Reviews for Imaginative Play
We love the simple premise of Family Talk and Grandparent Talk — card decks with questions that provide the perfect spark for conversations among family members and peers. The games include 100 diverse question cards clipped together and small enough to bring anywhere where it might be helpful and enjoyable to pass time or become lost in memorable conversation. The questions have been developed for ages four and up — the younger set will need help reading the cards, of course. In Family Talk, questions are as simple as, “What is your favorite color?” or can get as detailed as, “What is one of the most important things your parents taught you?” Grandparent Talk is designed to help deepen intergenerational relationships among family members and keep family history alive. Questions range from: “Did you have your own bedroom growing up?” and “Who was your favorite teacher and why?” to “Are you afraid of anything?” and “What do you think about kids today?” Writing about this makes me want to turn back time to play this game with my own grandparents. Both games (as well as a Family Talk 2 version) come in the portable clip format or in a tabletop jar format. The Founder of Around the Table Games is a working mom who enjoyed learning all she could about her grandparents and great grandparents — and who knows how today’s busy lifestyles can prevent us from enjoying these types of valuable interactions. The games are great gifts for kids and their families, or for yourself — to keep at your home for when your grandchildren visit. Your “talks” will never be the same again!
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The latest and 6th installment of the Mia Adventures is chock-full of learning objectives, cleverly layered within 12 engaging activities and one giant adventure that allows you (or your grandchild) to jump right into a movie of sorts, manipulate its main character (Mia), and play a decisive role in the ins-and-outs and outcome of her adventure. And, oh, by the way — you’re grandchild will learn plenty in the process. You can’t really compare this DVD-ROM to other reading software for this age group (grades K - 3) because the graphics alone make it stand out. It is movie-quality with unique characters, sets, props and game ideas that will make you chuckle and scratch your head, thinking, “How on earth did they come up with that idea?” Suffice it to say that the experience is refreshing. The DVD-ROM is split into 2 parts: Activities and Mia’s Adventure. The activities require less of a commitment, and your grandchild can hop from one game to the next fairly easily, choosing levels of play from 1-4. Each game or activity has stated learning objectives, such as reading comprehension, upper and lower case, singular and plural, rhyming, verb tense, word recognition, etc. We’ve found that some will be easier for the younger-aged audience (Kindergarten and Grade 1) to play than others. For instance, the activities focusing on rhyming, word-letter associations or letter sounds might be less intimidating for this set. Furthermore, they will most likely need your assistance with the Activities — even though each activity does begin with instructions and demos by amusing characters — and most certainly with the Adventure portion of the DVD-ROM. At first, the Adventure will seem like you and your grandchild are watching a movie, as it is story-based. Mia is a mouse who lives in an old Victorian house where many generations of her family have lived. The new twist in this game is a collection of amusing pests (the Bugaboo Bugs) that have also moved in. The objective is to help Mia send the bugs on their way. Each adventure that your grandchild starts can be saved and re-selected. It will likely take a little while (and viewing the demo and instructions) to get used to the nuances of the game, including how to use the mouse to manipulate Mia. Again, the younger children will need your assistance. But once the basics are mastered, it truly is an adventure! For very good reasons this collection of Mia DVD-ROMs continues to grow in size and popularity. Enjoy!
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Our family loves tangram puzzles, so we were excited to find Tangoes Jr., which is a wonderful tangram puzzle “kit” for children as young as four. What I like most about Tangoes Jr. is its packaging. The sturdy cardboard puzzle cards are neatly tucked away in a flip-top briefcase about the same size as a small laptop computer. Then a drawer slides out from the right side holding each of the seven puzzle pieces in its own place. The cards, puzzles, and puzzle pieces are the perfect size for young hands, large enough to prevent fine-motor frustrations. The puzzle pieces are also lightly magnetized — again, helping to avoid frustrations from slippage. This feature, in addition to the packaging, makes the game a perfect car and travel activity. Tangoes Jr. comes with twelve 2-sided puzzle cards (the twelfth card is blank so your grandchild can create his/her own tangram puzzle). The other 11 cards (totaling 22 puzzles), have one version of a puzzle on one side (Level 1), and another version on the reverse side (Level 2). The Level 1 sides display the seven shapes, each shape clearly outlined, with all of the shapes combined to form the overall tangram puzzle shape (such as a sailboat, a house, a cat, etc.). In Level 1, matching shapes is the essential skill. The Level 2 sides do not show the dividing lines — only a silhouette of the shape. This level tests memory skills, spatial and visual discrimination, and important mathematical principles — the beauty of tangrams! Tangoes Jr. are a wonderful activity for you to do with your grandchildren, allowing you to guide them as they move on to some of the more challenging puzzles. Some of the Level 2 puzzles may even have you scratching your head. You can also purchase extra Tangoes Jr. Puzzle Packs when the original cards are mastered. For older grandchildren, be sure to check out Classic Tangoes, and the other Tangoes sets.
