Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus

If you’ve read any of my other Wizzleys, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Melissa & Doug toys and this Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus does not disappoint. If you prefer your child to have well-made, wooden, educational toys rather than the latest plastic junk, this classic abacus toy really fits the bill. Buy now for 25% off (with free shipping option) using the link below or read on for my review.

An abacus is one of those ‘old-fashioned’ toys that you don’t see around very often but I think this is a real shame as not only are they great for educational opportunities, but kids also love them. The abacus was originally not a toy at all and was really the first ‘calculator’, used for doing speedy calculations. It is therefore great for teaching kids the principles of counting, adding, subtraction and other mathematical activities.

Even younger children will enjoy playing with the Melissa & Doug abacus – my 13 month old daughter loves sliding beads along the frame and it will be great for teaching colors, patterns and counting as she gets older. Melissa & Doug have helpfully included some activity ideas to get you started. If you home-school your kids or just enjoy incorporating learning activities into playtime, this abacus is a must.

The abacus itself is 11.5 by 12 inches and includes 100 wooden beads in 10 rows of 10. Each row contains a different color of beads – blue, red, orange, green and yellow. The frame itself and the beads are wooden and the rods that the beads slide on are made of metal. The beads cannot be detached from the frame and the toy is well put together but obviously supervision is needed with younger children in case of breakage as the beads could be a choking risk.

Math has a bad reputation but using a toy like this with your kids from a young age can really make it fun and give them confidence at school. It is recommended for ages 3 and up and is perfect for when kids start learning addition and subtraction around age 5 – 7. I think younger children will also enjoy this toy for counting, learning colors and making patterns, just take care to supervise as always.

You can buy the Melissa & Doug Classic Wooden Abacus for 25% off with FREE shipping opportunity by using the Amazon link below: