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Category Archives: Games and Puzzles

Fun Math Adding and Measurement Board Game

Posted by melissa.t on January 19, 2012 1 comments

The math board game, Inching Along, gets kids engaged in a fun game of measurement and addition. I don’t know about you but my kids need practice with both of these math concepts. And, the best part about this game, is that it’s so much fun, they don’t notice it’s also learning! (They’re too busy trying to win.)

Each player draws a card. It will look like this:

Adding G plus H requires some measuring. First, the player measures the line G, then the H line, and adds the two numbers together. That answer is the number of  spaces he or she can move on the game board.

This is line B – it’s labeled but the ruler is covering it up.

Players measure, add, and move. The first player to the finish wins but frankly, I think everyone wins because all the players practice and improve their math skills!

Inching Along will get your kids measuring and adding in a playful way which is the best way to learn, don’t you think?

Have you played this game before?

What are your favorite ways to playfully learn math?

The 10 Best Toys of 2011

Posted by melissa.t on December 1, 2011 1 comments

What are the best toys for kids for 2011 and all time?

The best toys for kids . . . 

. . . allows kids to imagine.

. . . facilitate learning in some area (social, cognitive, motor skills, etc.)

. . . don’t require batteries.

. . . don’t “do it all” for the child.

The 5 best toys of all time according to GeekDad are . . .

1. Stick

2. Box

3. String

4. Cardboard Tube

5. Dirt

Very true! Imagination and open-ended play abound with sticks, boxes, string, cardboard, and dirt.

 

So, inspired by Geek Dad, I’ve made my own top ten list of toys kids this 2011 holiday season, toys you’ll find at Imagine Toys . . .

1. Stacking Block Set (18 months plus)

2. Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game (3 yrs plus)

3. Laser Pegs (7 yrs plus)

4. Furnished All Season Dollhouse (3 yrs plus)

5. Playful Art Set (3 yrs plus)

6. Make Your Own Kaleidoscope Kit (4 yrs plus)

7. Citiblocs (3 yrs plus)

8. Trucky (3 yrs plus)

9. Perplexus Rookie (6 yrs plus)

10. Wheelypig (18 months plus)

 

What toys make your top ten list?

What toys will you be buying this holiday season?

 

Sneak In Learning with Fun Games

Posted by melissa.t on October 27, 2011 1 comments

The Sneaky Chef and Jessica Seinfeld (Deceptively Delicious) sneak vegetables into kids’ food.

So can’t we sneak learning into fun (“educational”) games? 

Of course! :)

In fact, consider all the different kinds of learning and educational games available– board games, active games, electronic games, computer games, video games, and phone and iPad games. That means lots of learning opportunities for your children! (Hint: Holidays are coming soon, this might be a gift idea.)

Board Games

Board games give kids rich learning opportunities and, as Scholastic writes, reinforce skills like:

  • number and shape recognition, grouping, and counting
  • letter recognition and reading
  • visual perception and color recognition
  • eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity
Educational board and strategy games:

Active Games

Active games are gross-motor games like the Play and Score Ball Throwing Game which also reinforces counting.

But, the classic recess games such as Capture the Flag or H-O-R-S-E are great active games as well and require minimal equipment. Some games, such as Capture the Flag, teach social skills and cooperation. The same goes for indoor active games like Indoor Foot Volleyball.

Electronic Games

Electronic Games are games which require a battery.


Computer Games

I’ve looked and there aren’t many computer games available on a disc. You can go online and play games or buy a gaming console like a Wii. For online games, try website Kids.gov which offers parents and educators a long list of educational online games or Kidz Pages which lists many online learning games.

Video Games

The Gates Foundation believes video games can enhance learning and recently donated $15 million to fund learning based video games. Interesting, isn’t it? Games can count as learning, even video games.

iPad and iPhone Games

We use the iPad for educational games, here are a few favorites.

There are so many fun ways that games make learning possible. 
Which games listed or not are your favorites?

Grocery Shopping Game for Preschoolers

Posted by melissa.t on October 20, 2011 None comments

Does a preschool game get any better than Shopping Cart Dash? It's the perfect game – pretend play, categorizing, matching, and tons of fun! Kids get their own shopping cart, coins to spend, a shopping list, and a store where they can shop. 

Get your money, shopping cart, and shopping list. It's time to play Shopping Cart Dash!

Roll the dice. The sections of the grocery store are categorized by color. Whatever color you land on, is the color section you can shop in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first person to successfully buy the items on his or her list wins the game. Here is a shopping list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that you have your shopping list, you need to go to the store.

