Do Melissa and Doug make a higher quality product? They seem kind of expensive.

I work for a school and Melissa & Doug is an awesome company! They helped us design custom wooden blocks to spell out our schools name, etc. Great company and quality children products made from wood!

Wooden blocks like these should last a very long time. My family owns some, they're probably 25 years old now and still perfectly good.

When I was little, I'd use these to make ramps for my toy cars.

Hard to tell if it includes any of the long pieces.

Does anyone know what country it's from? Link to description w/ country of origin?

I'm 25 and tempted to snag these. Wooden blocks are awesome.

These blocks are great... unfortunately, real wood blocks aren't cheap. I've been looking for a second set of these, but at only $7 under amazon's current price (which is a little high), not a great deal tonight.

$10 cheaper and I would have been in for multiple sets.

Melissa And Doug Webpage 69.99 over there

I'm old and I still love blocks.

The variety of shapes allows you to build more than just a standard square. If you have more than one set, you can get some elaborate fortresses going.

As far as the brand goes - top quality. You won't be getting any splinters here.

Darn near perfect rating on amazon:

Amazon Melissa and Doug Blocks

264 five star ratings out of 301 (total)!

teenracer6 wrote:Do Melissa and Doug make a higher quality product? They seem kind of expensive.

Although I haven't bought the blocks, I have purchased other M&D products and have been impressed with the quality, even relative to price. Wood blocks seem a bit more arbitrary in pricing. I mean, really-they're blocks of wood. How much variation in quality is there going to be between a $50 set and a $15 set? You might be able to argue the premium is for American made (presumably) and thus better quality and safety control-eg. much less likelihood of lead paint or rough edges compared to a cheap Chinese product. Still, I think M&D put out a good product and are generally worth the premium over cheaper alternatives.

My 3 yr old received a 35-block set of these for Hanukkah and still loves them enough to build something just about every day. These are well cut and sanded hard wood which makes them amazingly stable when stacked. He was complaining that he was running out of blocks. Definitely in for 1.

Wooden blocks and matchbox cars. The best combo ever.

Who needs batteries to enjoy childhood?

clintone wrote: I mean, really-they're blocks of wood. How much variation in quality is there going to be between a $50 set and a $15 set?

I have looked around, and I have never seen a set of unit blocks for $15 - the cheap sets you'll find available have blocks that are, at most, 2 inches long (for the "big" rectangle pieces.) Sure, you'll get a hundred of them, but they wont amount to much. This set, the rectangle pieces are 5 inches long. It makes a big difference in building.

(M&D makes one of the cheap 100 piece block sets - not sure how to link to a picture, but take a look at the third picture on the amazon page. The blocks are tiny compared to this.)

These blocks will last a lifetime. Check deals woot and there is a link to Barnes and Noble site where this set is 29.99....

gazner wrote:These blocks will last a lifetime. Check deals woot and there is a link to Barnes and Noble site where this set is 29.99....

I checked it out and that set is only 44 pcs. There are a lot of other great M&D toys over there and they are all 40% off (or more) right now.

I bought this same set of blocks on Amazon at Christmas time for my nephew. It was $75. This is a seriously nice set of blocks...like the Rolls Royce of blocks.

CowboyDann wrote: Melissa And Doug Webpage 69.99 over there

vs. $39.99 here tonight.

Toys R Us $49.99 and 14 good reviews (4.9/5 stars):

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2267318#showReviews

Baby age: 3 good reviews, $54.48:

http://www.babyage.com/toys/melissa-and-doug-toys/melissa-and-doug-60-piece-wooden-block-set-27552.htm

It should be noted that the image used with this offer is misleading. This is a 60pc set. The picture of the two boys playing with blocks in the offer contains more than 60pcs.

That said, wood blocks are excellent "learn through playing" toys and everyone with children should own some.

You will pay a premium for the Melissa & Doug name nowadays, but they make high quality products. Can you find blocks of equivalent quality for less money? Definitely. Is it easy to find blocks of equivalent quality for less money? Definitely not.

A "got-to-have" for grandmas and grandpas! Easy to keep in a compact place and able to use any where!

My brother and I had a similar set of blocks at my grandmother's house when we were kids and we just loved them. Many fortresses, houses and cities were built from the blocks and then destroyed by my destructive brother. Then I'd throw some blocks at him and he'd throw some at me and then granny would yell at us and we'd shut up and build another block castle.

These blocks look exactly like the ones we had. They're cut from full-size 2x4 and 1x4 blocks of wood with sanded sides and corners (for no splinters). The "columns" are cut from 1.5" wood dowels. This set will last more than a lifetime and what kid doesn't love blocks?

I agree with a poster further up: a set of blocks and some matchbox cars will keep your kids entertained for hours, days, weeks, months.

Note also that this set of blocks comes with a new wooden storage box with handles. This is a really nice set of blocks! I suggest that people buy two sets so that the kids can built super-fancy castles!

My 3 kids have these blocks, going on 6 years now and still in excellent condition. They really are priceless. High quality, heavier than our other blocks and more stable for building.

We have this box sets for my daughters. It comes in a nicely fitted box that holds all 60 blocks. But once they are removed, don't bother ever trying to get them back in that box. You'll need to get another larger container.

