Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Stringing Beads with over 200 beads

The following quoted phase from the manufacturers product description is NOT true:
Stored in a durable, handy wood tray "with a clear sliding top".

The product while excellent does not come with any form of cover. It came as a cellophane wrapped wooden tray with nothing to keep everything in all the cubby holes once that wrapping was removed. So it will need to be kept out of reach on a flat surface when not being used.

I bought this for my 3 yr old niece who loves to put together things like this but she would have had more fun if it was just shapes I think. The product overall is great and it is educational if you want to teach your child how to spell their name or mommy. Thats what we did.

The description states "stores conveniently". In my opinion, it is not convenient to have hundreds of beads in a shallow box with no lid. I really like Melissa and Doug toys, but lately I've been buying a lot of little storage containers for my various Melissa and Doug toys. It's getting expensive and time consuming. I just wish these things would come with a sliding piece of plastic or a cardboard box. Something to contain the contents.

We recently gave this set to a family friend on her sixth birthday - they have raved about what fun it is! Both the little girls and her three year old brother have played with the beads and had a great time - it kept them occupied for a LONG time, too! Mom says it's great for dexterity and for learning shapes, colors, and letters.

These are great, come a sturdy wooden box and it a great big kid little kid sharing "show me" toy.