Social Distancing

It has been a while...

as a Busy Mom of Two it really shouldn't be a surprise that life gets busy and crazy at times.

In fact, the course of change and challenges in the past week here in the United States is evidence of that.

The stock market. Wow! I don't know what else to say. I am confident in the advice that has been shared, we have never not seen it come back. Right now, looking at my retirement and other funds in the market and seeing the changes year to date is disheartening to say the least.

A week ago was the first confirmed case of Covid19 in Ohio.

Today marks 3 days of Social Distancing for my family.

We learned on Thursday that the schools would be closing for three weeks (plus a fourth week for spring break) at the end of the school day on Friday and that all extra curricular activities will cease until school reopens. My daughter was told to empty her locker and bring everything home. The schools are treating this week as calamity days, since we didn't use any for snow or cold weather days this year. Then, they hope to have a plan on how to support remote learning. I will give both of my kids credit for taking the initiative this morning to do something educational. My daughter read a few chapters in her book and my son read a couple of chapters and worked on some math problems on the homework syllabus they got earlier in the year.

I have been sharing some resources on Facebook for remote learning. I have seen everything from virtual tours of museums and national parks to online art lessons and cooking lessons to rebroadcasting of concerts and shows, that will allow your kids (and you) to be engaged and learning in unique ways. In addition, there are more traditional learning sites for math, reading, and science. I have even seen online gym classes/activities. It is amazing to me how the country is pulling together to make these things available and sharing them. If I get the chance, I will put them all together in one post for more easy reference.

On Saturday, we learned that the library would be closing. We grabbed a movie that we had on hold but opted not to look for additional books or movies at the time.

We learned on Sunday that all bars and restaurants will be closed starting last night at 9 pm. They are allowed to do take-out/delivery but no dining in services. For some of my friends that own restaurants, this will be a tough time. Some haven't had those as part of their standard services in the past and are having to adapt - how do you take orders, how much to prep, etc. I do like that several of the smaller places are setting up family style meals - designed to serve 2, 4 or 6 and with starters, entrees and sides. The local craft breweries and wineries are setting up limited hours to do curbside pick up of their brews and vintages.

We learned today that all gyms, theaters, rec centers, bowling alleys will close at 9 pm today. Logically, I was surprised that they didn't do this earlier. The only one that applied to me was the gyms and I was disappointed. I had been using the pool 5 times a week over the past couple of months. I had even done research to confirm if chlorine in the pool would kill the coronavirus after the first case in Ohio was reported.

Grocery stores seem to be hard hit. Last week I made a mid-week run to the grocery store for a typical shopping trip which turned out to be well-timed as stores were hit pretty hard by the weekend with out of stocks. I did head out Friday to pick up a few things, like a baguette - part of our typical Friday evening snack plan. In our area, they have shortened hours so that they have time to stock the shelves and clean. This weekend, I took inventory of my freezer stock and have a list of things that I hope to pick up to fill out the gaps in what we have on hand. I don't plan to go crazy but to get some stuff to get me through so that I can go to the store less frequently.

What are things like where you live?

Ozobot Evo Party and Review #Tryazon #OzoSquad

As a participant in the Tryazon Ozobot Party, I received an Ozobot party pack which included a complimentary Ozobot Evo for my family and a guest. All opinions expressed are my own.

Growing up, I never thought anything about being interested in science and math. In fact, I knew from a young age that I wanted to be an engineer, although honestly, I'm not sure I really knew what an engineer was. Coding was something that was still 'new' when I was growing up, at least non-punchcard coding, but I had several opportunities to experience it in fun ways through camps and classes. I can remember first learning on an Apple Desktop computer and on a TRS-80 in math class in junior high. I even had a chance to go to a three week long summer camp in high school where I learned to program to create drawings. That knowledge base has served me well in my career too.

As a mom, I look for ways to bring STEM concepts to my kids in a fun way, such that they don't always realize that they are actually learning. When I first learned about Ozobot, I was intrigued it looked like a fun interactive toy that would help my kids learn about the basics of coding. Then, in late summer, I was invited to participate in a Tryazon party to check out the new Ozobot Evo and share it with friends and family. I was very excited to get the chance to let my kids and their friends play with the Ozobot Evo.