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The Magic School Bus - Soaring Into Flight Science Kit$19.99 at Amazon.com |
We like the Magic School Bus science kit series for several reasons. First, it’s geared to children as young as 5, and, with some guidance from you, they can actually do the experiments and learn a thing or two. We also like the instruction booklets included in the kits. Your grandchildren will enjoy following along because they feature Ms. Frizzle, Ralphie and all of the Magic School Bus characters they already know and enjoy. You’ll appreciate the easy-to-understand, yet informative curriculum provided, as well as the format of the booklet. For instance, each experiment follows the same format: 1) Question; 2) Hint; 3) Hypothesis; 4) Materials Needed; 5) Methods 6) Results; and 7) Conclusions. There is also supplemental information included with each experiment in the form of dialogue from each of the Magic School Bus characters. Clever! My little scientist at home was thrilled to test the Soaring Into Flight kit. This is a perfect Spring or Summer activity — however, these experiments can also be conducted indoors, with guidelines and plenty of space. The kit is ideal for children who enjoy airplanes or anything that flies. Twelve age-appropriate experiments explore basic concepts essential for various types of flight, such as: air pressure and resistance, wings, Newton’s third law of motion, gas pressure, spinning rotors and gravity. Your grandchildren will build and fly paper airplanes and gliders, conduct a balloon experiment, launch tiny rockets, propel spinners, compare the effectiveness of different-sized parachute sails, and more. Soaring Into Flight is one in a series of several Magic School Bus science kits, including: The Secrets of Space, A Journey Into the Human Body, and The World of Germs. The Series was created by The Young Scientists Club, who also sells its Young Scientist Series and Adventure Science Series. The company’s products are designed by a team of Harvard graduates, scientists, educators and parents — and have won all of the top educational toy awards.
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We love trying out products invented by parents who were inspired by their kids. In this case, it’s Little Capers — spawned from a mom whose toddler boy went through a typical superhero phase, set on wearing dish towel capes clipped to his shirt… anywhere. She had to do something! Many of us moms can relate, often feeling compelled to placate our young heroes with very un-original, un-stylish, and un-comfortable polyester costumes of superheroes who shall remain un-named. Alas, there is hope for our little heroes! Little Capers are 100% cotton, stylish T-shirts (with velcro-attached matching shiny capes) adorned with original positive hero-like images, such as a star, the earth, a peace sign or a thunderbolt. The shirts come in both short and long sleeves, and girl and boy colors and styles. Better yet, they’re made in Los Angeles, U.S.A. in a “non-sweatshop” facility. Choose from infant sizes (without capes), on up to size 8. My daughter loves her black with pink and sparkly silver star shirt, and I love that it’s stylish and can be worn with our without the pink sparkly cape. I also love that the message it sends is nonviolent and noncommercial — almost impossible these days. With this gift, you and your grandchild will both be heroes!
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What if you could buy a great gift for your grandchild (something you’ve found on Grandkids Gift Guide, of course!) — make that gift even more special by personalizing it and wrapping it in adventure — and, better, yet — make that special experience last 1 to 2 weeks, and forever in their memories? A new service called Giftventure will make that happen for you! All you need to do is go to their website and order a giftventure by choosing an adventure and answering a few short questions about your grandchild to personalize it. Choose a treasure map adventure for kids 4-8, a maze adventure for kids 8-12, or choose from several seasonal/holiday adventures. Their characters include: Captain Percy the Pirate, Fay the Fairy Princess, Gunther the Dragon, and holiday favorites — Santa Claus, Easter Bunny and Cupid. A giftventure includes 3-4 mailers to your granchild sent every three days from the character you choose. The mailers include colorful letters and posters, as well as puzzles and clues leading them to the location of your gift. Simply provide Giftventure with your grandchild’s name and address, location where your gift will be hidden, as well as a favorite toy/game and landmark to be incorporated in their special story. Giftventure will do the rest! If you know you want to give your grandchild a giftventure but don’t know exactly when — or you’re waiting for a special occasion to occur (a birthday, the holidays — or a special visit at your house or theirs!), Giftventure provides two simple options. One option is to have the giftventure mailed to you or your grandchild’s parents as a package, where everything is included, and the letters, etc. can be distributed (by grown-ups) at the most appropriate times. Or you can purchase a Giftventure gift certificate, which can be redeemed by you or your grandchild’s parents at a later date. Once you decide to give a giftventure, all you need is the gift — and you’re only a few clicks away from that! So… let the adventure and the memory-making begin!
