gliondar's Full Review: Melissa and Doug Joey Magnetic Dress Up
I love Melissa & Doug toys, so when my two-year-old son received their Magnetic Joey play set as a gift, I was pleased. As I suspected from previous experience with Melissa & Doug, this toy has proven to be a durable delight to both my son and his older four-year-old sister.
Joey is a wooden dress-up doll that can stand up when placed in its slotted wooden base. He comes with 26 magnetic pieces to create six different outfits representing occupations including superhero, pirate, policeman, construction worker, knight, and fireman. Joey is a Caucasian boy with brown hair, blue eyes and a big smile, dressed in a white undershirt and briefs. Each magnetic outfit is broken down into four to five pieces, usually including a hat, shoes, shirt, and pants. The superhero has a mask instead of a hat. In some cases elements are fused together; for example, the policeman's pants and shoes are one piece, which also displays a belt with handcuffs and night stick.
The set comes in a blue wooden box with a compartment for the doll, one for the stand and three for the variously sized pieces. This is brightly painted with dark and light blue stripes and dark blue stars along the sides. My children like to set this box on its side and pretend its Joey's bookcase, which enhances the obvious opportunities for imaginative play with this toy. However, I really wish the box had a lid so the pieces could be contained and carried around without fear of spills and lost pieces. I solved this problem by slipping Joey, case and all, into a clear plastic zippered bag that previously held a bed sheet and pillow case set I recently purchased. It was the perfect fit, the clear plastic lets my kids see what's inside, and since they have block sets that have come in zippered storage bags, they're able to work the zipper with no problem.
This toy encourages imaginative play, as children can make up stories about Joey in his various outfits. It can also be fun for them to mix up elements from different outfits and create their own bizarre looks for Joey. I've watched my two-year-old gradually learn how to place outfit elements on the appropriate parts of the body, so I know he's gaining hand-eye coordination and learning to match. As suggested on the back of the wooden case, you might also trace pieces on paper to color new items. Or, you could possibly create your own new pieces with magnet sheets made for use with your home printer. And although it's targeted toward boys, my girl enjoys it too. More "girly" dress-up sets are available on the Melissa & Doug website (http://www.melissaanddoug.com/dyn_prodlist.php?k=87166).
Joey is recommended for children three and up because some parts (shoes and superhero mask) are small. Be sure to keep an eye on younger kids during play.
Overall, this is a durable toy that promotes imaginative play and appeals to both genders.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 13 Type of Toy: Other
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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