I didn't mention it to the kids until the party pack arrived. My daughter was so excited, wanting to know when we could open them and play with the Ozobot.

I love the packaging that the Ozobot Evo came in. Once opened, there are cute little 'drawers' that hold the charger, the markers, and the skin. There is also a pocket that holds the play mat and the top allows you to store the Ozobot Evo easily.

We started with the Experience Pack (available free on their website for Ozobot Evo owners). It introduces the kids to Line Navigation, first with basic pre-drawn black lines and then engages the kids by having them draw black lines that the Ozobot can follow.

As they work through the Experience Pack, they are awarded with stars on the Ozobot app and learn about the color codes that can provide direction to the Ozobot Evo. These color sequences can tell the Ozobot to spin, to walk backwards, turn right and more. The experience pack includes a code reference sheet.

The set comes with markers, but we found that if you have good markers you can also use standard markers to make lines to navigate and color sequences to tell the Ozobot what action to take. This is very helpful when everyone wants to make their own set of lines for Ozobot and you only have one set of official markers.

The Ozobot Evo in action:

Everyone had fun playing and exploring with Ozobot. After tackling the Experience Pack, the kids explored using the app to control the action of the Ozobot Evo. Then, they moved onto OzoBlocky on the app which allows them to drag and drop coding and create loops of the activity. With five levels from novice to master, OzoBlocky allows your child to do progressively more challenging code concepts. Once the code is assembled, load it to the Ozobot Evo and they can see their code in action.

At this point, my kids have only touched the surface of the games and learning opportunities within the app. My daughter really wants to explore racing with two Ozobots and has found continuous lines (both loops and intersected loops) on YouTube that she is experimenting with and discovering new ways to play with the Ozobot Evo.

I think this is a great toy for kids to explore coding concepts through interactive play. One mom at the party talked about how this would be a great alternative for a child that is in to video games, as Ozobot Evo can provide learning and exposure to coding through interaction. Which is a great alternative to some of the video games that are out there.

You can learn more about Ozobot, the Evo and the Bit and explore the App and other available resources on their website. Ready to buy? Right now, for a limited time, you can save on the purchase of you own Ozobot Evo by heading to their website and using the coupon code OzobotParty1517 to save 15%.

As a participant in the Tryazon Ozobot Party, I received an Ozobot party pack which included a complimentary Ozobot Evo for my family and a guest. All opinions expressed are my own.

Reading Kingdom

When my daughter started preschool this year, she filled out a survey about her likes/dislikes and what she was looking forward to and what she wanted to learn. Normally parents would fill out this survey, but because her brother was filling one out for his class, she wanted to do hers too, so I had to write all of her answers on the dry erase board so she could fill it out. In response to the question, what do you hope to learn about this year, her answer was reading. Being that she is in preschool and many of her friends are still learning their letters, the teachers have been working with her some on reading, but they have to focus on the larger class needs. So, what they are doing is while her classmates spend time each day learning to first recognize and then learn their first and last name, their address and their phone numbers, she has been working her way through some site words and associated books that focus on those site words and picture cues for the other words.

She really does want to learn and I think that her brother (who claims not to like to read) is her strongest influence. Frankly, she wants to do everything that he does. He has a daily reading goal for school, so he spends 15 minutes reading most nights once he climbs into bed. So, of course, when she goes to bed, most nights she also asks if she can read in bed. It really is rather sweet to peak in on. There she is 5 years old, 'reading' her chapter books and making up the cutest stories as she turns through the pages of nothing but words. I can't wait until she can read them.

So, when I learned about the online program, Reading Kingdom, I was curious, would this be a tool that could help my daughter achieve her goal?

The program allows the child to start with mouse and keyboard training, which helps them improve their skills with the mouse and keyboard. If they only need to work on one or the other, they can elect to do keyboard only or mouse only. If your child is already comfortable with both the mouse and keyboard, they can skip this section altogether.

