Lovevery Companion Play Kit Review and Amazon Alternatives
In our experience, the Lovevery Companion box for 22-24 months still holds significant value, though its current iteration has seen some noticeable changes compared to older versions. While Amazon offers functional alternatives for the individual toys, the comprehensive nature of the kit, combined with the deep play guidance provided by Lovevery, makes the box a worthwhile investment for developmental play.
What’s Actually Inside the Lovevery Companion Box?
The box contains a curated selection of toys designed to support development during the 22 to 24-month window. The most valuable component, outside the toys themselves, is the play guide, which details the research behind why and how to introduce each item for maximum benefit.
Key Items in the Set
- Wooden Pegging Stand: Includes pegs of different sizes for various posting activities.
- Book: Graham Turns Two: A recommended read for children approaching two years old.
- Montessori Animal Match: Features wooden animals and matching wooden picture cards.
- Buckle Barrel: Designed for practicing the physical act of buckling and unbuckling.
- Transfer Tweezers & Felt Basket: Focuses on fine motor skills by transferring felt stars.
- Mosaic Button Board: Allows children to practice snapping buttons into place using guides.
- Chunky Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle: Consists of four large pieces that fit together without specific, defined ends, encouraging spatial awareness.
How Do Amazon Alternatives Stack Up Against the Lovevery Kit?
To gauge the value, alternatives were sourced from Amazon. While functionally similar items are available, they often miss the coordinated, developmental approach of the original kit.
- Pegging Stand Alternative: The Melissa & Doug Pound A Peg Toy was noted as similar, though the pegs do not fit as easily as in the original Wooden Pegging Stand.
- Animal Match Alternative: A comparable set featuring 12 figurines and matching laminated cards was found. Alternatively, buying individual animals from companies like Schleich and printing custom cards is possible, but this option is not cheaper (a set of six animals could cost at least $35.94).
- Button Board Alternative: A button board was found for $15.99 that helps with fine motor skills and hand strength, though it lacks the unique vertical placement feature of the original.
- Puzzle Alternative: Because the Chunky Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle is unique in its uniform pieces, a set of wood puzzles was chosen as an alternative, noting it is less complicated than some other jigsaws.
How Much is the Lovevery Kit Worth Compared to Buying Pieces Separately?
When adding up the Amazon alternatives mentioned, the estimated cost reaches $129.85, which is slightly more expensive than purchasing the Lovevery Companion kit itself.
A key consideration involves the play guide. Lovevery includes a guide packed with information to help parents structure play, which adds substantial value beyond the physical toys. Furthermore, the overall quality of the Lovevery toys was noted as being superior to the alternatives found on Amazon.
Were the Recent Changes to the Companion Box an Improvement?
A review of the changes revealed that several items were removed—including the Quinn doll, large stacking cup set, storage box, and stickers—and replaced with the Wooden Pegging Stand and one felt star/basket. Overall, more items were removed than were added back in (see our itemized breakdown in our Lovevery Companion Play Kit 22-24 Months review), leading to a conclusion that the value of the old box configuration was significantly higher.
The Final Verdict
Despite the removal of several components in the current Lovevery Companion box, the kit is still considered well worth the price when compared to assembling the same concepts using individual Amazon alternatives. The primary advantages remain the comprehensive play guidance and the superior quality of the components. However, the box’s composition has seen a notable decrease in item count compared to previous versions.
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Where to buy
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