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Product Details
- Binding: Toy
- EAN: 0000772005753
- Feature: Interactive design lets your child sort shapes into corresponding holes Bright colors and easy-to-hold blocks encourage creative play
- Label: Melissa and Doug
- Publisher: Melissa and Doug
- Studio: Melissa and Doug
Editorial Reviews
Challenge little minds with the ultimate shape sorter! Bright and cheerful, it features 16 chunky, vibrant shapes that make a satisfying "clink" as they drop into the hardwood cube. Then open the lid, take them out, and start all over again.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
Challenging Shape Sorter, Great Toy, Manage the Frustration! by Colorado reader & pa
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 Henry K. Cookson Jr.
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.
Looks good, but poor design for actual use by Kelly R. Stanaj "art
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.
Imperfect, but interesting by Richard L. Nelson "c
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 educator "Ruth"
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.
Don't waste your money! by M. Peruzzi "Enzio'sM
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.
Just not what a two year old looks for by M. Premeau "Watcher
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!
bad by V. Glavach
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
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.
Not worth it by A savvy shopper
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.
Wood is better than plastic, but... by S. Pershall
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.
GREAT Shape Sorter by Beth E. McHenry "ms.
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.
nice price for the product by Sarah Shulman "SKS"
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.
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.
My son got this for christmas, he loves it. He will sit for a long time (5-10 minutes) and play with it. He has learned all the names for the shapes (including hexagon) and will patiently sit and put them in the correct places. I will admit that the lid does come off easily....it just sits there. and some of the pieces are very similar, but this doesn't keep my son from enjoying it...it actually presents more of a challenge for him to pay attention to the smaller differences. And when he is tired of that he enjoys pouring all the blocks out and putting them back together. As for the reviewer who said she wouldn't let her child play with it for fear or hurting himself, I have stepped on more plastic toys that have left me screaming in pain than this well sanded shape block.
Despite other reviews, MY kids like this one a lot! by D. Leary
My kids (girl ages 2-1/2 and boy 1-1/2) have had lots of fun with this toy. The older (girl) got it when she was about a year old. The only negative I have observed with their play is that sometimes when the shapes have collected at the bottom of the toy they preclude/obstruct adding other shapes into the box. As for the top coming off, that hasn't seemed to bother the kids at all. It IS a more advanced shape sorter, but since we already had a simple "3-shape" sorter toy it has been a fun challenge for the children.
(Added 2 years later: My kids are now 3-1/2 and 4-1/2 and they still from time to time pick this one up and play with it. WOW!)
Good quality, but design flaws by Bachelier ""1004
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.
I love Melissa & Doug toys, but this is a big disappointment by By A Customer
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.
Disappointing for sorting intentions by Oak Parker "safmom"
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.
A Favorite from Day One by Rebecca Cox
My son got this for Christmas last year, just a week before he turned 12 months old. He loved it best of all his Christmas gifts and birthday gifts combined, and nearly a year later, he still plays with it. True, at 12 months old he needed a lot of assistance in sorting the shapes and fitting them through the slots, and he still needs a little help today (mostly now I just turn the block for him so that the side he needs is up - which, btw, takes care of the "problem" of not being able to fit the blocks through bottom holes on the side; just flip the box so side is up, simple!), but what are parents for if not to play with, nurture, and educate their kids? I have loved the interaction time this toy has given me with my toddler. I have loved seeing his problem solving skills develop as he works out which piece fits in which hole*, and by playing with him, I also am able to work with him on the names of shapes and colors. When he picks up the blue star, I tell him that it is a blue star. Simple interaction like this are important to language development. True, kids need time to play by themselves, and there are thousands of other toys to pick from for that, but they also need time to play with a loving adult, and this toy is a great toy for such interactions.
There are other shape sorters out there, and I had one of the name brand plastic ones for my older son (gave it away when I got this one), but this one is my favorite. It is of high quality build, and hasn't really shown any ware with 10 months of use and abuse. Not even the paint on the blocks has chipped. The lid slides into place, and though it doesn't latch, it stay put pretty decently, unless you intentionally slide it (or your toddler slides it so he/she can "cheat"). The lid on the plastic one I had basically just sat on top with no latch at all, and would fall off if you knocked it on its side. The Melissa & Doug one you can turn upside down and shake and the lid stays in place.