The program starts with a skills assessment, which helps determine the right place to start them in the program. For my son, who is older and already reading, it moved him to the second section. For my daughter, who is just learning to read, it put her into the first section to work on Seeing Sequences and Letter Land. In Seeing Sequences, the focus is on getting them to recognize and repeat sequences. Initially, the sequence (word) they need to match by clicking on the right letters below, stays on the screen. Then, later in the program, they are shown the sequence (word) and then it disappears and they select the letters. Letter Land slowly moves them through the keyboard, helping them to become more familiar and comfortable with the keyboard.

After completing Seeing Sequences and Letter Land, or if those sections are needed based on Skills Assessment, the next sections are increasing levels of Reading and Writing. In this section, it very systematically moves them through the process, introducing them to new words and teaching them the building blocks. With each section, there are more words and the words and stories become more complex.

Assuming your child does about 4-5 sessions per week, it will take several weeks to get through the different levels. I like that it takes the time to allow your child to become fully comfortable with each level, but I can tell you that for an eager child, they sometimes ask why they are still doing this and not the next thing. I told my daughter that the program is making sure that she has had plenty of practice so that she is fully ready for the next level. To encourage her to keep moving through the sessions, I encourage her to do a session of Reading Kingdom before playing other programs on the computer.

She is still in the early section, working on Seeing Sequences and Letter Land (she is 90% and 81% complete respectively), but I can already tell that this program, coupled with what her teachers are helping her learn at school is really getting her moving towards reading. The other night, she read a book to me. It was rather cool. One other day, she came into my room early in the morning and was asking about a box, you know a 'b' - 'o' - 'x'. Which I found to be cute. I look forward to her continued progress in her quest to learn to read.

After having my older son play with the program for a few weeks, I can say that if your child can read, that the program really isn't geared for them. He humored me and worked through a few sessions so that I could look at how the lessons evolved. He reads chapter books, so it seems reasonable that a learn to read program is not for him. I wanted to see, since he is 8 and the recommended range is 4 - 10 years old. If your child is not fully comfortable with reading, it would be a great reinforcement tool, but from my experience a child that reads chapter books is likely beyond the program.

The program sends a weekly update e-mail to the parent updating you on their progress. You can see how they are progressing and how they are doing in each section - Good Performance; Very Good Performance or Excellent Performance. I like that I get an update by e-mail, but that I can also go in at any time to see how they are progressing. As a parent, you also have the option to have them repeat the Skills Assessment. This might be a nice way to go back and confirm their progress as they complete more of the sessions.

"The Reading Kingdom is more than a phonics program. It’s an online reading program for children ages 4 to 10 that teaches six skills needed for reading and writing success. Created by Dr. Marion Blank, one of the world's top experts in literacy, the reading system is beloved by parents and has helped thousands of kids to learn to read."

The Reading Kingdom was created by literacy and education expert Dr. Marion Blank, the Director of the Light on Literacy program at Columbia University. It goes above and beyond the traditional phonics programs you may already know. The program teaches children learning skills using six key skills needed for reading and writing success.

- Most kids can do this online reading program on their own after just a few lessons
- It's fun and children enjoy doing it
- It's created by Dr. Marion Blank, one of the world's top experts in literacy
- It works with any other curriculum a child may be using
- It's the only program to offer customized online reading instruction for each child
- And, it's the only system that teaches all 6 skills needed for reading & writing success!

You can learn more, by checking out their website at www.readingkingdom.com. They have information about the program, sample lessons and more. You can also take a more hands on approach by signing up at Reading Kingdom and taking advantage of the free 30-day trial. After that, the program is just $19.99 / month or save money (20%) by subscribing for a full year at $199.99 / year. If you are a teacher, you can also check out a 30-day trial and contact them directly about pricing for using this program in your classroom.

You can also Like Reading Kingdom on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter.

No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary one year subscription was provided to Reading Kingdom in order that my children and I could experience the program. All opinions expressed are mine or that of my family.

LeapFrog “Learn, Create & Share” Party

Recently we had the chance to host a LeapFrog Learn, Create & Share Party through MomSelect and MommyParties.

When the party pack arrived, I was really excited to check out the products that we received.

First was the new LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet that was just launched in August. The tablet and available apps are targeted for children ages 4 to 9 years.

