Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus Reviews

• Great Value

  
  By AYXPMA4H29QCX on 2003-10-21
  There are 10 wooden beads which slide across each of the 10 metal rods of the toy. The colors are bright and the frame is thick and durable. As should be expected, there are no instructions included with the abacus.
  
  

• Great Learning Toy

  
  By on 2003-12-10
  Great for teaching the concept of 10's, adding, subtracting - in a fun way! Highly recommend.
  
  

• NOT a "classic abacus"...however it's a good "counting frame"

  
  By A2CHPQANX5ZVLX on 2006-02-03
  This product is NOT a "classical" abacus; the true Chinese abacus has thirteen stacks of beads with two each in an upper section and five each in a lower section! This is a "counting frame;" which is good for children to use to learn counting by ones and tens.
  
  

• SIX CHILD USED ABACUS

  
  By A1WKZ9LH9HS5IU on 2005-10-01
  HI, I'M A MOTHER OF SIX. FIVE OF THEM IN SCHOOL AGES THE YOUNGER IS A ONE YEAR OLD LITTLE BABY. I WANT TO TELL EVERYBODY HOW DURABLE AND STRONG THIS ABACUS IS. I BOUGHT IT SIX YEARS AGO WHEN MY FIRST GIRL (NOW IN FOURTH GRADE) NEED IT FOR THE KINDERGARDEN AND SHE USED IT ALL YEAR LONG. THEN THE NEXT YEAR MY SECOND GIRL (NOW IN THIRD GRADE) USED TOO. ALL THE OTHER MOTHERS WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS ABACUS BECAUSE ITS SIZE, ITS STRONG AND DURABILITY, SPECIALLY WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE HEREDITARY ABACUS. SO SAME AS THEIR OLDER SISTERS MY THIRD AND FOURTH GIRLS USED IT IN KINDERGARTEN AND NOW MY BABY BOY (A THREE YEARS OLD) IS USING IT. SO I HOPE THAT I NEVER WILL NEED TO BUY ANOTHER AND THAT MY LITTLE BABY GIRL WILL USE IT WHE SHE GOES TO KINDERGARDEN BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE NEW. I DON'T EXAGERATE WITH MY STARS I'M TRUE TO MY STORY.
  
  

• ABACUS

  
  By ABV8Y3S0K81Q0 on 2005-09-28
  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.
  
  
• Fun math toy
  By A3H0ZQ74ITU83J on 2005-02-02
  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.
  
  
• Good visual & tactile mental exercise resulting in language and mathematical advantages
  By A1S77QRJXHBMJN on 2006-03-10
  Holy Cow! My 3 year-old is now a genius!
  
  In reality, this review will be tempered by 1) her reaction to the abacus, and 2) my perspective of how she has taken to the abacus, and what she is learning from it.
  
  1) She loves the abacus. The colors are bright and engaging, and the construction is sturdy (it is kept at 3 ft height, has fallen - been yanked, actually - several times onto a carpeted floor, and has not broken or loosened at the joints). The abacus is brought out about as frequently as her wooden puzzles and kitchen pots and pans, a little more frequently than her dolls, not quite as frequently as her keyboard and musical toys.
  
  2) I've taken her efforts to reach the abacus (and subsequent knockdowns) as signs of significant interest. Her vocabulary has expanded - not only does she says the word "abacus", but she has also taken a renewed interest in new words, including pronunciation and spelling of those words. Her colors are perfect (probably not a direct effect, but certainly reinforced by the color scheme). She is beginning to add and subtract by 1s. So, her interest, combined with its sturdiness, functionality, and usability are resulting in positive gains in her vocabulary, visual perception, and mathematics skills.
  
  I rate this product 5 stars for its usability, functionality, sturdiness, and accessibility, as well as the reaction she has had to the toy, and its effect on her vocabulary and mathematical skills.
  
  Your child may vary.
  
  
• Fun & Colorful Counting
  By A9S6QG127VD90 on 2005-04-15
  This abacus has been loads of fun for my two year old who is just learning the counting basics. She loves to just sit and play with the beads or to count with the help of mom and dad. The wood and metal construction is very safe and durable like all Melissa and Doug toys. This will be a useful and fun learning tool for years to come.
  
  
• Could be made better
  By A220ZQQXMK8KKU on 2005-10-28
  Base separated from top 5 minutes after using. It went back in but still!
  
  
• Great
  By AFPEJG62IBS5F on 2005-05-30
  This is a great gift. My 4 year old and 2 year old love it. However, you should be warned that it is not the most durable. It came unglued at the bottom easily, and though it can be used the same as always, I feel it does not have the long life I would hope for.
  
  
• Great Teaching Tool
  By A7PJ6TIIJAQ7Q on 2006-02-23
  I homeschool and I use the abacus to teach my son adding, subtracting and counting. This tool has helped my son understand math principals.
  
  
• Very helpful
  By A1AFXN9RJOO03G on 2005-10-22
  This product was very helpful to my son. He needed the abacus for school to do do place value. It worked out well and it is very sturdy.
  
  
• well-made
  By A2AV4F7HRQS8WZ on 2006-02-23
  The abacus is well-made and is a good value. I think it is higher quality than the ones my kids use at school.
  
  
• Great Sturdy Product
  By A3A4A7YMY69A8E on 2006-12-10
  This abacus is well built, and the bright colors make it attractive to children. My 3 yr old uses it for counting; my 5 yr old uses it for adding and subtracting; and my 8 yr old does multiplication on it. It's a great learning tool and has really helped my boys.
  
