time to come! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Young children have a seemingly infinite capacity for exploration, investigating everything thoroughly and relentlessly as they try to learn about their world. While this Fisher-Price set is not likely to fully satisfy that curiosity, nothing ever will, it is likely to keep young kids quite busy and occupied. Eight blocks are included in the set, the clear cubes found in many modern Fisher-Price sets, and they are the key ingredients in the five interactive sides of the cube. There are options to stack the cubes up on a rack and then release them to tumble down with a turn of a lever, put them though holes to initiate perky sounds and flashing lights, and plenty of other fun games that should delight toddlers. Inside the block is room for up to 30 Fisher-Price blocks. There is some cause and effect teaching going on here but, as with all good educational toys, toddlers are not likely to think much about the learning; theyre too busy having fun. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My son loves it, but its a little wobbly
My son just loves this toy. He is 13 months old, and he returns to it several times per day. That said, his interest is almost entirely in the piano portion, which is detachable. So far, he has no interest in the "lego-like" things. He does play with the other half (little creatures which move and make noise), and enjoys them, but not as much as the piano. Of course, he has many music toys, and comes to this more often because it is raised, and as a pre-walker, he prefers to stand.

Problem: he loves to climb, and tries to climb ONTO this table all the time. It is way to wobbly (spelling?) for that, so I'm constantly telling him not to do that. He does seem to be learning, but I still have to keep an eye on him. However, I wouldn't trade this toy for any other he has right now. Not a day has gone by that he hasn't spent 30-60 minutes at it throughout the day since it arrived. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great Toy
I bought this for my one-year old tomorrow grandson and he loves it! It's much more stable for him than his other stand up walker, and he is able to get over the threshold dividers between rooms, which he couldn't do with his other walker. He has no problem scooping up the blocks on my hardwood floors - - just have to push further. He also thinks it's funny when he scoops up a cat toy instead of a block. Highly recommend this item, great value!

My son's favorite toy
We bought the hippo for our son when he was 6 months old. He is now a year and he still loves it. He pushes it all over the place. When he was first learning to stand/walk, this helped him. He was so proud of himself because he could walk with it's help. I am going to buy this for all of my friend's babies! Highly recommended.

OK....but better if picked up blocks
My son received this for his 1st Birthday...he liked the blocks more than the Hippo. It doesn't pick up the blocks on the wood floor. My 4 yr old tried it on the carpet...and he was only able to get it to pick up 1 block. It is OK, but after seeing it's lack of performance...I wouldn't buy it. The Wagon in this series is much more fun.

Excellent!
We just bought this for our son who will turn 9 months in just two days. He has been cruising the furniture for a few weeks already and as soon as I brought this out, he was taking his first steps forward (w/the help of the hippo) within five minutes. It was so cute to see him take those first awkward steps forward! :-> Also, I have to agree w/what another reviewer said about Fisher-Price making the best quality toys. In my younger days, I worked for a couple years in a toy store and the one thing I vowed after working there is that I would always buy Fisher-Price toys for my kids because the quality is so much better. We almost never got returns on Fisher-Price toys, but some of the return rates on other brands are as high as 75%! And, all the recall notices we would get for other brands are also scary! Really scary because most of the parents who buy those toys never realize there was a recall. Not saying that Fisher-Price is perfect, but they certainly are at another level when it comes to safety and quality. Now that we have a son, almost all his toys are Fisher-Price or LeapFrog and we have not had any problems w/those brands.

Great toy!
My son received this for his first birthday and loves it. My three year old also loves it and they fight over this a lot. It is very sturdy to push for beginner walkers and also fun to ride on. The only negative to this toy is that it doesn't pick up blocks very well on hard surfaces. It is best used on carpet for that reason but it is still fun without picking up the blocks. ... Read more

