Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube Reviews

• Challenging Shape Sorter, Great Toy, Manage the Frustration!

  
  By A1FQ58BX6IJ3OE on 2004-01-23
  My 22 month old daughter plays with this toy, but there are 2 major sources of frustration.

  1) The lid doesn't stay on well - whenever you try to put a shape into the side with the lid, the lid flips over. An older child could probably figure out that you have to hold the lid (or just drop the shape neatly into the hole without touching the lid) - but a younger toddler just isn't going to get that. It is very frustrating. Other people have pointed it out as well - perhaps the designers will respond in version 2. It's needlessly frustrating.

  2) Some of the shapes are very similar /complicated - it is frustrating for a young toddler. BUT!!!! my daughter is slightly younger than the recommended age, and, it is a learning toy - it isn't supposed to be immediately easy. Just know that for younger toddlers, you should play with them and help them select the right hole.

  A bit of guided play is called for while they are learning and it will increase fun/decrease frustration. My daughter has learned some of the shapes on her own, and is getting 'closer' on some of the others, but I frequently play with her and talk to her about the shapes and help her find where they go.

  All in all, it is a good toy. We have several Melissa & Doug toys, and have been pleased with them all. They are safe, high quality, and nice looking. And you can never have too many small, brightly colored pieces of wood underfoot. :)
  
  

• Great idea, but poor design

  
  By A23GCZHLCVLG0L on 2005-03-08
  We bought this shape sorter for my older son when he was about 18 months old. He'd already been playing with a lightweight plastic one for months, but we liked that this one was wood and had more shapes -- in addition to the basic oval, circle, rectangle, triangle, square, etc., this one has a flower shape, a heart, an octagon, a couple of different triangles, a wedge, parallelogram, etc.
  
  Unfortunately, the shapes fit through any hole in the sorter, so the child isn't really learning much of anything. Plus, the lid is impossible for a small child to keep on while they're playing with it -- even my older son (now 4) has trouble with it!
  
  I've also found that it gets so crowded in there that the shapes don't always fit well when you're fitting in the last few. You need to shake the sorter so that the shapes settle to the bottom. Another issue that I have with this product is, several of the pieces are small enough to fit INTO a small child's mouth -- our younger son, 18 mos, has proven that on several occasions! The plastic ones we have from the other shape sorter are all a bit larger than these pieces, and I think safer. We keep this shape sorter up on a high shelf, to be played with on a rainy day with supervision. It's not a toy I'd leave out for everyday play.
  
  
  
  

• What's the point?

  
  By ANIOFWUXR4K08 on 2003-04-29
  I bought this for my 2 year old, and as soon as I opened it I knew it was a mistake. First of all the lid doesn't stay on - especially when you have to shake the cube so all the shapes fit inside. Then he started putting the shapes in the wrong holes. So, what's the point? Don't they test these toys before they sell them? Just curious...
  
  

• Looks good, but poor design for actual use

  
  By AIS1TUJ6VFYEE on 2004-08-31
  I commend Melissa and Doug for the nice variety of shapes this cube offers as well as its classic wooden toy appearance, but that being said, actual use of this cube is cumbersome and faulty. A bit too heavy for tiny hands to turn and look for the appropriate hole, it also becomes frustrating when the lid falls off (no latch or hinge to keep it on) or it is almost full with blocks and you are trying to push in one of the shapes in the lower portion of the cube and it won't go in because there are blocks inside sitting on the bottom. If the lid latched, you could turn the sides facing up and easily insert the shapes, but not so. I sold my daughter's on ebay and got her the classic plastic Playskool one that has a snap lid and that is lighter weight so she can turn and tumble, looking for the right hole for the shape she has.
  
  

• Don't waste your money!

  
  By A1E864XXKKSYZ on 2006-02-28
  I agree with the last reviewer...the lid does not lock down-I have it collecting dust on the shelf- I like the idea that it was wood and it is made to last but they should have put a locking lid to keep the shapes in all one piece and so the child can pick up the box with out having the lid fall off.
  
