Melissa and Doug Basic Skills Board

by Melissa & Doug

Product Features

• Dress the adorable bear puzzle and learn to zip, buckle, lace, snap and more
• Brightly colored, smooth-sanded pieces help build early shape, color and size differentiation skills
• Incredible value and superior craftsmanship
• Childhood favorite

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1.2 x 11.6 x 15.5 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000NVBE10
• Item model number: 3784
• Manufacturer recommended age: 36 months - 6 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #678 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #67 in Toys & Games > Preschool > Pre-Kindergarten Toys > Learning
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Incredible value and superior craftsmanship make this item a top seller and childhood favorite. Brightly colored, smooth-sanded pieces help build early shape, color and size differentiation skills. Newly redesigned!

Product Description

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Why is it a puzzle?, August 9, 2009

By 

D. Woods "Involved Parent" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Melissa and Doug Basic Skills Board (Toy)

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 $[...].

36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Moronic Design, January 1, 2010

By 

Sara Petersen (Vancouver, Washington, USA) - See all my reviews

= Durability:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Melissa and Doug Basic Skills Board (Toy)

I originally bought this because my twin daughters needed to learn the basic skills of tying laces, buttoning, etc. But the fact that it's also a puzzle just confuses things--it's almost impossible to perform these tasks when you already KNOW how to do them if the underlying surface is not stationary, let alone learn to do them. I cannot BELIEVE the idiocy of this design. Whoever did this does not have children, was never exposed to them, and did not think about what they would probably do with this. Instead of learning new skills, as I had hoped, they immediately scattered these useless bits of wood about our house, as I knew they would as soon as I opened it. Who didn't see that coming? I would never have purchased this if I knew it came apart, but it was enclosed in tight cellophane and didn't say. I thought it was a solid board, and really, that would have made sense. Being a puzzle doesn't. Don't waste your money.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for learning each task individualy & not getting distracted, February 3, 2011

By 

A. Sinha - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Melissa and Doug Basic Skills Board (Toy)

Everyone said they didn't like this because it is a puzzle and the pieces come out when the little ones try to complete each task, I think they are using this Backwards!

What I believe the point is to take each of the pieces of clothes off the bear 1st, then have the child shut each item (button, buckle, snap, zip, etc.) and then once the task is completed you put each one on the bear where it belongs. My daughter is 3 1/2 and has had no trouble in using each of these items seperately. She has fun getting the bear dressed.

If anything I would say that this toy is so much better than one of the stuffed animals that has all of the zippers/buttons/shoe laces on them because with this toy there is only one task at a time and a child won't get so distracted easily.

This is a heavy duty, quality toy that I think will last a very long time. Quality I've come to expect from Melissa & Doug doesn't disappoint.