Monday, August 2, 2010
Review: WEDGiTS Construction Blocks
What’s cool is that Wedgits span across all age groups. The Wee Wedgits are for early childhood ages 1-3 years. These are squishy-soft and engage tactile and motor skills that are necessary for development.
For the preschool kiddos the basic Wedgits are harder but still have the same rounded edges. The Starter Set comes with 15 blocks for unlimited configurations and makes for a perfect gift. It’s got just the right amount of blocks to well...get started! And all of the standard-size Wedgits' sets can be combined for even larger designs! There are also design books that take you step by step through more complex designs.
My favorite are the mini Wedgits. These sets have much smaller pieces and come in different designs like an owl, a frog, or a dog, but can also be used in unlimited creative designs. These are geared toward kids ages 5+. If you have an only child, have no fear! Wedgits can be played solo or with friends. And the best bonus - they’re DISHWASHER SAFE!!Another huge plus is that Wedgits are an excellent toy for autistic children. Parents often come in and ask for recommendations for their autistic son or daughter, often mentioning that they get frustrated really easily. What do I say to those fretful parents? Have no fear, Wedgits to the rescue! They are meant for hours of play and endless possibilities, lessening the chance of boredom and frustration.
In the store we have a Wedgits table full of pieces that often stops both kids and adults in their tracks! Stop by to check it out and see what you can design!
--guest post by toy expert Kerri P.!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Review: Bath Time: Flow and Fill Spout
Are you looking for that perfect bath toy for your child?
Look no further than the Flow N Fill Spout from the Yookidoo line of International Playthings. Both of our daughters, Emma (3 1/2) and Brooke (8 months), love this colorful and playful fountain. For now, Brooke likes to listen to the water and watch it go through the cups, while Emma loves to play with the three different activity cups. The first cup, "Greenie", has a little propeller that spins as the water flows through. The blue cup has small holes in the bottom to act like a little shower, while the red cup has a hidden surprise in the form of a peek-a-boo friend that rises with the water level in the cup! If your kids are fans of Handy Manny, the design reminds me a lot of the tools on the show.
After taking the spout out of the packaging, you will need to unscrew the back to install 3 "AA" batteries (not included). Once it is back together and sealed, you attach the nice-sized suction cup to the side of the bathtub. Once you fill the tub with water, make sure the water level is above the bottom of the tube that sticks down. This tube is what takes the water up from the bathtub and out through the swiveling spout. *NOTE* Be careful not to run it without water or you can burn out the pump that sits behind the orange face!
One of the best parts for us parents is there is no continuous running of the faucet, so you don't waste water!
*Flow N Fill Spout received the Parents' Choice Gold Award for Toys in Fall 2009.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Review: Games: Sumoku by Blue Orange Games
We just received our first shipment of a great new game called sumoku from Blue Orange Games. Think of Scrabble meets Bananagrams meets Sudoku. There are several ways to play the game but the most basic is similar to Bananagrams except you use numbers instead of letters.
To start, each player (up to 8) takes eight tiles from the center and turns them face-up in front of them. One player rolls the colored die to determine the "key number". The goal is to build rows and columns that add up to multiples of the key number. Each row or column must intersect with another row or column. Watch out though because you cannot repeat a color in the same row or column!
After each turn you add up the tiles in your row or column to get your score for that turn. The game ends when there are no more playable tiles. Each player adds up the values of their remaining stock and deducts the value from their point total. The player with the highest total wins.
This is an excellent game for developing and practicing math skills. It is targeted at ages 9 to Adult and play time is typically between 10 and 30 minutes. You get 96 colorful numbered tiles, 1 die, illustrated rules, and a very convenient, brightly colored travel pouch.
Other variations of sumoku are Solo Sumoku (for solitary play), Speed Sumoku (where the object is to get rid of your tiles as quickly as possible), and Team Sumoku (where cooperation is most important).
As Blue Orange Games says, sumoku is pure adding fun!
From Blue Orange Games
Sumoku is a unique crossword-style game with numbers. It can be played 5 different ways. Whether you are looking for fast action with friends, a challenging pastime, or an addictive game that brings family together, sumoku has it all! Just add up tiles to multiples of the number shown on the die, connect them all together, and you have a sumoku! Packed with endless challenges, sumoku is pure adding fun!
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