(*Note: one reviewer said that the pieces fit into any hole, which is not true in the least - each piece only fits in its corresponding hole; you can tell that just from looking at the image.)
Bottom line: kids need play interactions with loving adults. This toy is one tool to help facilitate those interactions. I am glad we own it, and highly recommend it.
Toy recalled in Canada for unsafe levels of barium by C. J "C.J"
I've had this toy for a while and my 10 month old daughter has chewed on the blocks (which the paint does chip off pretty easily). Now I found that this toy was actually recalled in Canada due to unsafe levels of barium! I'm staying away from all Melissa & Doug toys as some of their other products have also been recalled. Why doesn't US have stricter laws concerning childrens toys!!
From Consumer product safety Canada
Slice and Bake Cookie set, Shape Sorting Cube, and Pound a Peg by Melissa & Doug
Testing by Health Canada has revealed that the surface paint on the toys contains barium in excess of the allowable limit.
Some forms of barium are safely used in medical and commercial applications, while other forms of barium can be toxic, causing adverse health effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps as well as more severe symptoms. Children's toys coated with paint containing barium in excess of the allowable limit are strictly prohibited in Canada.
Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or illnesses related to the use of this product.
Flaking Paint! by bhg "bookworm"
I ordered this shape sorter for two reasons. There are many more shapes than in most of the others that I've looked at, and I like wooden toys. My grandson enjoyed playing with the shapes; however, after having this toy for a few months, the paint began to flake off. His parents noticed the flakes of paint on his face and threw the toy away. I am concerned about the safety of such a toy!
lid falls off, what more to say? by JohnnyC
A complete waste of money -- the child cannot manipulate the cube to look at different sides, because there is no latch that holds the lid on! It simply falls off, and all the shape blocks fall out, too. Very angry to have purchased this. What a ripoff.
Poor Design by Wiiildflowers4Jade
I usually like Melissa and Doug, but this is a very poorly designed product. The box is made with shapes on five sides, obviously to play you should be able to turn the box at different angles. But the lid just sits on top, so it falls off if you turn it. It's a useless box with shapes cut in it, waste of money.
Who thought of this ridiculous toy? by Jennifer L. Mitchell
The lid comes off immediately. We thought it was defective so we brought it back to Toys R Us and got a new one but that is the way it is designed. What kid could or would want to hold the lid the entire time they are playing with the toy to make sure it doesn't come off. Also, our son would just put the shapes in the open side once the lid fell off or he'd get upset that everything he put into the shape sorter fell out.
I cannot imagine anyone tested this product. Toys R Us makes a wooden shape sorter that is much more environmentally friendly and no danger of lead. That one has a side that slides off and it's easy enough for a 2 year old to figure out but not so easy that it falls off. That one was a much better idea. What were Melissa and Doug thinking here.
[...]
A Great Challenge by M. Smith "The Dada"
This is not a "toy", it's a puzzle. Never mind the detachable lid/no hinge thing that a lot of folks complain about. This is a great challenge for kids if you offer a little direction. It helps to actually sit down with your kid and work with them on this one. My 22 month old loves the challenge and the focused Daddy time.
I read these reviews before I bought this toy so I knew that the lid didn't stay on and I bought it anyway. Another problem about this is that the shapes don't all fit in the toy easily. You have to shake the toy (and hold the lid) to move the other shapes out of the way for the other ones to fit in properly. I would look for a different shape sorter if I were buying a new one. It IS very durable though.
longer-term effects by Charles W. Weesner "
My daughter got this at 9 months. We played with it a little. Six months later, it was still in use, but not much. Now, she's about to turn 5 yrs and still plays with it intermittently, as well as mixing these blocks with other wooden blocks and using the box as a foundation for towers.
At 3-4 yrs old, she was much more intent on finding the matching hole than at 1-2 yrs. Now, she manipulates her doll to put the blocks in.
The plastic shape-sorters? They've been ignored since 18 months. I suspect bad reviews come because the toy is a little too complicated for an infant's first shape-sorter.
My son loved it... by M. Foran
My son received this as a present for his first birthday. He just turned two and is still playing with it on a regular basis.
It has absolutely helped his to learn his shapes, but we have had to do some facilitating and helping (instead of just putting the toy in front of him and letting him have at it). I don't consider this a minus--perhaps some parents do?