Teacher Review

Little ones with a knack for building and creative play will be drawn tothese lightweight and durable cardboard building blocks. A staple item in many preschools, this set can spark endless imaginative play as children buildlarge, life-size structures. Builders practice mathematical skills as they addthe number of blocks stacked on top of each other, and the various-sized blockscan facilitate a conceptual understanding of fractions. When kids aredevelopmentally ready, parents can encourage them to discover that one large redblock is the same size as two medium yellow blocks or four small blue blocks.Made from 50 percent recycled cardboard, the blocks have a smooth, water-resistant coating that's easy to clean. These blocks won a Parents' ChoiceClassic Award and a Dr. Toy Classic Award. One word of caution: Make surethere's enough storage space to hold all 40 blocks once assembled. --LaurenBernard, mother and elementary school teacher ... Read more

Features

• Durable cardboard construction
• Water-resistant coating

Reviews (15)

YOU assemble; other factors still unknown
I found it amazing that no product listing or review mentioned an obvious question that we had when considering this purchase. YES, as you might suspect, these cardboard blocks come as individual, precut flat pieces that you must assemble yourself. Also not mentioned is the distribution of sizes. In this set of 40 total, 24 of them are the small size (blue). Even with practice, assembly takes time. Plan on an at least an hour to do all 40 of them, unless you are very nimble-fingered.

Our 2-year-old found them instantly intriguing, but quickly became frustrated by the difficulty of stacking them without knocking them over. We are not worried about that, as we expect this to be a skill-building process in dexterity, balance, large-motor coordination, and so on. But it is worth mentioning that some children, depending on age or taste, may not instantly love these blocks; and we can't say for sure that our child will either, until more time passes.

I think it also important to note that the stackability of these blocks will depend somewhat on the precision with which you fold each one during assembly. There always seem to be a couple of blocks that don't fit together quite as well as others, leaving a bit more tilt than one would like to blocks piled atop it.

However, one does get a very sturdy block when all the folding is done. The design creates "walls" of cardboard within the body of each block, making it strong enough that a small toddler can lean or even sit on one without flattening it.

We will have to wait a while to find out if our child "grows into" the specific skills required to really enjoy these blocks, or if they remain piled in a corner somewhere. The immediate reaction has not been as glorious as we were led to expect from other reviews,

And we really felt that the "assembly required" issue should have been mentioned quite clearly. Although we assumed that these came in "knock-down" form, a clerk at the local [store] (where we would have bought the blocks if they had been in stock that day) said she thought these came pre-assembled. I think that example alone proves that the information should be included in the product listing.

Questionable purchase
The idea of these blocks was brilliant. But the reality is a different story. I just purchased the "Giant Building Block 40-piece Set" for my 2-year old who loves building. The blocks were significantly smaller than I had envisioned. And 40 blocks may sound like a lot, but its not! Also, I believe that I read that they can support up to 200 lbs. My child is only 40 lbs and stepped on one and it began to give (yes, I did follow the directions and put them together correctly). (...) This product should be twice as big, double in quantity, and "durable" and then it would be perfect.

"Slightly" disappointed.

Great!! But make sure they are old enough
This blocks set is wonderful...my 22mo twins love them and have played with them on and off for quite some time. The only problem is, they received them when they were 18 mo old and my little boy still but things in his mouth. They are made of strong cardboard, but several "bites" have been taken out of them. I would recommend your children be out of the "oral" phase before purchasing these.

Best Building & Toy For all ages!
-Sometimes Basic is Best!

Team this wonderful toy up with a set of bean bags and you have loads of fun for all ages! I found these blocks when my son was 6 (he is now 13) and four children later I am now ordering two more sets because they have finally given out or been lost over the years. All my kids at every age and both my boys and my girls love these blocks! The have been used to stack and knock over with bean bags; army men, cowboys and indians, dolls, stuffed animals - you name it. We have created little windows in the blocks as targets and practiced tossing the bean bags through (Even us parents love this! While we are watching tv we toss our bean bags at various targets etc.)My girls have made Barbie castles, Care Bear houses, Dora the Explorer adventures and Blues Clues dog houses as well as baby play pens, and all sorts of creative play with whatever doll that happens to be the latest hit. This classic set of blocks takes all types of play to a 3-dimensional level.

They are sturdy for in the house and outdoors and have even survived a rainstorm or two. I highly recommend them! You will be pleased!

