 |
Melissa & Doug Cutting Food Box by Melissa & Doug
List Price: $19.99Our Price: $11.66You Save: $8.33 (42%)Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Toy See more product details
Product SummaryManufacturer: Melissa & Doug Brand: Melissa & Doug Audio: English (Unknown); English (Published) Release Date: 2006-06-12 Model: 487 Product features: - Lets kids cook on their own
- Realistic cutting sounds
- It contains over 25 pieces
- Recommended Age Range 3 Years and up
Accessories:
Toys and Games Reviews of Melissa & Doug Cutting Food BoxCustomer Review: Very Nice Addition To Toy Kitchen Summary: 4 Stars
We got this for our (just barely) three year old to go along with her play kitchen. What it is is a little crate of make-believe food that your toddler can 'cut' with a wooden knife. Though fairly stylized as fruit (the cucumber is smooth and has no bumps like a real cucumber) you can still tell what everything is supposed to be. The food is made of hardwood and nicely painted with non-toxic paint. Everything is 'pre-cut,' - that is, it's in segments and held together by hook and loop attachments. When the wooden knife is pressed down in the gaps between the segments, it 'cuts' the food, separating the hook and loop fasteners. It works surprisingly well, and even makes a satisfying noise as the hook-and-loop separates, just as if you were really cutting through it. Our daughter really likes it and as we do quite a bit of cooking at home, it is something that she can participate in without using the real 12" carver. In brief:
Likes:
* Natural materials - We love that it's mostly made up of wood, and minimal plastic. Also love the fact that it has no batteries - something that we've been trying to avoid.
* Reasonable facsimile of real items - It's nice that this represents something real, an activity that our child can participate in that not only ties into family activity, but also stimulates her imagination and promotes independent play.
* Value - We thought that this set was a reasonable value for the money. It's got lots of food items that 'cut' down to lots and lots of pieces.
* Quality - Every piece of food seems to be well-cut and nicely sanded, with no sharp edges anywhere. The crate that came with the food is actually usable and holds all the pieces so they don't get scattered everywhere and stay tidy - an eternal challenge with a toddler.
Not so sure about....
* The knife - It's not dangerous or sharp or pointy at all. But... It's made of unfinished very thin plywood. The bevel cuts used to make the 'blade' part have tended to splinter slightly with use. I don't see this as sticking in any tiny fingers (else it would be history) but it seems a curious oversight when everything else in the set is so nice and finished. I wondered why they didn't give the knife a different treatment, or use solid wood, but this is probably due to either cost or durability issues, or both. Mind you, this is a small, really a very small, thing and doesn't affect my impression of the kit overall or its usability or charm.
In the end this has really worked out and we like it a lot. In addition to the cooking activities, it also allows us to teach about putting things away and other issues of responsibility. (NOT like how daddy leaves the milk out, etc.) Good product!
Description of Melissa & Doug Cutting Food BoxThis super-sized set enables kids to cut their food just like mom or dad. It's perfect for encouraging hand-eye coordination. This set includes more than 25 pieces, including a child-safe knife and cutting board, along with eight healthy choice selections for kids to prepare their own meals. Knives glide easily through each item, making a realistic crunching sound that kids love. Once cut apart, kids will enjoy reattaching the disassembled pieces and starting all over. A handy wooden crate is included for easy storage.
Play Food Toys
|
 |
|
|
|