Is this world jisaw too advanced for a 3 year old?

[MissJanuary]

Its recommended for ages 7+ but on seeing this in the store I thought it would be great to start learning my 3 year old about the countries, continents and animals.

My thinking was that its never too early to start learning about our natural world, and as its so big it will be fun to have on the floor so we can all play as a family. Overall its 92 pieces so I'm not expecting it all to be done alone by the 3 year old, but as a learning game with all the family.

Or too advanced?? www.eveiletjeux.com/Produit-125332/puzzle-monde-magnetique.htm

And I'm also buying a wire beaded maze abacus, which one of my friends commented was too young for him now?? I disagree, I think its a perfect present for a 3 year old?

www.eveiletjeux.com/Produit-302237/cube-boulier.htm

Puzzle yes. Your friend is right that he is too old for the bead maze.

sorry - I'm not sure which way you mean yes for the puzzle - yes its a good choice, or yes too advanced.

thanks!

Puzzle extremely too difficult for my current 3yo, my other 3yos would have managed it if close to 4th birthday.
Beads quite good ime, for anybody under 5yo.

DD2 had one of those bead mazes when she was 2- she rarely even looked at it, there's just not that much to be done with them! They are in all the doctors/dentists/creches round here and are never played with IME.
World map puzzles are fab, you can never start too early (unless said child will eat pieces instead of looking at them!) :)

My DSs (6.5 & 4.5) totally love those bead things but never had one at home so that may be why!

Puzzle, yes ok to do together, both DS love our globe (which was originally a puzzle but they couldn't build it).

thats exactly it peeriebear those bead cubes are in all the doctos, pharmacies, even airports and everytime he see's one its like he's magically drawn to it, so I thought he'd enjoy one to fiddle with at home.

I do have an obsession with maps and globes myself hence I could not resist this jigsaw! Its got a lot of animals on it as well so I think it should be fun to do together, definately for family activity time.

puzzle- fine as a family thing to do together.
Bead frame - the big ones are flipping expensive, the little ones are fiddly and/ or boring. The one you link to is less than 30cm cube, Thats pretty small and you have to be able to get your hand in the middle to move teh beads along. I think the big ones in waiting rooms are generally better as there is more space in among the wires so ist easier to move teh beads.

This one is similar size and price but a more open design,http://www.sensoryedge.com/mazes.html Others on that site are fantastic, but big bucks.

Puzzle is great - we have a similar one though not magnetic, and DS & DD have loved it since we got it when they were about 3 and 4. They needed help to do it, but it was lots of fun to do, and they still enjoy it at 6.5 and 5.

Puzzle would be fine for dd who is 3.11. But if you want to start teaching about the world, can I recommend an inflatable globe? DD adores hers and she not only likes naming countries on it, but she plays catch with it, takes it to the swimming pool etc. Much cheaper too. And no bits to lose.

The bead thing would be too young.

I have a 4 and a 2 year old and neither of them would play with the beads. They have a passing interest in them when they see them at the GP surgery but they one we have at home goes untouched.

If your 3 year old isn't ready for the jigsaw then it will keep. We tend to use an atlas for children (from IKEA I think) and play spot the volcano etc. My 4 year old is pretty good at countries as a result and we get lots of opportunity to talk about the different produce etc grown globally.