Classic Toy!
My brother & I had blocks like these (slightly larger)as kids. We played with them for years. This is one toy that will grow & evolve with your child's imagination. Now I have a couple of sets for my grandchildren. They love to stack them up & knock them down(they're durable enough to take it). They build towers and bridges and castles and "falling domino" lines around the dining room table. The possibilities are endless. You can amost see their imagination and hand-eye cooordination growing! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

I LOVE THIS TOY! GREAT FOR ALL AGES!
This toy was bought for my 10 month old son and he LOVES this toy! My 4 year old son, 12 year old Daughter, and my 30 something husband also LOVE this toy as well as the cool blocks that come with it and the others that you can get separately. We also have the Giraff and will be getting the wagon too! This is one cool toy! I see lots of fun years ahead with these toys! It's great for ALL ages!

Great first truck!
This is by far my son's favorite toy. He has had this since he was six months old. At first, he just enjoyed shaking and mouthing the blocks. Now that he is 8 months old, he loves pushing it around and listening to the music. He hasn't gotten the hang of putting the blocks into the wheels or filling and dumping the truck yet, but we look forward to seeing the progress. I'm sure we'll get many more months out of this toy.

Great toy for a little kid
My son received this when he was about 9 months old and loved it. It was the one toy that he played with constantly! He loves putting the blocks in the back and dumping them out and every time the truck rolls, it plays music. Really cute!

A happy boy!
I just got this for my 7 month old son. He has several lines of the peek a blocks and loves them. This one is a little different than his others because the blocks actually fit into different places on the truck. He is crawling and loves to move it around (It sings a song whenever the wheels move) He loves the blocks. I am trying to show him how to put them in the truck and dump them out! He likes also putting cheerios in the truck! The blocks also work well for teething, they are textured and he loves chewing on them! This is a great product and I can see it keeping his interest for a long time. My niece is 19 mos old and when she comes to visit, she loves to play with it too!

A favorite toy in our house
This is a great dump truck for any older baby/toddler who loves cars. My thirteen month old is a big fan of peek-a-blocks and this is my favorite toy in the line. The truck is constructed wonderfully, the blocks are GREAT (more interesting than other toys in the line), and you can incorporate the blocks into the truck very easily. My only complaint is that the song gets annoying but that's what the off swich is for. Highly recommended!!! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not as good as the original
I bought these for my daughter when she was 3. Now 5, she and her 2 year old brother play with them. They are no where near as good as my bristle blocks from childhood (still at Grandma's). These just don't stay together well at all. The people that swivel and the wheels looked like they'd add great dimension and improve a classic toy, but with the reduction in block quality (ie, they don't stick together!), I have to say these are a so-so toy, at best.

Another interesting way to build things
My kids really like their bristle blocks. I like the bright colors and the different sizes. My 3 year old just likes to put the pieces together--it doesn't matter if it is anything or not. It is just interesting to him that they stick to each other at this point. I built a car for him--from that point on, he has been able to visualize different things--cars, buildings, yards, etc. and put them together. I think that these, blocks, gears, legos, lincoln logs, etc. are all very important to a child's development. These are lots of fun for a reasonable price.

Bristle Blocks are Great!
My grown sons played with Bristle Blocks when they were children. Now my 3yr old grandson loves them as well. We gave him a small set for Christmas when he was two and he has been playing wiht them ever since. This year he gets the biggest set Imaginarium makes. I feel his imagination is fed with every space ship or airplane he creates.
And his Dad & Uncle get a big charge out of them as well, for them its a blast from the past. We love them!

Great toys for children
My son got some of these as a fun toy to play with when we where at a wedding and the women was nice enough to send them home with us well these soon became my sons favorite toy and he takes them everywhere and as a very active four year old these keep him very busy and quiet for hours on end they can build anything with them . Great toy for kids of all ages i belive,

Blocks from my childhood!
I love these blocks!!! I had been looking in stores everywhere for them. I just turned 30 and & have a 3 year old & a 5 month old. I had been looking for toys that I loved as a kid ... They have all disappeared! (Like fashion plates!!!) These blocks provided my brother and I with hours of fun. The wheels may not have worked perfectly, but if you built something, it stayed together. Only warning - Keep away from teething babies & puppies! These lasted for years!!! ... Read more

Reviews (133)

Fun for hours and years!
My son received the wagon when he was nine months. He is now 13 months and still plays with the wagon and blocks everyday.