  
• what a mess
  By A3GJ0Q32LJ2KF4 on 2002-12-03
  My son is 2 1/2 years old and we bought this for him last Christmas (2001). We were looking for something along this line and being from Imaginarium I thought it would be good. There's a major error in the design of the toy. The blocks fit in numerous different holes so there's no reason to find the correct hole to put the correct shape in. The rectangle turned sideways fits in at least 3 or 4 different holes.

  So, as a learning toy there are other sorting blocks that are much better. My son has more fun throwing the blocks around. He loves to put the blocks in the holes and he does enjoy the toy. It is well made and sturdy, but as an educational toy it is lacking.
  
  

• Don't miss the point of this real-life teaching toy
  By A3GI8Y7DZ60981 on 2003-10-06
  I'm afraid previous posts may fail to properly shed light on the ingenius levels of parody involved in the brilliant design of this "toy." Through its enigmatic skirtings around the core purpose for its existence, it has probably taught children more about the real world than its more properly-functioning competitors could hope to.

  From employee laziness and corporate indifference, to "first to market" rush and "committee decisions," your child will learn that life isn't fair, an important and inevitable lesson that overprotective parents often shield from their children until time and age amplify its effects beyond reason. They'll also learn that with a little shove, and a quick peek to make sure no one's any the wiser, you can do something the wrong way, and get the job done in a fraction of the time.

  If you're upset that the lid comes off when turned upside down, remember that too often, management will ask you to turn everything upside down, causing the lid to come off and all your blocks to tumble out. Of course, in this case, the blocks will be things like your social life, or 20 other things you're trying to juggle for your other 3 managers. This fantastic toy teaches toddlers that once the boss isn't looking, a shortcut can be sought that will both conserve worker energy (and web-surfing time), while getting the job done pretty much the same way with a minimal amount of thought and effort. This will help relieve stress and save money in the long run when they don't need to purchase self-help CDs, or book time with a therapist or three.

  This toy is a wonderful parody of your little one's probable future office life. I plan on getting one for my desk at work as a retro office toy and subtle reminder that good things come to those who know that while everything can fit easily through the rectangular hole with no effort on my part, the boss doesn't know that, and thinks I'm a genius. I recommend sitting your child down with this toy in front of "Office Space" available here in the DVD section.
  
  

• Not worth it
  By A16ULC4N7N6GPB on 2006-02-18
  I bought this toy for my 21 month old thinking she would love it. Like other reviewers, my daughter isn't that interested in her old shape sorter so I thought I would pick up this one, since it seemed more age appropriate and a bit more complicated. My BIG issue with this sorter is that there is no hinge on the lid. My daughter immediately figured out(as most children would) she can simply take the lid off then toss the shapes in the box. The lack of the lid closing takes the challenge away. I was very unipressed. I would wait until a better version comes out before purchasing this product.
  
  
• Imperfect, but interesting
  By A2F47M5JYNLL4F on 2003-11-03
  My daughter has warmed to this toy over time. It's not a huge favorite, but she finds it challenging and interesting, and she's learned a *lot* more from it than she did from the simple plastic shape sorter she got bored with.

  One of the things I really like about this toy is that it's not just about the One Right Answer. My daughter (now 2-1/2) experiments with different ways to insert the same shape, and learns something about generic versus specific solutions. There is much value in the notion that only the star can go through the star-shaped hole, but the star and many other blocks can pass through the rectangular one.

  Similarly, the fact that the lid can fall off used to annoy her. But it also taught her to adapt to it, and now she either holds the lid on or turns the box in such a way as to not drop it off.

  I admit she found this toy frustrating early on. But it is one of those toys that she revisits every few months, and she plays with it differently over time. Her "plain" shape sorter was a good first lesson for her, but it doesn't have anything new to offer once she figured out how to get the three different shapes into the three different holes. This toy has a lot more to offer over time.
  