"LeapPad is the personalized learning tablet just for kids with a built-in camera and video recorder! LeapPad offers limitless learning and endless play through a library of 100+ cartridge games and activities with innovative creativity and reading apps! This tablet is the ultimate combination of high-tech features in a kid-friendly form factor! Touch the screen with a finger, tap it with the stylus or turn, twist and shake it for exciting motion-based gameplay! A broad curriculum includes school basics like reading, mathematics and science, plus geography, art, music, language and culture, health and more. Skill levels adjust automatically so kids can learn at their own pace, and progress is remembered from game to game and book to book. LeapPad also hosts a robust suite of creativity apps to nurture kids' innate curiosity!"

In addition, there was the LeapFrog Tag Reading System and Interactive World Map.

"Tag is the #1 selling reading system and recommended by 99% of teachers to help kids learn to love reading. Tag brings stories to life with each touch of the interactive Reader to the pages of specially printed storybooks. Words talk, pictures come to life and stories live out loud, engaging children's senses to make reading a rich, fulfilling experience. Children can use Tag as they begin their own personal learn-to-read journeys, then continue to enjoy it as their skills grow, from hearing an entire story read aloud to seeking help with individual words. With a library of 40+ books, maps and more, children can also take the fun beyond reading with fun play patterns that broaden curriculum experiences such as exploring other cultures, building skills in life science or even learning how to write!"

We had planned to have a party to have everyone over at once to play with products, but some schedule challenges and illness resulted in us sharing the toys slowly over time with several friends at little mini-parties. Not as much fun as getting together for a big party, but still everyone got the chance to play with everything. I think my daughter probably liked the chance to share her toys multiple times, plus it made for less of a struggle in waiting to take turns!

After we opened the LeapPad Explorer tablet, we spent time together exploring the tablet's features.

The LeapPad comes with a camera and video recorder. Once a picture is taken, you can use the tools to add effects to the picture. Surprisingly, the LeapPad Explorer Tablet will hold up to 30,000 photos or shoot 120 minutes of video. Using the Story Studio experience, the kids can create their own stories to share with us.

My kids recently have decided that making videos is fun. It is great that they have a camera now that they can use to make videos. Just this morning, they pretended to be sword fighting and shot a video of themselves. I like the creative play.

The LeapPad tablet also had Ultra eBooks available in many titles. (I was actually surprised to see the selection on a recent visit to the toy store - considering it was just released in August, I wasn't expecting so many options) The books come with different story levels and modes optimized to support reading development. While reading the books, they can touch the screen to get word-by-word support or definitions.

There are also game apps available for the tablet. They use the microphone and the built in motion sensors to allow the kids to play a variety of interactive games.

For the parents, connecting the LeapPad Explorer Tablet to the computer allows you to see how your child is progressing and to send their artwork and pictures to friends and family.

What everyone thought:

My daughter was so excited to share the LeapPad tablet with everyone, that she even took it to school (unbeknownst to me) to show her friends and play with after nap. I found out when I picked it up and it was in her cubbie in plain sight. I told her that we shouldn't take it to school without asking first, but she was so excited to play with the LeapPad that she tried to slip it into her back pack the next day. I decided to check the bag when I dropped her off and found it (she wasn't happy when I told her that for not listening, not only would she not get to keep it at school, but she also wouldn't get a chance to play it after school either). The teachers commented about the LeapPad Tablet and based on watching her play with it, thought it was a really nice toy to help the kids learn.

One mother that I worked with thought it was great and her girls really loved that they could play games, read books and take pictures on the tablet. She recently purchased a portable game system for them, so she didn't feel that now was the right time for her to buy one. but said that she definitely would recommend this to her sister-in-law that was looking for something for her daughter.

My daughter is still drawn to the LeapPad Tablet. Which is a good thing, as many toys seem to lose their luster quickly. She surprised me the other day when she was sitting at the kitchen table working on her LeapPad Tablet. She paused, looked at me and said "It's helping learn my letters and how to spell words too!" I thought it was pretty neat that she was having fun and learning, and recognized it.

There was also the LeapFrog Tag Reading System to explore and enjoy. We have had other reading systems - including an older reading system from LeapFrog - and all of them have required a book, a cartridge and reader. I was very intrigued by the Tag Reading System. The technology is very impressive (at least to me). As a parent, I love that there aren't any cartridges required. It makes it more portable and easier to store.