In terms of child development, this is a wonderful toy. It really grows with your child. At first he banged the blocks together to make cool loud noises. Now he works the wheel, opens the door, and actually investigates the inside of each block to see how each block works. For example, one block has little finger holes on the outside for him to turn the paddle on the inside of the block.

He has NEVER gotten his finger caught in the wheel nor have any of the stickers fallen off, and trust me he abuses (oops, I mean uses)this toy everyday.

It is also a great toy to take along for play at homes with no toys.

This is a great toy whether you use the batteries or not! Sometimes I think we have too many toys today that light-up and make sounds, so if you don't want the lights and sounds, that's fine, too. In fact, we often turn the sound/lights off and our son still enjoys playing with the blocks and wagon.

My nephew who is 2 also has this toy, and he loves it as well.

We love this toy!
My daughter is 18 months and has played with this for the last five months or so. I noticed many of the negative reviews have been by parents of much younger children. My daughter has never smashed her fingers in the wheel and maybe the key is she's older and can control her hand movements better. My daugher enjoys doing the motions to get the different sounds from the toy and also stacking the blocks. And as an older and very mobile child she can push or pull the wagon wherever she likes.

watch little fingers
I bought this toy for my son at 9mos, he is now a year old. Even though he loves this toy, he gets his fingers smashed everytime he spins the wheel (which is his favorite part). To see how much this hurt, I did it to myself. And I have to tell you it hurts a lot. I called fisher price and they offered a refund if I sent it back. They also said they haven't heard of this finger smashing problem. Which is an obvious lie after reading all of these other reviews. I wish they would re-design this toy because my son loves it so much.

I Love This
I have an 8 month old and she has loved to play with this since she began sitting by herself. It keeps her entertained for at least a half hour. I can sit with her and just relax! Do watch over them though because they can hurt their fingers in the spinning drum if not supervised. She loves to play with the blocks by themselves also.

WAY over priced...
My son has this toy. I thought at first he would grow into it and love to play with it. He played with it a few times when he learned to crawl and quickly got bored with it. I am hoping that he may play with it as he get older but as of right now, I think it was a big waste of money. This toy is WAY over priced. My son got it as a gift so at least I didn't waste my own money but the person that got it for him sure did. The only toy that my son likes with these peek-a-blocks is the elephant and of course he likes the blocks. He gets bored with the rest. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

we love it!
My son received this as a gift and he just adores it! I like that it has a two volume settings, as well.

Great Toy
We recently bought this toy for our 11 1/2 month old daughter..she loves it..We bought the Christmas version of it though..It is so cute..I actually like it better than the origanal version.The blocks are so cute and our daughter gets excited when she plays with them...She is walking now and has been since was 10 1/2 months old and loves to follow along after the train..she loves the music when she pushes down its smoke stack..its just a very entertaining toy for her..Great buy..I love all of the Peak a blocks..they are a great toy for any age.

A favorite!!!
Our daughter received this from her train-loving family for Christmas when she was only 2 months old. She has loved it from the start, even when she could only lay there and watch it go rolling by her. Now she crawls after it and squeals in delight. She loves to try to grab the blocks off the top as it goes by. It has an off switch as well as a high and low volume. The music it plays is pleasant enough and the little 'toot, toot' is cute too. I think this is one of those rare toys that will last through both the baby and toddler years. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

A big hit
I purchased all of the peek-a-block toy sets before my son was born. All of them have been a great hit. My son is now 8 months old and this is his favorite of all of the peek-a-block toys. At 6 months old I brought it out for him to play with and he instantly loved it, at 7 months old he had figured out that if he pushed the front of the train it would play music and move and he loves to crawl after it. He also discovered that if he pushed the spinning piece in the center it would play music and he instantly starts to move as if he is trying to dance. At 8 months he has discovered that at the bottom of the blocks there is a place to spin what ever object is inside and when he finally gets his little finger to turn the object inside he laughs, then places the block on the train. Also, my 3 year old nephew instantly runs to this toy when ever he comes over, so I know that this toy will be a big hit for some time.