  

• Not Well Designed
  By AFKHM0UD2JCP5 on 2004-05-11
  I bought this toy because my daughter is really into sorting shapes right now. She has several shape sorters that work really well. This one, however, is not well designed. First of all, the lid cannot be fastened to stay down. When your child needs to turn it over to put in the different shapes they all fall out. Secondly, once you have a couple of shapes in the box they block the way for the others to go in. I have always loved Melissa and Doug toys up to this point but I would love to get my money back for this one.
  
  
• Disappointing for sorting intentions
  By A2ICOW9YIVGPTQ on 2003-03-14
  This toy just sets a kid up to fail. So many great shapes, but so useless for all the reasons already stated--the top comes right off and the pieces fall out as you turn the box. My 20 month old son does enjoy stacking the shapes. I have now put the box away so he doesn't get frustrated at not succeeding.
  
  
• bad
  By ALK6JVDILLHKY on 2004-08-27
  I wish I could have given this item 0 stars...what a waste of money. The lid doesn't stay on, the pieces fit in multiple spots there are enough great shape sorters out there that you don't need to buy this one
  
  
• Good quality, but design flaws
  By A3CKPNSGA7JOLK on 2005-10-06
  We wanted wooden toys for our kids, but I have to say the Tupperware shape sorter is the one that gets used most.
  
  We passed on this one and bought a handcrafted no-name shape sorter at a craft fair, mainly because the lid was hinged and our daughter liked that feature (she endlesly opened and closed it). The Mellisa and Doug shape sorter lid is not fixed, and struck me as another element to possibly get lost and diminish the utility of the toy.
  
  Still, the quality of construction struck me as excellent. It isn't the best, but it is more than adequate.
  
  
• Broke after 12 hours
  By A1ZY2X5NR63Y13 on 2005-10-10
  VERY flimsy wood. The lid snapped in half after about 12 hours. Some of the shapes are so similar to each other that it becomes frustrating for my almost 2 year old to play with. I mean honestly, is it really necessary to have a pentagon, hexagon and octogon in a shape sorter? Also, the lid doesn't have a hinge, so when he turns the box to figure out where the block goes, the lid comes off and anything he had in there falls out. We've thrown out the box and just play with the blocks. So sorry I wasted the money. Thank goodness it wasn't that expensive.
  
  
• Poor design for this classic toy.
  By A36LE94TN1A2VP on 2005-12-24
  I really wanted to love this toy. It is wooden with so many shapes I thought it would keep my girl entertained and encourage self-confidence. The shape sorter lid has the shape cut outs and comes off completely. You can't turn the piece around to use other sides without it falling off. She takes the lid off and doesn't know to try to put shapes through it. It would have been much better to have a hole with a latch on the solid bottom to get the pieces out. I have to tape the lid on it get her to play with it right.
  
  
• she loves it!!
  By A1IUEFKM3PLZ3Y on 2006-05-25
  I was suprised to read the negative reviews about this product! My 19-month-old daughter LOVES this toy at her grandmother's house! The problem with the lid coming off was EASILY remedied by applying stick-on velcro to two of the tabs on the lid. (Get some imagination, people!!) My little girl got quickly bored with the four-shape plastic shape sorter. I have been amazed at how quickly she has learned the names of the shapes and where they go. I am recommending this toy to the other grandmother to have at her house!!
  
  
• Tossed shortly after purchase
  By on 2003-11-14
  This item was purchased for a 1 1/2 yr old. He and I found it very frustrating that the lid kept coming off. He did enjoy putting the shapes in the blocks and learned a little from the cube, however his joy over building with Mega Lego Blocks delivered the cube it's short lived welcome.
  
