Review on Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards Review: Classic Toy with 120 Solid Wood Shapes and 5 Double-Sided Panels by Quartreal Eagleman

Amazing toy to develop attention, concentration, fine motor skills and patience. I bought it for my four, soon to be five years old and have noticed so many benefits. I'm shocked at the small complaints about it. Pieces slide naturally. This should be so that the child takes their time putting the pieces together and not just casually spanking (hence the aspect of developing patience). Putting the puzzle together takes longer, so more concentration is required. I love it when my son puts together a puzzle on a picture mat and then really challenges him by removing the mat and having him recreate the same thing on an empty table. This toy offers incredible opportunities for brain development. I also talk to him about concepts like "above," "beside," "below," etc., terms that are essential to following directions and building executive functions. I also ask him to sort the pieces by color (sorting is a great way to prepare for math) and talk about shapes. The lack of a cover doesn't bother me either. I just throw everything in a gallon sized ziploc and save so much space. I found the parts and circuit boards to be of high quality, with no odor or defects.