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When I first played with Think-ets at the 2008 Toy Fair in NYC, what initially interested me was the game’s tiny size and simplicity — a travel pouch that easily fits in a pocket, filled with 15 intriguing little objects gathered from around the world. However, after playing it for a while with my kid-testers, I soon realized that although the game is small, and it’s materials simple, the brain-exercising activities they promote are endless. Think-ets includes a small pamphlet describing 11 games, including “What’s Missing,” where 5 or more trinkets are laid out, one player looks away while the other takes a trinket away. The player who looked away needs to guess which object is missing. In another game called “What’s Your Story,” imagination rules. The first player chooses from a few trinkets and begins a story highlighting that item. Then the next player chooses another trinket and continues the story using that item as the next subject, and so on. The inventors encourage kids and their families to devise new games and email them along to the company. The trinkets in Think-ets are purposely timeless (a tiny copper goblet, satin flower, wooden alphabet block, donut, gold band, etc.) making it a thoughtful game that transcends generations — perfect for playing with your grandchild. You can choose from one of 3 games, each with a different-colored pouch containing different trinkets — or buy all 3! The manufacturer recommends ages 8 and up (and of course, advises you to keep the game away from children under 3), but Think-ets are also fun for younger children, whose memory skills are constantly being developed and whose imaginations run wild. The game’s size makes it wonderful for restaurants and vacation travel — or for fun, thoughtful time at home with your grandchildren. Enjoy!
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Project Table Two Stool Set$375 at Ecotots |
We’re always looking for children’s products that are made here in the U.S. using eco-friendly materials and practices. Ecotots furniture, including this table and stool set, are all that and more! First, every one of this company’s pieces are beautifully designed for aesthetics, function, and ease of assembly. The parts are made from 100% formaldehyde-free renewable birch Smartwood, and fit together in minutes without any hardware, tools or glue. Ecotots’ patented Lip & Groove and Slide Lock assembly system also makes disassembly, storage and transport easy. We love the clean, modern look of the furniture, as well as the colors to choose from (fire, leaf, cocoa and clear) — each derived from non-toxic water-based stains with U.V. cured finishes to minimize greenhouse gases. Ecotots takes their environmental practices seriously, and are Forest Stewardship Council accredited, Rainforest Alliance certified, and a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council. The pieces also come with a lifetime construction guarantee. Ecotots produces upscale and stylish children’s furniture that is also practical and environmentally responsible — this is a gift you can feel great about giving!
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Dazzlin Dough was essentially developed for the educational market, but we found it for you at the 2008 Toy Fair. It’s far superior to other play dough or modeling dough, and it’s a great activity to do with your grandchild. When stored properly, its shelf life is longer than any other dough out there. And that means fewer dried-out messy crumbs! It comes in many vibrant colors and 10 different long-lasting fruity scents (our kids love to guess the smell!). And for budding artists, it can be air-dried, microwaved or oven-baked, and then painted with watercolors or acrylics — yet it’s completely non-toxic! This assortment set includes patties of five colors and scents, each in one-pound buckets. Those are the facts — you and your grandchild can take it from there!
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We played Numbers League for the first time at the 2008 Toy Fair and were impressed for many reasons. Associating math with superheroes is a genius idea, since boys (and some girls!) are fascinated by this genre. The heroes are all-new and unique to Numbers League — you won’t find Superman or Spiderman in this game, but you will find expertly illustrated characters, both male and female, who will capture your grandchildren’s imagination and get them excited to practice their math skills in a fun and creative way. Numbers League: Adventures in Addiplication is meant for 2-4 players ages 8 and up. Very simply put, the superheroes must defeat the villains by exactly matching their number using basic math. There are two levels of play. You can also purchase a Numbers League Infinity Level Expansion Kit, which raises the age level to 11 and up and the number of players to 6. It includes multiplication of simple decimals and multiplying by negative numbers. We’ve linked to Bent Castle Workshops, the independent manufacturer of this and other creative card games. You can purchase directly from their website, or search through their list of retailers for a local game store near you.
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