Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus

by Melissa & Doug

Product Features

• This wooden “calculator” helps teach math skills, patterning and color recognition
• Slide and count the beads with this timeless counting frame
• Fun activity ideas included
• Exceptional Quality and Value
• Recommended Age Range 3 Years and up

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3 x 11.5 x 12 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005BVRQ
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 493
• Our recommended age: 24 months - 4 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 24 months - 6 years
• Batteries: 493 Lithium ion batteries required.
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #2 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Mathematics & Counting
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

This wooden “calculator” helps teach math skills, patterning and color recognition. Slide and count the beads with this timeless counting frame. Fun activity ideas included!

Product Description

This brightly colored wooden abacus is a great first calculator for kids to learn counting, patterns, colors and more. The 100 colorful wooden beads slide smoothly on this classically styled, high-quality frame.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars two faults with this abacus, January 18, 2011

By 

Rich S - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:2.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus (Toy)

I bought the abacus for my seven year old boy-girl twins to help them with their adding and subtracting.

This particular abacus has two faults:
1. the ten beads in each row are identical in color. The abacus I remember using as a kid had the five beads on the left side of one row one color and the five beads on the right of the same row a different color. This makes a world of difference when sliding over various amounts. For example, lets say you want to slide across seventeen beads in total. If each row had five beads on the left in one color and the other five beads in the same row a different color, then you would easily slide across a complete row of ten in the first row, an easily identifiable 5 beads in the second row (same color), and then an additional two more beads in the second row to make seventeen. With the Melissa and Doug Abacus, you would have to slide across a full row of ten beads in the top row, and then count up seven beads (all the same color)in the second row and slide them over.
2. The abacus is narrow. If you slide ten beads over to the opposite side, they don't all go past the last bead in the next row. This abacus would be so much better if it was about 5 inches wider.

The abacus that I prefer is Desktop Abacus by Learning Resources
Desktop Abacus
The desktop abacus by Learning Resources has the features that I wanted.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ABACUS, September 27, 2005

By 

R. Marvin (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus (Toy)

Before we got a chance to review the instructions, my 51/2 yr old had begun to use the abacus for counting, adding, subtraction and even making pictures!!! My 2 yr old also enjoys the beads for colors and counting. Exactly what we'd hoped for! It's sturdy and large enough to be fun yet easily handled by the youngest.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun math toy, February 2, 2005

By 

Mom of three (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus (Toy)

The colors are bright and the frame is thick and durable. It is a nice way to add a little fun to math. Plus since it is so well made, when my 10 month old wants to play with it I don't worry about her or the toy.