  
• I love Melissa & Doug toys, but this is a big disappointment
  By on 2003-11-23
  I ditto the majority of the reviews of this toy. Although I really like most of the Melissa & Doug toys, I cannot figure out how this one is still on the market...Again, the fact that the lid will not stay on makes the toy nearly useless. The child cannot turn the cube in any direction to find the proper hole for the shape,and if she does, the top falls off or the block falls out. What is the point? It becomes just another box to keep blocks in.

  My 21 month old daughter simply takes the blocks and dumps them in other containers, it is completely useless as a shape sorter...I have to say it was a big waste of money, unlike the other toys by this manufacturer.
  
  

• A Favorite in My House
  By A1YGR5PA55QGHD on 2003-12-21
  This toy is fantastic. It is a good old-fashioned shape-sorter, and my kids, ages 1 and 2 love to play with it. My 2 year old daughter even asks for them excitedly, "shapes, mommy? shapes?". I saw a couple reviews that made it seem like a negative that the top doesn't stay on. Part of the fun my kids have is taking the top off, pulling out the individual shapes, then replacing them in the box with the lid. My two year old pulls them out one at a time and tries to name each shape as she takes it out. It may only be used occassionally as a true shape sorter- the kids don't always find the holes to put the shapes back in- but I don't really let that bother me. They are learning and discovering in their own way. If you are a fan of old-fashioned, simple learning and fun, you will love this toy like my family already does!
  
  
• Poorly designed Shape Sorter
  By A13IT6F1P69RH6 on 2005-02-14
  We bought this for our 19 month old because we love the idea of well made wood toys, and she needed a good shape sorter.
  
  This seems to be both of those at first glance. However, when you watch how the kids use this, you realize that they are not learning much. Most of the shapes fit through the hole corresponding to another shape. For instance, the long triangle slides easily through the circle's hole.
  
  Perhaps an older child that knows that you only score points when you play by the rules would be able to use this as intended. Otherwise, my child uses the basic Fisher Price plastic shape sorter (4 shapes, each goes in only if placed in the right hole). That taught her what shape sorters are meant to, and she's very good at it!
  
  This toy ends up being quite confusing; so other than the colorful, well-made pieces being used for parent-child play and instruction (or as projectiles), the toy ends up rather neglected.
  
  
• motor skills
  By on 2005-02-20
  I wish they had more toys like this so kids can learn shapes and motor skills. I remember the red & blue ball when my kids were little with all the yellow shapes and that was the best! Now that I am looking for the same kind of toy for my grandson and can't find anything close to it.
  
  
• Just not what a two year old looks for
  By A6CWIQOL5HKOW on 2005-08-21
  My son got this for his second birthday. He loves to sort shapes. He doesn't like this toy - because the lid falls off! He plays endlessly with the Tupperware shape sorter blue and red ball at a friend's house - he can pick it up and look all around for the right spot for his piece. You can't do that with this box, so we'll be getting him the Tupperware one for Christmas!
  
  
• Poor Design
  By on 2002-12-27
  The square hole and rectangle hole allows all other shapes to pass through. Young children will think that all shapes fit in squares. Both of my children are not being challenged for they can just put all of the pieces into one hole alone. What is this teaching children? The wrong lesson! Very disappointed.
  
  
• This toy is frustrating, the lid does not stay on!
  By ATP4TR5ZUKFLC on 2004-02-22
  I bought this for my son and how the lid is made it does not stay on so that you may turn it to put the different shapes in. Also, when putting shapes in, it gets so full that other shapes will not fit in with out a fight. I would highly recommend tupperware's shape sorter before I would ever buy this one.
  
  
• nice price for the product
  By A2CSIZ6KE898HE on 2004-09-25
  My son loves this toy. The main problem is that the removable side (used to retrieve the shapes) falls off all the time. It would have been perfect if the top fitted tight enough to stay when the box was turned.
  
