Melissa and Doug products

I really like Mellisa and Doug products. They are very colorful, sturdy, and often wooden. All things I like. I have a few issues with them though.

1. They are made in China.

2. They usually come in a wonderful wooden box...WITH NO TOP!

3. For some, Joey for example, there is no imagination. Take a look at Joey.

This is a great toy for kids and a wonderful toy to play in the car or on an airplane. Joey is wooden and comes with a variety of outfits that are magnetic so they so not fall off of him.

The problem is that, you can only make them in their specific outfits.

Everest loves to mix things up. The other day he was a lifeguard fairy, and today he was Aloft (from cars) with his lion costume, swim suit, sunglasses, and backpack. So when he tries to be creative with Joey, this is what happens.....it is hard to tell, but they are overlapping so they do not stay on.

A few can go together, but still do not fit well.

Here is the wonderful wooden box, with organizing compartments...and NO TOP. It is hard to store these and hard for Everest to put them away, he always ends up dumping it. I put them in plastic bags. It keeps the pieces together, but not organized.
What happened to raising creative kids? I love the idea, but hate that there is only 1 right way to put things together.