The books allow the child to select read the page to hear a single story page. They can also use the Say It, Sound It and Spell It buttons to explore each word on the page. Many of the books also include Games that can be played.

The Interactive World Map for the Tag Reading System is a two-sided interactive map. One side shows the countries and the other has animals and people to allow the child to learn more about the countries. There are games available to encourage the children to explore the map and learn about the countries.

My daughter, who is starting to learn to read at preschool, is really enjoying the Tag Reading System. There are a variety of books available, including familiar characters and stories, as well as Learn to Read Sets. We have been exploring the Learn To Read set focused on short vowels. I like that it gives her the freedom to read books when she wants to and at times where I am busy.

Everyone that has played with both toys has really enjoyed the experience and excited by the options presented.

You can see these toys in action on the LeapFrog YouTube channel. You can find LeapFrog on Facebook.

No compensation was received for this post. I received free LeapFrog products and information from LeapFrog in order to host a Learn, Create and Share Party from LeapFrog through MomSelect. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Bubbling Math - iPad App

When I was a kid, the video games that we had were not exactly what I would call educational. Our first game system was an Atari. I loved playing Breakout and Pacman, but they were merely time killers. The first computer that my family had was one that my dad got from work when I was in high school. I took a couple of computer classes during school - in 7th grade math, we learned to program the TRS80 and at one point, I took some sort of Apple programming class. There weren't really "games" though that we played on the computer.

Technology has clearly come a long way since I was a young child. My kids have access to a laptop, an iPad, and each has a DS. There are a lot of educational options when it comes to games for all of these technologies.

Recently, we had a chance to check out the Bubbling Math App for the iPad. It is also available for the Mac. The app was developed with the input of teachers and children. The focus is on elementary math learned in grades 1 - 4.

"Here are some of the highlights of the Bubbling Math application:
• 9 different graphic levels with nice music and sounds - will make it difficult for you to stop your child from solving math tasks
• 
  
• Task configuration - easy, but powerful - to help you set what your child will practice - based on his age and skill
• 
  
• Parents section - with detailed results - you will know how many tasks your child has finished and you can even view which tasks your child finished incorrectly
• 
  We are motivating - not only to learn, but motivating to continue with additional tasks, because when each new level is unlocked, your child can also get 3 cups for every level (Bronze, Silver, Gold) - and it is not easy to get a Gold cup!"

My son was very excited to try it out (he loves math). He enjoyed playing with it for a while, but with as much as he loves math and excels at it, I don't think the game was providing enough challenge for him. We used the task configuration to adjust the difficulty settings and it once again was a challenge for him.

For addition, you can go from easy to expert = additions up to 10 to additions up to 100. For subtraction, you can go from easy to expert = subtractions up to 10 to subtractions up to 100. For multiplication, you can go from easy to expert = multiplications of 1, 2, 3 (up to 30) to multiplications up to 100 with multiplication of 2 digit numbers with 1 digit numbers. For division, you can go from easy to expert = division of numbers up to 30 to division of numbers up to 100, including division by 2 digit numbers. Setting and adjusting the task difficulty is very easy to do. However, I wish there were a way to save the settings for different children. That way, they could just open up and start playing. As the two kids alternate playing, we have to remember to adjust the settings or they problems are too easy or hard. As a parent, I really like the reporting features of the game.

The report shows a history of how many exercises were done by date and the percent correct. It shows which type of problems were done and how many were right and wrong. There are also settings which allow you to speed up or slow down the game to meet your child's needs. Surprisingly to me, my daughter, who is four really took a liking to the app. She of course stuck with addition on the easy setting, and really benefited from the multiple choice nature of the game.

I was able to play with her and provide guidance on math. If the problem was 4 + 2, I would use the opportunity to walk her through starting at 4 and going up 2. She didn't always get the problems right, but she was at least trying. I figure at only 4, she has a couple of years before she will need to be an expert on simple addition and this is giving her a head start. You can pick up this app for $1.99 for either the Mac or the iPad. No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary copy of the app and information about the app was provided for the purpose of my family testing out the app and providing a review.