If you buy something from the dairy section which is color coded yellow, you must insert a coin below the yellow section in the slot. Drinks are blue and treats are purple. Turn the grocery store to the other side and you'll see meats, fruits and veggies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first person to buy everything on their list wins the game!

But, if you ask me, everyone wins because each child learns about reading, following directions, types of food, categories of food, and counting.

I just love this game. (So do my kids.)

 

Time to Play! Pirates Ahoy!

Posted by melissa.t on September 26, 2011 None comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pirates are a timeless pretend play theme and just as popular today as when I was a kid. I loved playing pirates with my best friend, Justin. We used our little sisters for captives (sorry), garbage can lids for shields (did pirates actually have shields?) and sticks for swords. All you need is imagination and a love of adventure!

Since Halloween is coming up, you might want to start your pirate play adventures now, especially if your child wants to be a pirate for Halloween.

Learn about pirates with great picture books, sticker books, and non-fiction books. Here are some good books to get you started.

Shiver Me Letters, A Pirate ABC by June Sobel

Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long

Pirates Past Noon by Mary Pope Osborne

Pirate Sticker Book

Pirate by Richard Platt

Pirate by Christopher Maynard

 

Be a pirate! You'll need: 

- a bandana

- an eye patch

- a sword (you can make yourself)

- treasure

- a treasure box

- a hideout

- a ship

- a treasure map

 

Do pirate things.

 

* Check out this cute pirate birthday party from the blog Makes and Takes. It makes me want to have a pirate birthday party!

10 Playful Ways to Learn Your ABCs

Posted by melissa.t on September 22, 2011 2 comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the parent of a preschooler, you need ways to help your child learn the alphabet. Since we know that kids learn best through interactive play, here are ten fun and playful ideas to help your child learn the alphabet.

1. Sing the alphabet song while marching and dancing around your house. 

There's a good reason to learn with songs — music helps us remember things! Add movement and it's even better.

2. Build with alphabet blocks. 

Say the letters and you help your child build towers and buildings.

3. Read alphabet books. 

There are so many great alphabet books about different things can help reinforce your child's alphabet knowledge. Make your own personalized alphabet book with this book kit software or your own digital photographs. 

4. Make alphabet cookies; eat alphabet cereal or crackers.

My kids love CheezIts Scrabble tiles for yummy alphabet snacks. Don't forget about Alphabits and alphabet soups either.

5. Play Alpha Catch. (photo above and right)

Alpha Catch is an active alphabet catching and throwing game. Each ball is a letter. When caught with the mitt, it sticks with the Velcro. Say your letters or sounds and playfully practice your alphabet – it's fun and practices large motor skills at the same time.

6. Play-dough alphabet.

Get out your play dough and make your name out of your favorite color. An adult can help by providing the letters traced on a paper that the child can cover up.

7. ABC Cookie Game.

No, these aren't real cookies but a cookie jar of games and letters for young children. Brain food is yummy, too!

8. Alphabet puzzles.

I love puzzles for learning, don't you? Kids learn the letters as shapes first – which is why they're writing sometimes is backwards or reversed – the letters don't yet have meaning. Knowing the shape is the important first step in learning the letters. Puzzles reinforce this.

9. Sand alphabet writing.

Find a sandbox or make your own and write your letters in the sand.

10. Make an alphabet sensory tub.

Give your kids a tub filled with wonderful tactile things – beans, rice, pasta, and alphabet letters! If you use magnetic letters, you can "fish" for the certain letters. Or have kids scoop out letters or use big tweezers to practice small motor skills.

 

Everything you do helps your child learn and reinforce the learning. There is no right way to parent or teach – just find what works for your child and make it fun!

 

A Thinking Game for One Player

Posted by melissa.t on August 18, 2011 4 comments

I wanted a game my (then) eight-year old daughter could play by herself, that didn’t require me to play. You know what I’m talking about, right? And, I only buy educational games, something that isn’t just fluff. So, I started searching for the perfect one-person game.

A friend recommended Rush Hour Jr. which became a Christmas gift for my daughter last year.

She let it sit for a month.

So, I did what any normal mom would do. I started playing it myself. In front of her.

And, just because she couldn’t help herself, she started watching. Then she began telling me where to move. And soon, she demanded  a turn.

Success!

Of course, she loved it and I never got a turn ever again.

Basically, Rush Hour Jr. is a strategy game. You can select from four levels of difficulty – beginner, intermediate, advanced, and expert – shown by ice cream scoops. The cards give you how the game grid should look. You set it up and then try to get the white ice cream truck out of the traffic jam to the exit on the right side of the grid.

I’m telling you, it’s so nice to have a game my daughter can play by herself. And, since it makes her think, even better. Maybe even perfect.