GREAT!
My 8mth old loves this toy it encourages him to crawl after it and to play with the blocks. he also try's to put them back on the train. when you push the trains smoke stack it starts playing music and starts moving he starts to laugh and crawl.This toy is great! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Every child should have these!
These blocks are all you could ask for--and at an unbelievable price!! These are indeed "Standard Unit Blocks". They are just like what you will find in Preschool and Kindergarten classes. The selection of sizes and shapes is very, very good for a set with only 60 blocks total. That being said, if you can afford it I would strongly recommend buying 2 sets. When youngsters start building it's a shame if they run out of building materials for their creative experiences. The quality, weight, and workmanship of these blocks is outstanding. This is surely a gift that can be passed on for generations. In this day and age of pricey toys-so many being electronic and/or requiring only "one right answer or goal" it's incredibly refreshing and truely necessary to encourage children to be creative and explore learning through active free play. I purchased 2 sets of these blocks for my 3 & 4 yr old boys. I believe that the purchase of these blocks are probably one of the most valuable "toy" choices I have and will make.

Excellent price for unit blocks!
We bought these blocks for our four year old son. They were a hit! Our 7yod and 2yod enjoy them as well. They are extremely durable and have rounded edges. They are solid blocks and are actual unit blocks instead of small blocks. I was tickled at what I got for the price. We are looking to buy 1-2 more sets so that we have plenty for all of their creations!

The quintessential blocks
The craftmanship and detail approaches perfection while the variety of play becomes infinite. My son (4 years) continues to astound us with his imagination and engineering feats when he builds with the "Standard Unit Blocks." This will be his second box, allowing him to expand the existing set and enjoy his play even further. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Ask any child-development specialist to recommend the single most educational and creative toy for a toddler, and you're most likely to hear just one answer: a set of wooden blocks. BRIO, a trusted name in the world of toys, makes this set of 50 natural beechwood building blocks that have smoothly sanded surfaces and slightly rounded corners and edges for safety. The basic cubes, rectangles, arches, pillars, half-circles, and triangles can be combined in endless combinations to create anything from a doll crib to a castle. The cubes are the smallest blocks (1.25 inches square), and the 6-inch-long arches are the largest. The blocks are designed in incremental proportions--three cubes line up to the same length as one rectangle, and three rectangles stack up to the same height as one pillar. Such design illustrates why a well-engineered set of blocks is so educational: playing with blocks of related-but-different sizes teaches sorting, matching, grouping, balancing, and spatial relations in some subtle and very important ways. This set of blocks is a classic toy that belongs in every home with a young child.--Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not as described!
The largest is not six inches long, it's only three inches. Some blocks were splintered and looked banged up. I returned immediatly, not safe for children of any age.

hours of fun
the best toy for toddlers, my godson spends hours playing with them! very durable and engaging.
in fact i used to have a set as a child and they had the same effect.

blocks are fun!
I got this toy recently because I felt it was important that my daughter begin to play with blocks. she has nesting blocks, but gets frustrated when the blocks fall into the "nest" and dont stack up. This toy is fun for her, she seems to enjoy playing with the smaller blocks, and her mommy seems to enjoy building more than she does! however, im happy with my purchase because I know this is a good investment, the blocks are durable, they will last me for future children, and im sure my daughter will love them when she sees how much i love them!! A worthwhile purchase.

Great Fun!
My child loves his Brio Blocks! These natural blocks are great because they have no paint so I am not concerned if he puts them in his mouth. They are also quite durable, and allows my son to build things that only his little mind can come up with. ... Read more

Editorial Review

For the toddler who's just discovering construction toys, theMega Blocks Wagon is a simple way to take building materials from siteto site. Topped with a sturdy plastic handle, the wagon is just over afoot high and runs on four 6-inch plastic wheels. Inside are 50 assortedMega Blocks. (These are mostly plain blocks but include a car and twopeople blocks.) The side of the wagon has a row of Mega Blocksknobs, so grand structures can be created right on the top of thewagon. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (26)

mega fun!!!!!!
this was a gift for my son last christmas and he loves it. he still plays with it to this day. he tries to build things it great for a childs develpment.