I believe he still plays with this toy because it still challenges him. And there is nothing he loves more than to dump out the shapes (this is where the unattached lid comes in handy!), then spend several minutes working to find the right holes to fit the blocks. This toy is also one of the first to come out when he has friends over; the toddlers I've observed really seem to enjoy it.
poorly constructed by By A Customer
I really can't imagine how this toy was tested! The lid does not secure onto the box, and falls off every time the box is turned, and if you don't turn the box then it fills up so that there is no space to insert the shapes. Additionally some holes allow other shapes to pass through them. A very poor choice.
Poorly designed Shape Sorter by Kopal Barnouin-Jha
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.
A Favorite in My House by T. M. Welch "Irish T
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!
Tossed shortly after purchase by By A Customer
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.
Newer design has slide lid - my toddler loves it! by IndyMom
The newer design has a slide lid, that fixes the flaw of the lid coming open on the older version. My son who is 16 months, goes to this toy first. He loves putting the shapes in the box (with a little help). Its a great toy for interacting with your child and helps build motor skills. I found it for $9.99 plus a coupon at a local store. Great buy!
My 1 year old loves this. by Kerri L. Lockard
My son received this toy for his first birthday and he loves it! We play it almost every night, at his request. He is so proud of himself when he can get the blocks through the proper holes. This is a great toy!
on its second kid, at least! by avilanche
I bought this toy for 1/2 the price used at my local consignment shop so its on AT LEAST its second child. my daughter is 7m so she doesnt get the concept of the shapes into the holes, but the bright colors are great for her, and she can chew on the blocks and put them in and out of the box when i take the lid off. later on shell understand the shapes and how to put them in the holes. for now, its a great way to teach her a new skill and talk to her more about in, out, shape names, and colors. plus, its something else for me to just do with her at this age where a lot of toys are aimed toward self-occupancy with little opportunity for a parent to become involved in play.
Good idea, bad design by D. Gonzalez "San Fra
My 2 year old daughter loves to play with the cube, but she (and I) get frustraged because the lid does NOT, not stay on at ALL once you turn the cube to get to the other shapes and all the pieces you had inside spill out and you got to start all over again, it needs velcro, a latch or something.
Don't waste your money.
Very poor quality, DANGEROUS by Elizabeth
Unfortunately, I bought this toy on a whim at the store when I usually read reviews first and I highly regret it. This product is of very poor quality. We have owned it for 2 days. Like others have said, the lid is too easy to remove and just slides right out by merely turning the cube. Not too much of an issue (right now anyway) because my kid is of an age where she just likes to remove the shapes from the box and not put them back. What concerns me the most though are the splinters. Mine has splinters of a good enough size that they could be a choking hazard on in addition to "just" poking into skin. The box is just splintering off around the shape holes. I took this immediately away from my child. Too bad. I'm going to try and return it.
PRODUCT BEING RECALLED****UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN by W. Gaus "moviecritic
**********PRODUCT RECALLED UNSAFE FOR CHILDREN*************************
Hazard Identified
Testing by Health Canada has revealed that the surface paint on the toys contains barium in excess of the allowable limit.
Some forms of barium are safely used in medical and commercial applications, while other forms of barium can be toxic, causing adverse health effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps as well as more severe symptoms. Children's toys coated with paint containing barium in excess of the allowable limit are strictly prohibited in Canada.
Health Canada has not received any reports of incidents or illnesses related to the use of this product.
For some tips to help consumers choose safe toys and to help them keep children safe when they play with toys, see Health Canada's: Toy Safety Tips.
Corrective Action
Consumers should immediately take the recalled toys away from children.
Not Child Safe by B. Hildabrand "to ho
I purchased this item for my son. He just loves to play with it. But, after two days the lid split in two. My son is very gentle with his toys. The wood had a weak spot and was already cracked prior to opening and a block as well. Thank goodness I did not turn away when a piece of the block broke off. My son eats everything, he would have choked, or much worse. So far the rest of the toy seams to be fine. But I just had to toss it. Could not take a chance on any other pieces falling apart. I would pay more money for better quality wood. cheaper is not always the way to go.I am surprised this item has not been recalled. I see from other reviews this happens quite often. I like Melissa & Doug's products. But, don't waste your money on this one. I will try the tupperware sorter recommended per one review.
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