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Review on Exploring the Melissa & Doug Take Along Doorbell Dollhouse: Innovative Portable Playset for Hours of Fun! by Wes Thao

Revainrating 5 out of 5

A fantastic multifunctional toy that encourages open play.

My 2.5 year old son loves this Melissa and Doug dollhouse. He loves to ring our doorbell and he has a toy car whose trunk can be opened with a key that just wraps around it. So when I found this toy I was very excited and hoped he would like it. Favourite toy. Each of the four doors has a key associated with it and they must be inserted in the correct direction in the lock, each key is numbered 1 to 4 according to the corresponding door. Each doorbell has a different shape and sound, and the volume is really loud enough to only be heard when you're near the dollhouse, ie someone playing with a toy. Which is so nice compared to all the big button, light up, annoyingly loud toys on the market. There are four wooden/rag dolls that can be placed behind any door or any combination. It was difficult for him at first, but one day I showed him how to match the number on the key with the number on the door, which he got right. on the. He also had a little trouble understanding that the key had to be pointing in the right direction. After the first attempts with a little help, he understood it straight away. This toy made him focus on dexterity and number recognition. Which he understood almost instantly, faster than months of nursery rhymes. (Which was good for memorizing numbers, but not for recognition). It's also a great tool for teaching object persistence and many other outdoor games, e.g. When adults leave, they either come back, or don't talk to strangers, or always say who's there before opening the front door. He also hides his mini superheroes in a dollhouse or whatever he chooses to lock up in that spot. (Tip: If you can't find your car keys, check out the dollhouse.) I would definitely recommend this toy to any kid interested in how things work. My 4 year old has tried the toy a few times but gets bored quickly so may not be for every child.

Pros
  • Few competitors
Cons
  • Unreliable