Review & Giveaway: Spanish-English Zingo: You Had Me at Hola!

I firmly believe that foreign language study can help many native English speakers become more fluent in their mother tongue.  photo: ThinkFun

WHAT: Spanish-English Zingo by ThinkFun

DOES:  educational game teaching youngsters basic Spanish and English vocabulary words; sometimes learning is more fun when variety is presented, sometimes it's easier to speak in your own language than it is in English!

INVEST:  $19.99 MSRP  

AGES: 4+

TOOLS:  Foment Love of Language, People are People, Social Scene Helper

EXPERT OPINION: Alison Berkley, Co-owner, Special Education Teacher, Emerge and See Education Center, Blogger, Breaking Barriers at Psychology Today

GIVEAWAY Details Below:

Review & Giveaway: Community: Leadership Training for Kids

There is a reason why colleges look for community service in prospective applicants.  Knowledge about one's community's needs is essential to good leadership.

WHAT: Community by eeBoo

DOES:  practice being part of a team,  practice being a leader and being supportive, practice problem solving as a group and individually, play a game where there are no "losers"

INVEST:  $19.99 MSRP  

AGES: 5+ (we've played successfully with a four-year old)

TOOLS:  Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy, Flexibility is My Superpower, Lose and Win Gracefully, People are People, Social Scene Helper, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer 

EXPERT OPINION: Alison Berkley, Co-owner, Special Education Teacher, Emerge and See Education Center, Blogger, Breaking Barriers at Psychology Today

GIVEAWAY Details Below:

Inventor Profile (& Giveaway!): Melissa Sweet: I Do Believe Anybody Can Draw

I would say there might be a difference between looking at something and actually seeing it and when you draw, you have to see it.  - Melissa Sweet   (all photos courtesy of Melissa Sweet unless otherwise noted)

Oftentimes when discussing a toy with an expert, we wonder who designed such an amazing product.  What were they thinking?  Whenever I find that out, I tell my kids.  Their faces light up.  After I tell them about the inventor, they look at their toy differently, as if an uncle had made it for them.  There is admiration but more importantly, there is appreciation.

Ravensburger Puzzle: Extra Benefits

These boxes are great! Very sturdy!

WHAT: Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzles
DOES: allows you to use and adjust your solving tactics, give you a chance to work cooperatively, must be courteous of other's space and their "projects"
INVEST:  some 100 piece puzzles cost $9 and up  (Pictured is $9-12 "Fire Department")
TOOLS: Family Fix-it, Foment Love of Language, People are People

Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzles: Clearly Defined Goals Make Working Together Easier

This play led to a lot of talk about past and future vacations.

WHAT: Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzles
DOES: Allows kids to work together towards a clearly-defined end goal, allows for conversations about themes on your puzzles, wide arrange of themes can motivate varied interests of both boys and girls of different ages.
INVEST: 35-piece puzzle usually costs $9.99, larger puzzles are more expensive.  pictured: Busy Airport $7-$10
TOOLS: Social Scene Helper, Foment Love of Language, People are People

Tegu Blocks: Let Your Child Tell His Own Story

Tegu blocks are great for storytelling

WHAT: Tegu Block Sets
DOES: Magnetic wooden blocks snap on easily, hard to lose, create anything in seconds, easily represents living things as well as objects, can help for easier storytelling
INVEST: $32- $140
TOOLS: Express Yourself, Foment Love of Language, More Make-Believe Please, People are People, Social Scene Helper, Think Like a Scientist/Engineer, Fertilize Responsibility and Courtesy

Read about Tegu's Design Contest: click HERE  ends 1/31/12

Tegu Mobility: Real-Life Benefits of Make-Believe Play

Blocks connected by hidden magnets.  The wheels just snap on by magnetic force -making virtually anything mobile.  (photo courtesy: Tegu)

WHAT: Tegu Mobility Line 
DOES:  newest addition to Tegu blocks (see that review tomorrow); wheels snap easily onto any Tegu blocks, kids build cars, structures, animals, people, and more with unique blocks and wheels
INVEST: one set of 4 wheels- $15; cars range from $19 - $38
TOOLS: Express Yourself, More Make-Believe Please, People are People, Think Like A Scientist/Engineer

CLICK TO Find out about Tegu's How Do You Roll? Sweepstakes: HERE  Ends 1/31/12

Brain Sharpening Series: Part 3 - The "Side Effects" of Memory Games

My favorite card is Myanmar.  He looks the coolest. 

WHAT: I Never Forget a Face Matching Game by eeBoo
DOES:  allows you to exercise memory skills by matching faces of children from different parts of the world, use with younger kids with less cards, use more cards as they get older
INVEST: $12-15
TOOLS: Remember to Learn, People are People, Social Scene Helper (if you have an awesome memory and need to feel confident around new people)

Learn to Love Pencils Again: Doodle 101

Ed Emberley teaches you how to draw everything in the world (almost)

WHAT: Make A World by Ed Emberley
DOES: Give step-by-step instructions on how to draw just about everything.
INVEST: $6-$7
TOOLS: Express Yourself, People are People, More Make Believe Please

Click onto Pencils on Ice to read about on how we are using this book right now.

Is it a Book or Is it a Train? - Subway Series Part 1

If you've ridden one of these trains then chances are, you are really old

WHAT: New York City Subway Trains: 12 Punch and Build Trains
DOES: Paper dolls for boys!  Punch out paper trains, fold them into their train shape, and then play! You can also read about NYC's subway history.   Trains themselves are a visual display of how trains have modernized over time.
INVEST: $13-16
TOOLS: More Make-Believe Please, Social Scene Helper, Foment Love of Language, Think Like A Scientist/Engineer? Actually no, it's more like People are People