| | |  | Wooden Toys | Home » » Melissa & Doug BASIC SKILLS BOARD PUZZLE | | | | | | | Description: | | The Basic Skills Board by Melissa and Doug features six activites that help children develop manipulative skills. The board features 6 beautifully-illustrated color puzzle pieces, each of which features a basic skill or exercise. Children learn to tie shoes, zip coats, fasten shirt buttons, snap jeans, use a belt, and fasten a backpack latch.
Underneath each puzzle piece is a second surprise picture relating to the first. For instance, there's a sock under the shoe, a sweater under the coat, and food "inside" the backpack! This creative toy is perfect for helping kids develop manual dexterity.
Because the puzzle pieces are completely removable, the toy can be used by multiple children at once, making it a great addition to preschool, daycare, and Montessori classrooms. The puzzle is made of durable wood, and measures 16" x 12" x 1/2".
Ages 3 and up. | | | Product Details: | | | Product Length:
| 1.2 inches | | Product Width:
| 11.6 inches | | Product Height:
| 15.5 inches | | Product Weight:
| 1.85 pounds | | Package Length:
| 16.0 inches | | Package Width:
| 11.7 inches | | Package Height:
| 0.6 inches | | Package Weight:
| 2.25 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 49 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 49 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 68 found the following review helpful:
 Why is it a puzzle?Aug 09, 2009
By D. Woods
"Involved Parent"
I purchased the basic skills board to help my 3-year-old learn to tie, snap, zip, clip, button and buckle. It's a bust. He doesn't use it because the functions aren't secured to the base. It's difficult to teach these skills when they're not stationary. And it's large, heavy and cumbersome for him. Being a puzzle just adds to the confusion of its function. I'm going to glue the pieces into place and mount the board to a wall. I think this will turn it into an investment rather than a waste of $[...].
38 of 38 found the following review helpful:
Moronic DesignJan 02, 2010
By Sara Petersen
I originally bought this because my twin daughters needed to learn the basic skills of tying laces, buttoning, etc. But the fact that it's also a puzzle just confuses things--it's almost impossible to perform these tasks when you already KNOW how to do them if the underlying surface is not stationary, let alone learn to do them. I cannot BELIEVE the idiocy of this design. Whoever did this does not have children, was never exposed to them, and did not think about what they would probably do with this. Instead of learning new skills, as I had hoped, they immediately scattered these useless bits of wood about our house, as I knew they would as soon as I opened it. Who didn't see that coming? I would never have purchased this if I knew it came apart, but it was enclosed in tight cellophane and didn't say. I thought it was a solid board, and really, that would have made sense. Being a puzzle doesn't. Don't waste your money.
22 of 22 found the following review helpful:
 Perfect for learning each task individualy & not getting distractedFeb 03, 2011
By A. Sinha
Everyone said they didn't like this because it is a puzzle and the pieces come out when the little ones try to complete each task, I think they are using this Backwards!
What I believe the point is to take each of the pieces of clothes off the bear 1st, then have the child shut each item (button, buckle, snap, zip, etc.) and then once the task is completed you put each one on the bear where it belongs. My daughter is 3 1/2 and has had no trouble in using each of these items seperately. She has fun getting the bear dressed.
If anything I would say that this toy is so much better than one of the stuffed animals that has all of the zippers/buttons/shoe laces on them because with this toy there is only one task at a time and a child won't get so distracted easily.
This is a heavy duty, quality toy that I think will last a very long time. Quality I've come to expect from Melissa & Doug doesn't disappoint.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Good concept...but stick with the plush doll or bearJan 17, 2010
By Melissa
Like any other Melissa and Doug product, this is very durable and has stood a 2 year old's worst and now a 12 month old's chewing. However, it's really hard to manipulate the concepts the puzzle is trying to teach because the puzzle piece the function is on is too small so little hands can't button and hold the piece still at the same time. I would just stick with the standard plush doll to help teach zipping, tying, buckling, buttoning and snapping.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Difficult to useJan 10, 2009
By JPV
I usually like Melissa & Doug products but this one is not great and not worth the money. The puzzle pieces are very hard to work- it was hard for me (an adult) to unbuckle the one piece and the belt is so firm that its hard to do too. I even found the zipper a bit tricky. Its not likely my almost 2 year old twins will be able to use this anytime soon. (other than carrying the puzzle pieces around the house)
See all 49 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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