SpellQuizzer Software

My kids think it is strange when I tell them that when I was growing up we didn't have a computer. When I was in junior high, I took a "programming" class on an old Apple computer and in 8th grade math, we used a TRS80 to do some math work. I was a senior in high school when my dad got a used computer from work. I don't remember it having much more than word processing on it and that was what I used to type my senior term paper. I didn't learn to type until I took typing class in high school - we didn't have a typewriter, so there wasn't much need to know before then.

Having access to a computer offers a lot of different learning opportunities for children. There are educational games, software and websites. When they ask questions that we don't know the answer to, we can quickly get some information on line - and we both learn in the process.

Recently, I had the opportunity to download and review a copy of SpellQuizzer spelling software. SpellQuizzer is a spelling program that you can use on your home computer to help your child practice his spelling skills. With SpellQuizzer, you create spelling lists by typing in the list of words that your child is learning. Then, you use a microphone to record the word. Newer laptops comes with a built-in microphone, but the computer that the kids use doesn't have one, so we had to dig up a microphone.
My son's teacher typically sends home six spelling lists at a time, so we were able to create several spelling lists at once. When he wants to quiz himself, my son is able to open up the program and select which list he wants to try. The list can come up in the order you typed or you can check a box to have it randomized. For each word, the program will play your recording and then your child types in the word. Once they are done typing, they select the check spelling button and the program will let them know if it is right or wrong (along with the correct spelling) and then move on. At the end, it gives them a chance to try the words that they missed again.

Overall, I really like the program. I like that I can create my own custom spelling lists. Once you have added a word to a list, it is added to the database and then you can create new lists by selecting any of the words from the database. This is great for those mid-year or end of year cumulative tests and to just keep them practicing on the words that are more challenging.

My son, who is learning to type at 7 (like I said I was 16 or 17 when I took typing in high school), used the program to create his own list of words - a list of words that all can be spelled on the home row. This was actually a very beneficial and creative exercise from my perspective. First, he was using the letters to try to create words - I love Scrabble and other word play games. Plus, he was using the software to learn more than it was designed for, which was very creative on his part. I certainly wouldn't have thought of it.

Some other facts about the program:
- There are several free downloadable spelling lists for SpellQuizzer on their web site at http://www.spellquizzer.com/Spelling-Lists.htm. These lists include pre-made sound recordings.
- There is a page on the site specifically directed toward homeschoolers: http://www.spellquizzer.com/Spelling-Software-For-Homeschoolers.htm.
- SpellQuizzer's built-in spellchecker recognizes both US and UK English spellings. The spellchecker warns the user when creating a spelling list if they enter a word that appears to be spelled incorrectly. Because of this safeguard it's reasonably safe to let children create their own spelling lists guided by the curriculum they are working on.

Blog Tour, Product/Book Name: SpellQuizzer.

Price: $29.95.

Put out by: TedCo Software.

You can check out a video demonstration of the software here.

You can like SpellQuizzer on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. http://www.facebook.com/SpellQuizzer

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own. I did receive a complimentary copy of the software for our use and writing this review, through my relationship with MamaBzz.

Balance Benders

My son loves puzzles and workbooks. We have math workbooks and reading workbooks. We have word searches and mazes. We have workbooks of every variety. He will sit for hours and work through the puzzles and the workbooks. When he was younger, he wanted to do my Sudoku puzzles. We sought long and hard and eventually found a Sudoku puzzle book for kids. He loves it. He is still working towards understanding the predictive nature of solving the puzzles and frequently comes to me for assistance, but I'm happy that he is not deterred by the challenge and continues to work through the puzzles.

When I first learned of Balance Benders from The Critical Thinking Company, I thought this was something he would really enjoy. It pulls on his love of math and his love of problem solving. Balance Benders are "Logic and Algebraic Reasoning Puzzles". It takes a collection of shapes on either side of a balance beam that is either in balance or off to one side. Then, it asks the child to circle the three answers that will always be true. The answers that they are selecting from are a series of greater than, less than and equality statements using the shapes on the scale.

As he started into the Beginning Book (Grades 2 - 6), the first few balances were easy for him to resolve. As we moved back into the book, it presented some new concepts which we talked through. It was great to see him start to learn the concepts and see that light go on in his eyes and hear it in the more involved questions that he asked.