Warning: if you are missing a block and have toddlers, check the toilet. And don.t expect them to float. With a dumb enough (persistent enough???) babysitter . . .they can block up your pocelain prince. Just sayin'.

I'm tempted to buy these just because I'm suddenly missing the similar set of blocks that I had 40+ years ago.

I wonder what happened to them...

Unit blocks are really a staple that should be in any kid's toy collection. They did some studies way back that showed they increased math scores or something. You can probably google unit blocks research and some info will pop up. There are also miniature versions available that are much more affordable, but I'm really partial to the full size ones (which, from the picture, these appear to be). Really, though, it's a toy that will grow with the child well, I've caught adults playing with them!

I always wanted blocks when i was small! screw my two kids i'm in for two sets! WOOT! WOOT!

I don't think the price on this set goes much lower. I got it for the same price (sans shipping) at a TJ Maxx a couple Christmases ago. Costco had a similar-looking set this winter that got as low as $40 shipped, but it was unbranded. (Kirkland blocks?)

My 3-year-old uses these blocks to make towers, racetracks, homes for Hex Bugs. I like putting them back in the box Tetris style when playtime is done. Guess that's where the math comes in. The set fits squarely into its storage box -- the only bit of filler when you open the package is a tiny bit of styrofoam. The $5 shipping is a steal.

efooter wrote:
Hard to tell if it includes any of the long pieces.

There are two long pieces, the length of the shorter side of the box -- about 12 inches.

The set is imported but I can't remember where from. Ain't getting out of bed to check.

I'm in for two. I've been looking for a quality set of wood blocks for my son for over a year. These look like the closest thing to what I remember having when I was a kid. Building blocks are awesome!

teenracer6 wrote:Do Melissa and Doug make a higher quality product? They seem kind of expensive.

Their products are some of the highest quality out there. I have two boys, ages 4 and 3, who are insanely rough on toys and we have a few sets of M&D blocks that have been passed down to us that are still in great shape. If you have kids, boys in particular are drawn to building blocks you can not go wrong with these. Heck even if you don't have kids these would thrill any parent to see their kiddo receive them as a gift.

We got this set for my son for Christmas in 2009, and it's been a great set. We got it from Amazon, but didn't pay this much for it. It's a good deal today, it seems.

We do manage to get all the blocks back into the original case, though. It's not terribly hard, and it stacks very well with the Architectural Blocks by the same company.

Also, we found that this set works perfectly with the Angry Birds backpack clips for a fun game of Angry Birds. The blocks make a very satisfying clatter when they fall down. They still look brand new, too!

teenracer6 wrote:Do Melissa and Doug make a higher quality product? They seem kind of expensive.

In a market where children's toys are all about reflecting the latest trends and technologies, Melissa and Doug products are basic, reliable, and simple. Most of their products are made from actual wood (imagine that) and don't require the use of batteries, have lights, or make sounds. Instead of relying on a few AAA's to provide the fun, M&D seems to put its stock entirely in that one thing that is seemingly lost in kids' toys these days - individual imagination.

Great toys. The craftsmanship and resilience are worth a few more bucks in my household. BTW, this is a screamin' deal!

Ophelia wrote:I have looked around, and I have never seen a set of unit blocks for $15 - the cheap sets you'll find available have blocks that are, at most, 2 inches long (for the "big" rectangle pieces.) Sure, you'll get a hundred of them, but they wont amount to much. This set, the rectangle pieces are 5 inches long. It makes a big difference in building.

(M&D makes one of the cheap 100 piece block sets - not sure how to link to a picture, but take a look at the third picture on the amazon page. The blocks are tiny compared to this.)

I agree! You may find some blocks for $15 but it's going to be a smaller, basic set or square blocks or they are going to be super tiny shapes. Sure your kid will still have fun with those but IMO you're best bet it to buy a good solid set like this as the staple to your kids block "wardrobe" and then fill it out with cheaper sets that will do for adding those small pieces on the tops of the towers.

I had recently purchased the much more affordable 100 piece set
http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Piece-Wood-Blocks/dp/B000068CKY

The blocks are a bit smaller, but the colors are a nice addition.
I had been debating buying this set for about a month when frugality got the best of me. I decided that my son would have much more fun with 300 blocks, as opposed to only 60. (even if they are a little smaller).

viking099 wrote:
Also, we found that this set works perfectly with the Angry Birds backpack clips for a fun game of Angry Birds. The blocks make a very satisfying clatter when they fall down. They still look brand new, too!

I just asked my nieces if they'd play with a block set, and they didn't give a definitive answer. Then I showed them your picture, and now they can't wait for them to arrive.

Awwwww how sweet--a set of blocks. Most normal children would enjoy these. However, my three nephews would throw them at people, throw them on the roof, throw them at cars, or use them as firewood.

Excellent deal! Especially with the shipping! If I had someone to by for, I would be getting some!

I have a set that I bought for my kids over 30 years ago. It's the first thing my grandsons head for when they are here.

Other than two blocks that were glued together at some point, they still look like new.

you guys think this could be a good candidate for a giant “angry birds” playset? I think so.

Ninja Edit: I just saw viking099's post, Great minds........