  
• Math can be so much fun!
  By A2BBMB7Y9ITE1W on 2007-08-05
  This product is a must for anyone who is beginning to learn math! My daughter is five and already learning her times tables and addition through this toy! They want to play with it. We do patterns and other type things with the abacus! Great construction and nice colors.
  We love this toy!
  
  
• Great for 1st grade
  By AZCD5QOG9K9Y9 on 2007-10-11
  My 1st grader was having trouble learning how to add/subtract. Bought this abacus to help him understand simple math and he loves it! In just a couple of days he got the hang of it and is now doing math on his own! I would recommend this tool to anyone, it's easy to use and helps kids understand addition and subtraction much faster than any other method I've tried in the past.
  
  
• Abacus
  By A294MBKB1KOSYT on 2007-01-11
  I bought this for my niece and nephew who are starting to do long division and additions. It makes math less stressful and fun. I loved using this as a child.
  
  
• Making math fun
  By A2NCM50GVM0FL on 2007-10-29
  This abacus was purchased for a four year old boy who was adopted from the Ukraine 18 months ago. He has quite a challenge in front of him as he learns about and adapts to living in the US, having parents, learning a new language, and being free to be a child not constricted as he was in the orphanage. He loves the abacus! He can already count to over 100 and adding seems to be an inherent talent of his, but he plays with the abacus a lot and it makes sense to him. His mother works with him every day and even she is enjoying the abacus and the games that are included.
  
  I am now going to purchase one for another grandson who will be four in March to help him along in school. Just think what a great "show and tell" item this is because so many children have never heard of one or seen one let alone worked with one! The learning can spread this way!
  
  
• Counting Frame--well made and sturdy
  By A3RGUDKNB46HSN on 2007-02-21
  I purchased this actually as a way for my musical daughter to keep track of her repetitions during her practice. It is well made, nice to look at, seems quite sturdy. Recommend it highly.
  
  
• Great Math Tool
  By A2O8MGKURA0B29 on 2007-08-23
  I purchased this for my granddaughter to help her with her beginning counting and math principals. It is wonderful. It is great for all ages in learning about numbers. It was delivered in record time...just in time for her birthday! Which was much appreciated.
  
  
• manipulatives rock
  By A1MPGDUBXMCDQU on 2007-09-30
  For everyone who learns by touching and doing (or is just too cool for calculators), an abacus is a must. Melissa and Doug's version is a little bit smaller, lighter, and less sturdy than some I've seen in schools and libraries, but it's still well-constructed and colorful - fine for home use. Young children love pushing the beads to and fro, making up reasons and stories for doing so. Older budding mathematicians might count them, or play some of the suggested games from the product packaging. Keep tantrumy ten-year-olds from stomping on it and it will last for a good long time. And for all those grownups who have heard the tale of how the abacus is mightier than the calculator, here's your chance to try it yourself. See what you can learn. ;)
  
  
• Not for little kids
  By ANX90QEHOYXYA on 2007-12-28
  Our kids were 4 and under. The abacus fell apart, exposing 10 pointy metal sticks and dropping wooden balls all over the floor. Choking hazard. Toy did not work out for us. Maybe for older kids.
  
  
• Fun and educational...
  By AR979NPLE7587 on 2008-03-24
  Even before I got all the plastic wrapping off, my little 2 yr. old girl was moving the beads across while counting them...The construction seems satisfactory, but I'm not holding my breath that this one will stand the test of time...Anyhow, it's quite cheap, so I think it's worth it...We've already enjoyed some seriously fun counting and math time with the kids...If you coordinate this with a chalkboard or magnetic numbers(with math signs), your going to be able to give your child a huge head start on math because they'll be able to visualize the concepts...All in all, it's a quality device at a reasonable price to give your kids a boost, even if it's not a true abacus.
  
  
• great for teaching preschooler addition, multiplication
  By A1CPV1OBMNGMV4 on 2008-05-30
  It's not a Chinese Abacus, obviously, but it's a great learning toy for pre-schoolers to learn / practice addition and subtraction (single and doulbe digit) and multiplication (up to 10 x 10). My 4 and 5 yr old use it, in conjuction to the Montessori counting beads, and the math they can do is remarkable. Ciphering rocks! The only question I have is what kind of paint and finish is used on the wood (in the context of so many toys that have lead in their paint).
  
  
• Great Toy, great service
  By A3GV9BK8S67L0 on 2008-06-20
  The Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus is a really great educational toy. It is put together quite well --
  a quality product. My 5-year old loves it and it's helping her with her math. Everything with this order when very smoothly. Thanks.
  
  
• Great Math Helper!
  By A3U3N46WVEHCSV on 2008-06-27
  I bought this abacus as a play-toy for my daughter to use while her older brother is doing is school work. He wound up using it as much as she did. An abacus is a great way to help visual and hands-on learners with basic operations, fractions, and more. This one is sturdily constructed, which means it stands up to use after class time, as well. A good learning toy for a wide variety of ages.
  
  
• A classic
  By A3OQ26HLIPDJUG on 2008-08-29
  Our son is a little to little to understand it but he sure likes the colorful beads. It's really a classic and a really good value.
  
  
• Cool !!
  By A2B3MQJ6M6U1N4 on 2008-08-31
  My children and I have a really fun time using this item...it is SO helpful for them when they have math homework and is a lot more fun than using a boring old calculator !
  
  
• great for kids
  By A36HL8Y5NI4FR9 on 2008-09-02
  Using this is greatly helping my daughter understand her math, and it withstands her destructive younger brother.
  
  
• For Basic Math computations, look no furthur
  By A2C389NWIAZG57 on 2008-11-12
  Durable, high quality, sturdy, what you come to expect from the Melissa and Doug line of items. My kids use this with the Rod and Staff math curriculum as an added manipulative to help them with addition and subtraction.
  
  

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