My 2 year old LOVES this toy!!!!!!!!!!!
My husband and I bought this for our son's second birthday and he has played with it for hours every day since then. We could have saved ourselves a fortune on other toys because this was a steal and by far his favorite toy ever. It is very durable, he drags it all over, throws the blocks in and then dumps them out! We have already purchased an additional set of mega blocks. I would HIGHLY recommend this toy!

Fun fun fun
I like this wagon because its so simple and fun for my daughter. She pulls the wagon around EVERYWHERE and even puts all her other toys in it, including dolls, and rides them around. My husband took the blocks out and put my daughter (29 months)in it and ran her up and down the hall! For [$$$] what a great buy.

Perfect for a younger builder....
These blocks are the perfect size for my littler builder who immediately made his first masterpiece moments after opening the wagon.... my only wish is that there were more blocks.

He also appreciates having a "handy storage" place for his toys... the little guy is fastidious... (yes, I am blessed!) We play "build" and then "throw the blocks into the basket".... so the wagon can double for lots of things.

The handle did fall off though it was easily reattached. I don't think its meant for "heavy duty" play.

Great Product
This was bought for my son last fall when he was 2 and he absolutely loved the wagon. While the blocks get scattered and we cannot find most of them, the wagon is a godsend out in the yard. When it comes time for him to pick up his toys, he pulls the wagon along behind him and puts them all in it. This wagon has been left out in the sun, rain, snow and whatever else mother nature throws at us and has yet to show any signs of sun fade. Nice product! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simple Pattern Blocks
Nice bright, simple patterns for my 2½ yr old to follow, and the cutout of shape makes it easy to place the thick wooden pieces. We're teaching her shapes and color recognition and this is a great teaching tool, and she really feels proud when she finishes each one (there's a pattern on each side of the wood board.) She even helps clean up afterward, made easy with the wood storage box. Can't say enough about the educational value and great quality of this set. I think we have just about all of Melissa & Doug's products! ... Read more

Editorial Review

With all the high-tech electronic toys available for kids today, it would seem that the basics would be long forgotten. However, often the classic toys are the ones children want to play with the most. This classic block set includes 50 solid wood 1-inch-square blocks that are ideal for stacking or building. Two sides of each block feature carved letters or numbers in bright primary colors for teaching the alphabet or counting during play. The other four sides feature stamped letters, numbers, or pictures for additional practice in identification. Blocks come in a hard plastic storage case with a cord handle for easily transporting to Grandma’s house. This block set will most likely become the most used toy in the playroom. --Cristina Vaamonde ... Read more

Reviews (9)

ABC Block Review
I think the blocks are cute and my 20 month old is enjoying building with them, but I was very disappointed that there were only 50 blocks in the set. Why call them "ABC/123 Blocks". The title is very misleading. He is enjoying the small size, as they fit well in his little hands. But I have to order more so we have enough to REALLY build with them. As far as being educational, I don't think blocks, or any other such toy, are necessarily geared for education. I think they stimulate the mind in a creative direction, and help with fine motor coordination, and color recognition. Bottom line - he's having fun with them, and that's great!

Not too shabby
What a great little block set! My son, now a year old, received these as a holiday gift, and absolutely adores them. They are much smaller than the originals, but fit in his little hands better, and are easy for him to pick up and carry.

It doesn't bother me that the block letters don't match the subsequent pictures displayed on each cube; I like the freestyle approach. I also don't plan for him to play with these for the rest of his life; I figure by the time he's really learning his letters and sounds he'll have moved on to more challenging toys. So my current expectation for these little blocks is being met.

He loves to stack them (and knock them back down again), clang them together, skip them across the hardwood floors, suck on them (haven't noticed any problem with the wood or paint either), and fill pots and pans with them. He loves to put them in the clear case as well, and to dump them back out again.

