Review on Wooden Alphabet Flash Cards And Puzzle Set With Animal Counting Blocks And Sight Words Match Game - Perfect For Toddler Learning And Montessori Education - 3+ Years - 36 Cards And 37 Blocks Included by Christine Sandoval

What a great set! My almost 3-year-old enjoys numbers and the alphabet. We already have several battery-operated toys/books that focus on the alphabet and numbers. Those have been excellent for the times I’ve needed a toy that is educational and can keep him occupied and entertained while I make dinner, clean up or just catch a breather. This time, I wanted something low-tech, made of durable and non-toxic materials, and can be used in several different ways. I had found a very similar set by a popular German toy maker and was about to purchase it when I came across this set. Both sets feature colorful wooden letter forms and "puzzle” cards. This one was at least half the price with great reviews (thank you previous reviewers) so naturally I went with this set, although I do love the quality of German products. Upon arrival, I wasn’t too impressed with the plastic storage box and the overall presentation. The box is rather thin and looked a bit cheap, in my humble opinion. Once I took off the lid and checked out the actual product, I was relieved. The wooden letters/numbers have sanded, smooth edges, and a thickness and size that is perfect for little hands. They aren’t heavy, but also aren’t too thin and light that I would worry about their durability. The colors are lovely—not extremely bright and vivid, but rather softer, muted hues. The illustrations on the cards are adorable, and the writing instructions on the back are a nice touch. I appreciated the colors of the letters/numbers matching the colors on the cards. It makes it easier for little ones to recognize and sort through all of the pieces. My son made short work of dumping all of the contents and going to work, placing the pieces into their correct cards. We’ve since played with this set several times, doing different things like sorting the letters and numbers by color first, then placing them into their cards. We’ve counted the number of each color, we’ve spelled simple words, and we’ve practiced pronouncing the letter sounds with the assist of the illustrations. I am debating adding velcro to the backs of the letters and making some sort of other activity—maybe a letter and numbers tree, using felt to make the tree trunk and foliage. I’m still undecided as I’m not sure I want to alter this beautiful set. All in all, I rate this 5 stars, even though the janky plastic container does nothing to represent the lovely contents inside. Still, including a container is a bonus, so I’m not docking a star.