Review on Melissa & Doug Dress-Up Construction Set for Preschoolers by Mark Gancio

My oldest daughter had a similar dress up puzzle many years ago. I wanted my 4 year old to have the same experience, so I bought a Melissa & Doug product. Times are definitely different. My daughter's puzzle was made from high quality hardwood. The top that slides into the storage box was strong and solid. This family-friendly dress-up puzzle from Melissa and Doug is made out of wood and woodwork, but it's not as solid. The top sometimes gets stuck when you try to tuck it in, especially when a small child tries to tuck it in. It is made of very soft low quality wood material. I'm worried that it will get damaged over time and if the top part breaks it will become unusable. The good news is that, like the old puzzle, the new one still delights kids. Children love the different facial expressions of the family. There are happy, sad, angry and scared faces. I find it especially helpful for children to make up their own stories about why bears have such facial expressions. Children can create scenarios that help them understand and describe emotions. The outfits are varied and provide a lot of fun. Any modern parent who isn't a purist knows that it can be difficult to keep kids' attention away from technology long enough to enjoy simpler pleasures like puzzles. I recommend this product for helping children engage in healthy and imaginative play away from technology, but be aware that you may need to play with them to appreciate these simple pleasures and you may need to follow up more if you read this article use because it lacks robust quality.