Overall, for the ten bucks this is a great basic toy that my son has gotten a lot of mileage from already. I have noticed a big improvement in his gross and fine motor skills already, as he's already stacking them six high and sometimes able to pick up two at a time.

I'd recommend this toy to anyone with a child a year or so and older. I think the 2 year minimum age is a bit old, actually, and have encountered no safety problems whatsoever in giving them to my 1 year old.

Not my idea of fostering language developement
Although these blocks are durable and have the traditional die-cut letters, I am very disappointed in the oversight of what I perceive to be an elementary necessity. The problem with this blocks is that although they have letters and pictures on each block, is that the pictures do not correspond to the letter on the block. I think that it is important for use for years to come to not only have a basic fun and building value, but to be able to foster language development when the time comes. I have a problem with the letter "P" block having a picture of a bee on it, how am I supposed to explain that when the question arises? If you are only going to be using these blocks for a young child and not keep them to teach them as they age, then they serve that purpose, but if you are like me and want them for longevity, then pass on this set.

Not for chewers-- wood too soft!
Although the recommended age is 2 years, I confirmed with the manufacturer that this age recommendation is for the child's interest/educational sake and not safety related. My ten month old loved the blocks and immediately bagan examining each one, as well as tasting them as everything goes in her month at this age. Within minutes, I noticed she had something in her mouth that she was chewing on. The blocks are made from such soft wood that with a little saliva she was able to scrape wood (and ink) off with her teeth! The ink on the side of the block was already smearing with a little saliva, and as I said she was able to scrape off the wood-- enough to chew on! Needless to say, the toy was taken away from her (much to her dismay). I was very disappointed with the quality of this classic styled old fashioned toy.

Nice blocks but way too small
I just received the blocks and although they are nice they are very,very small- only about 1 inch square. I can't believe how tiny they are!!! I didn't even know they made blocks that small, lol. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Total piece of crap
What a piece of crap this "toy" is. My son is soooo not into this. He's 20 months and hasn't been interested for the last 10 months. Do NOT waste your money.

Great toy!!
My daughter is 11 months & she absolutely loves playing with this toy. I showed her how to put the block in the giraffe & she's got the hang of it. Sometimes she gets frustrated when the giraffe falls over, but once you set it back up, she's happy again.

Tippy Giraffe
This toy is too narrow and tips over all the time. My daughter lost interest with it (even when she was 9 months old) when it fell over. I have tried bringing it out again now that she is older, but she still doesn't like the giraffe. I would suggest a different block toy like the elephant that has a "chute" in the head that blocks can drop through.

Get the wagon instead
We have the peek-a-blocks wagon which my son just adores. I was on the look-out for another hit toy and was seduced by the cuteness of the giraffe. My 8 month old son obviously thinks it is very lame--he doesn't even give it a passing glance. It is very unstable and uninteresting. Get the wagon instead and save your cash!

Excellent toy!
Our 11 month old son still loves this toy. He has figured out how to put the blocks in as well as how to poke his finger in and push the button that starts the music :) Thats gotta be educational! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good for very young children
I purchased these for the young (under one year) daughter of an acquaintance. They are an unusually good set of blocks, being soft, multicolored, and with varying designs. Some have peek-a-boo windows and doors, and some have rattles inside. The only possible drawback is that the "windows and doors" could become torn lose with extended use, but they are a good value and would be expected to last as a young baby grows. They come in a convenient zippered storage case which has some baby features. I would rate these as a "best buy" for young babies.