As a mom, I love that he sees these types of puzzle books as fun. I think it is important that a child can learn things through fun. As a puzzle enthusiast, I think it is great to see the love of puzzles starting to blossom in my child.

These workbooks cost only $9.99 per level. You can also check out some other great learning puzzles from the Critical Thinking Company. Click here to print out some free activities for your children (and see a sample of the types of activities in different books available from the Critical Thinking Company):


You can follow the Critical Thinking Company on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.

Want to win some free product from Critical Thinking? You can enter their new Critical Thinking Moments Video Contest for a chance to win a year's supply of educational product (a $500 value). You can learn more about the contest here. You can also nominate the person that inspired your love of thinking and problem solving as part of their Critical Thinking Heroes Award Program. If the person that you nominates wins, they will receive a commemorative award and a $500 gift card to the Critical Thinking Co. You can learn more and get the form to nominate your candidate here.

No compensation was received for this post. This is a Mama Buzz review. The Balance Benders book was provided by the Critical Thinking Company, so that I could experience it with my child and share my thoughts.

Police Blockade

My son loves to play games. We love to play games as a family, but sometimes, there just isn't anyone to play a game with. When MamaBzz contacted me about doing a review of Police Blockade, I was very interested. Police Blockade is a solitaire game that helps develop logic skills.



The description from Timberdoodle.com:

Police Blockade
Sirens screaming and tires screeching, there is nothing like a little police action to liven up a road trip. Police Blockade lets you keep it legal but is just as exciting.

Your Job: Block Him
An elegant red sports car has been stolen and the police force is scrambling to jam every escape route. As police chief, your child will be asked to coordinate all available units in order to prevent a getaway. His career is on the line; can he block the perpetrator's escape and avoid unnecessary bloodshed?

60 Challenges!
With 60 fast-paced easy to expert challenges he will have plenty of chances for a "do over"! For 1 player. Includes game board, clear plastic lid, one red sports car, six police cars, and four sets of buildings, game booklet, and a nifty elastic band to hold it all together.

Logic, Thinking Skills, Visual Perception...
This one-player game develops logical reasoning, builds higher cognitive thinking, and strengthens visual and spatial perception. It is self-contained, includes solutions, and makes an ideal travel companion. Plus, it offers an amazing amount of fun for all ages!

Game includes:
· Game board
· 60 puzzles with four levels of difficulty
· One red sports car
· Six police cars
· Four sets of buildings
· Solution booklet

Publisher: Educational Insights
Ages: 7+
Time To Play: 5-20 minutes
Players: 1

UPS delivered the game on Friday night, as we were heading upstairs for bed (seems like a late delivery time to me!). When I came down, I couldn't wait to check the game out. There are 60 challenges for the kids (or adults) to solve. They start out with easier ones and progressively get harder. The puzzle book provides the location of the buildings and the bad guy. You have to position all of the police cars on the board so that there is no escape route for the bad guy and so they all fit. There are solutions at the back of the book, but don't be tempted to look at them.

Saturday morning when my son woke up, he couldn't wait to try out the game. As he solves each challenge, he moves onto the next page. Sometimes the first challenge he faces is making all of the pieces fit, but then even when they all fit, sometimes it's not the right solution. There is a lot of try and try again. But that is a good thing, it helps him develop problem solving skills as he tries to reorganize the pieces to block the bad guy. At first, he would say, I can't do it, help. And I did. After a few, I encouraged him to start over at the beginning and see if he could do it. He has worked through the first 10 of the 60 challenges provided already and pulls it out anytime he has some time.

I asked my son what he thought of the game - he simply said I like it. I then asked him what he liked about the game and he told me that he liked it because it was hard. I agree with him, puzzles that are too easy aren't fun.

Included in my shipment was a catalog from Timberdoodle. I have to say that they have a lot of really great toys, games and activities. Their focus is homeschooling, but the toys, games and activities are great even for everyone (even families like mine that don't homeschool). They offer flat rate shipping, which is great if you are looking to get lots of resources for your homeschool curriculum .

I did not receive any compensation for this post, but did receive a free copy of Police Blockade to review courtesy of MamaBzz and Timberdoodle.