  
• GREAT Shape Sorter
  By AUI1HWVHXYFDV on 2007-01-04
  
  
  I purchased this for my grandson who has all the "noisy" toys a child could ever need. This item was purchased to help him focus on fine motor skills without the competition of distraction. The product is colorful and well made - sturdy enough to take years of toddler wear and tear. The only negative is that the top isn't attached with a hinge,so parents have to keep track of the shapes inside. I highly recommend this item.
  
  
  
• Wood is better than plastic, but...
  By A20V969WTHPG4O on 2007-01-11
  I was thrilled to find this Wooden Shape Sorting Cube so it could replace our plastic one. When it came, however, I immediately thought of putting hinges and a snap or closure device on the cover so that we couldn't misplace the top and so that kids could use the top shape sorting panel just as easily as the other sides and that it would remain one whole block. Within the first week my two year old split the cover - it is too week with the shapes cut out of a single unsupported piece. We suspect he either hit it with his toy hammer or steped on it. We're going to have to gorilla glue it so he can play with it again. Conceptually it is wonderful - an oldie but a goodie! Structurally, it could use some work.
  
  
• Top isn't hinged on and bad construction...WOULDN'T BUY AGAIN.
  By AT7ETF5YJ1PX8 on 2007-01-23
  Melissa and Doug Products could use some work..We bought the shape sorter for christmas and not 2 weeks later the top split. Now there is no top and 3 blocks are basically useless. Also the paint on the blocks doesn't stay on very well. We ordered about ten differen M&D products and really aren't happy with quality, size or construction. The paints on most of their products is already coming off or chipping away. The wood on some has broken or splintered away. Now I must say our daughter is 11 months old and not rough on any of them.
  
  I would be careful if you do purchase and keep plenty of glue around for all the broken pcs.
  
  
• Surprised by poor reviews
  By A2SFQY1U8BAOHP on 2007-04-15
  I bought this shape sorter for my son this past August when he was almost 2 1/2. He's been using it now for around 8 months and we've had none of the problems mentioned on the other reviews. Our lid is sturdy, doesn't fall off under regular use (unless you tip the box), no paint has come off the shapes, and only the correct shapes fit in the holes. Someone said any shape fit into any hole, which I can't understand unless they have a totally different product. I guess M&D may have had a run of defective products recently or maybe decided to make them cheaper since I bought it, but I just wanted to add a positive review here because ours is great and has held up well to lots of use over the past 8 months.
  
  
• USE VELCRO and all is well, and you have a great toy!
  By A142MIKLGOAAYN on 2008-01-05
  I have read so many reviews about people complaining about the top lid being loose. And, I agree that this should be addressed in any future making of this product. BUT, this is SO easy to fix. Go to the store, but some stick-on velcro and cut two small pieces to fit on two of the sides of the lid (I say two sides, because I did all four, and I actually had a hard time prying off the lid, ironic)! :-) This fixed the problem and the shape-sorter works great.
  
  I have also read some reviews about the shapes fitting other holes. I don't know if they got one that was defective, but I took my shapes and tried this, and it IS NOT possible, at least with mine.
  
  Also, the point of this shape-sorter is to be more difficult than the average, this is for a slightly older toddler. I bought this for my son (who just turned 3) because he love sorting shapes, but the "baby" ones were too simple. So, he is really enjoying this one. There are shapes that he gets frustrated with and then needs help, but I would only consider this a positive, because it is a great learning opportunity! In fact, I would have been disappointed in this toy if there hadn't been some difficutly.
  
  Finally, I would address the size of the pieces. I know one reviewer said they could fit in her childs mouth. I am looking at mine and think this might be possible, but I could not see any child being able to even attempt to swallow one. They are just too large.
  
  So, I would really recommend this toy. I know you now have the "hassel" of putting on the velcro, but it takes no time, and completely takes away the frustration of having the lid fall off, thus making this a great toy. This is the only reason I gave the toy 4 stars, if the lid didn't fall off, it would be 5.
  
  

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