I like these
These blocks were atractive to me because they were soft and large for little hands. So I purchased a set for my 10 month old, she seems to like them just fine. They are not her favorite toy, but she enjoys knocking them over and watching me reassemble little structures. She also enjoys tossing them around which is entertaining for both of us! My favorite aspect is the small amout of space they take up when put away in the pouch they come in.

nice toy
I purchased these for my 5 month old daughter. They are wonderful. The only problem is they are a little big for small hands to hold on to. Also they could be a little softer. All in all she loves the colors and noises. I feel they are a good value for the price.

good first blocks
My son really likes these blocks. They are interesting and easy for him to hold & play with. Blocks make different sounds (crinkling, etc.) which are interesting for him. Best of all, he likes to knock down things we build with them. They were a bit pricy, but I'm glad a bought them. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Not Well Designed
I bought this toy because my daughter is really into sorting shapes right now. She has several shape sorters that work really well. This one, however, is not well designed. First of all, the lid cannot be fastened to stay down. When your child needs to turn it over to put in the different shapes they all fall out. Secondly, once you have a couple of shapes in the box they block the way for the others to go in. I have always loved Melissa and Doug toys up to this point but I would love to get my money back for this one.

This toy is frustrating, the lid does not stay on!
I bought this for my son and how the lid is made it does not stay on so that you may turn it to put the different shapes in. Also, when putting shapes in, it gets so full that other shapes will not fit in with out a fight. I would highly recommend tupperware's shape sorter before I would ever buy this one.

Challenging Shape Sorter, Great Toy, Manage the Frustration!
My 22 month old daughter plays with this toy, but there are 2 major sources of frustration.

1) The lid doesn't stay on well - whenever you try to put a shape into the side with the lid, the lid flips over. An older child could probably figure out that you have to hold the lid (or just drop the shape neatly into the hole without touching the lid) - but a younger toddler just isn't going to get that. It is very frustrating. Other people have pointed it out as well - perhaps the designers will respond in version 2. It's needlessly frustrating.

2) Some of the shapes are very similar /complicated - it is frustrating for a young toddler. BUT!!!! my daughter is slightly younger than the recommended age, and, it is a learning toy - it isn't supposed to be immediately easy. Just know that for younger toddlers, you should play with them and help them select the right hole.

A bit of guided play is called for while they are learning and it will increase fun/decrease frustration. My daughter has learned some of the shapes on her own, and is getting 'closer' on some of the others, but I frequently play with her and talk to her about the shapes and help her find where they go.

All in all, it is a good toy. We have several Melissa & Doug toys, and have been pleased with them all. They are safe, high quality, and nice looking. And you can never have too many small, brightly colored pieces of wood underfoot. :)

SAFETY IN TOYS
THE WOODEN CABINET FOR THE BLOCKS IS HARD WOOD WITH SHARP CORNERS. IF IT WAS MADE OUT OF DURABLE PLASTIC, WITH CURVED CORNERS ITS WOULD BE SAFER AND JUST AS DURABLE.

So-so
I read these reviews before I bought this toy so I knew that the lid didn't stay on and I bought it anyway. Another problem about this is that the shapes don't all fit in the toy easily. You have to shake the toy (and hold the lid) to move the other shapes out of the way for the other ones to fit in properly. I would look for a different shape sorter if I were buying a new one. It IS very durable though. ... Read more

Teacher Review

Kids will spend hours building life-size castles and fortresses withthis sturdy cardboard block set. Included are 32 blocks: six large red "brick"blocks, six medium-size yellow blocks, six small blue blocks, four drawbridges,four arches, and six turrets. This set is terrific for hours of imaginativeplay, and it can be used with other Imagiplay blocks to build large, life-sizestructures. Parents can use the castle structure to spark imaginative pretendplay (who doesn't want to be a prince or princess); they can also encouragemathematical skills by helping kids discover that one large red block is thesame size as two medium yellow blocks or four small blue blocks. Imagiplayblocks also enable children to explore and discover how they can control theirenvironment and manipulate the objects within it. Made from 50 percent recycledcardboard and printed with nontoxic inks, the blocks have a smooth,water-resistant coating so they can be wiped clean. --Lauren Bernard, motherand elementary school teacher ... Read more

Features

• 32 blocks
• Nontoxic inks
• Cardboard construction

Reviews (1)

My kids love these blocks!
My 3 year-old and my 6 year-old love these blocks. They build castles and then knock them down. The blocks hold up fairly well, you just can't jump up and down on them. We've had ours for almost a year and my kids still play with them all the time. ... Read more