Melissa & Doug Alphabet Train Floor Puzzle

The cuts on the puzzle are divided so that one piece is one train car. (Other puzzles by other manufacturers can be put together without ever knowing or dealing with the alphabet.) The only way to construct this puzzle is to know the proper order of the English alphabet and attach them in that manner. Each piece contains both the upper and lower case letter and an illustration to go along with that letter.

My son began playing with this when he was three and did not yet know the letters by sight. He did know the alphabet song. I found the way to play this with the least frustration and the most educational value is for me to play alongside him. I let him piece them together until he asks for help (before he is angry). We sing the alphabet song together to find the next letter in the alphabet. If he doesn't know it by sight he asks for help and I give phonetic clues such as "G makes a sound like "gg", what do you see that starts off like that sound" at which point he finds the goldfish. One complaint though is that the goldfish is sometimes mistaken for just a fish and the F. I wish something more blatantly "g" was chosen for that one. We progress in this manner until it is done. I feel this has helped him learn the letters by their sight.

The appeal for my son was that this is a train related toy. Learning the alphabet was a byproduct that he was not aware was actually my key motive in buying this.

I also appreciate both upper and lower case letters being shown as sometimes alphabet toys and activities use just one or the other.

If you like this type of learning activity I'd also suggest the numbers puzzle by this same manufacturer to help learn the numbers by sight.


For Children With Autism   February 21, 2003
Katie French (Portland, TX USA)
52 out of 53 found this review helpful

I have 2 boys with autism ages 5 and 3 1/2. We are currently working through a program called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to help educate them and try to pull them out of their autism. This program consists of different activities such as letter matching, counting, self-help skills, fine motor, puzzles, etc. When I saw this puzzle, I thought that it would do a lot for my children: recognizing letters, sequencing, and problem solving through puzzles.

My 3-year-old has been able to recognize his letters, upper and lower case, since he was 2, but he did not know the alphabet song or how to put them in order. He loves puzzles, and this puzzle was able to teach him those things. He now can put the letters in order without missing a beat. We pile them up and mix them up, and he is always looking for the next correct letter. He is so proud of himself when he finds it, and brings it to me to show me. Then, he will tell me what the picture is on the piece that he brings me. He loves it, and I love the fact that this puzzle is educational in such a way that even children with disabilities can easily learn from it.

The pieces are very hard and durable, and stand up to the test of very rugged play. My boys can be pretty destructive, and this puzzle looks new.


Grab this puzzle!   June 2, 2004
carolyn (Canal Winchester, OH)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

This has got to be one of the best puzzles or tools to teach the alphabet. My little one just received this for his birthday and has put it together all by himself already (he's 3)! It teaches great motor dexterity as well as the alphabet and 26 animals. He loves to make all their sounds as he goes along. It stretches clear across the kitchen floor and it's a bunch of fun for the cat too! My son is getting a big jump on the alphabet with this puzzle and it's just a great investment. Here's a little hint though. Don't wait until the last minute to get it for Christmas. I tried last year and it was sold out for 2 months! Get it now and don't be disappointed!


Excellent Puzzle!   August 27, 2003
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

My grandmother bought this as a gift for my two year old for Christmas-she is now turning three and still loves this puzzle! It has lasted a year through her (although the box it came in did not!) and her one and a half year old sister and still looks like new! Although she needed a lot of guidance playing with it at two, she still enjoyed it, and now it is one of her favorite puzzles! I plan on buying it as Christmas gifts this year! Unique, durable, and affordable!


Wonderful way to learn the ABC's   July 30, 2004
W. Butler (Columbus, GA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This is the best puzzle! My son learned his ABC's at 27 months by playing this puzzle. It's a fun way to educate your little loved one!