Review: Enlivenze LLC–FlipStir Puzzles (TOS Review) #hsreviews #shakestirsolve

For this review we got to check out the Tyrannosaurus Rex FlipSitr Puzzle from Enlivenze LLC. 

FlipStir puzzles are unique in that they are in a container (reminiscent of an old fashioned straw holder).  There is a stick that goes down the center and is moveable… Using the stick you move the pieces to arrange them in order. This takes a little bit of skill, but is not difficult once you get the hang of it.  You can move the pieces by flipping them, moving them from one side to the other, moving them up or down, etc…

This was only a Level 1 puzzle, and I have to admit it was a bit intimidating for me at first.  I found it very frustrating.  My husband knocked it out, quick and easy…. after watching him, I was able to accomplish the task, but none of my kids have had the patience to mess around with it long enough to solve it.  Level 2 is slightly more complex picture, and the edges of the pieces are wavy instead of flat, making it more challenging.

Enlivenze LLC has several educational themed puzzles, however, and it would be a fun addition to any study that matches the themes.  Designs available include:  Solar System, Statue of Liberty, Rainbow colors and even the Periodic Table!  The Dinosaur specifically would be great for that budding paleontologist! 

This would be a great gift for someone who likes puzzles or likes to tinker.  I think they would be a great thing to have in doctor’s waiting rooms, or to take on car rides, or into restaurants….a nice quiet activity that can keep a little one occupied.

The puzzle is different each time, because the pieces get mixed up into a different order.  So there is always a challenge factor.  Simply shake it up well after you solve it!

The puzzles cost $24.95 each.  You can purchase them online or at a select few retail locations.  They are recommended for ages 7+ and are made in the USA!  Because they come enclosed, there is no risk of lost pieces or need to replace batteries!  Always a bonus!  (How many puzzles end up with that one or more lost piece?? ).

It’s great for improving on fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and spatial relations, as well as developing problem solving skills too!  This could be a great Occupational Therapy tool!

Social Media Links:
Product Accounts
Facebook: www.facebook.com/flipstirpuzzle
Twitter: www.twitter.com/flipstir
Company Accounts
Facebook: www.facebook.com/enlivenze
Twitter: www.twitter.com/enlivenze

Review: Sunya Publishing (TOS Review)

We had such a fun time checking out this fun new game by Sunya Publishing, called Sunya:  The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science, Adding & Subtracting.  It’s not yet available for purchase, but it will be soon!

My oldest son was reluctant to try it out, but after playing for a bit he exclaimed, “This is actually fun!”.  What better way to review math facts then through game?  My oldest two, (ages 10 and 7) both had fun playing this.  My 5 year old took part in the fun as well, but in a simpler way. 

The game comes with number cards (0-9), symbol cards (=, –, +) and some other fun cards with jokes and trivia on them.

The game also includes an instruction manual.  I have to admit the instruction manual was a bit confusion.  In an attempt to thoroughly explain and simplify the game, I feel the over complicated it and made it more difficult.  I prefer directions to be SHORT and to the POINT!  This book gives lots of pictures examples, which aren’t necessary (in my opinion).  I tried at first to just skim the directions (I can’t be the only one that does this) and I was left not understanding how to play.  I went back and read word for word the directions and then got a better grasp, it is not really difficult at all, though the wordy directions make it seem as such.

To make it simple:

1.  Build a correct number sentence with your cards using + or -

2.  Shuffle what’s left and pass 4 cards to each player, place the rest in the draw pile

3.  On your turn you draw ONE card to place in your hand, then using the cards in your hand build a new number sentence.  you can place up to 3 cards, but you can not place a duplicate card (no placing 3 on a 3 that’s already there).  If you have no cards to play, you draw until you have one.

4.  Play continues until one player uses all their cards and says “SUNYA”  (think like the game ‘UNO’)

5. If you run out of cards in the draw pile, remove the bottom cards from the number sentences and reshuffle for a new pile.

The instructions also mention a discard pile, honestly I couldn’t figure out how or when that would be needed.  We never used one and the game was fine.

This was a great game to play on our road trip we recently took.  It’s small, easy to pack around, and was an entertaining way to work in some math!  The joke/trivia cards were also fun and killed some time in the car.

For my 5 year old we used the number cards in a Montessori Style, he placed them in numerical order and then lined up objects (in this case animals) under each number card.  It’s a great way to practice numeric order and one to one correspondence counting.

The cards also include dots, so this helps with younger kids in adding as well!

I would like to have seen the numbers go higher, like maybe to 12, or at least 10.  However, it was still a really fun game and the perfect way to practice addition and subtraction up to 9!

More of Our Favorite Games for Learning

My kids LOVE games, and though I’m not honestly a huge fan of playing games, my husband plays games with them A LOT!!  It’s a great way of ‘unschooling’.  We aren’t 100% unschoolers, but I love to work learning in whenever I can, and most of the time  they don’t even know they are learning! 

Funny Bunny – This is a favorite for my 2.5 year old and my older children loved it once too (and still play)

Simply Fun has some GREAT educational games.  I loved them so much, I joined on to sell (though I am no longer a consultant).  These are some of our favorite games from Simply Fun. 

Big -n- Little – Teaching upper and lower case letters

Dreaming Dragons – Fine motor skills

Bee Alert – colors, memory

The Climbing Knight – fine motor and spatial reasoning

Walk the Dogs – counting, multiplication

Bank It – money math

Let’s Drive – US Geography

Ocean Limbo – physics, spatial reasoning

Find more of our favorite games here

Printable Spring Play Dough Mats - Living Life and Learning

Free Printable Spelling Games - Jenn Gerlach Simple At Home

Multiplication Dice Game- Schooling a Monkey

Creative Ways to Play Scrabble -Classes By Beth Plus

Great Board Games for Homeschool | Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound Reading

Free File Folder Games  - Amy’s Wandering

Learning with Math Games - The Homeschool Post

Making Learning Fun-7 Great Games- A Sip of Southern Sunshine

Review: USAopoly Games (TOS Review)

For this review we were able to try out the games Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game and Tapple: Fast Word Fun for Everyone by USAopoly. 

We are a BIG game family, we have LOTS of games and the kids really enjoy games, so we were thrilled to check these two games out!

Wonky is a fun block stacking game with abnormally shaped cubes.  The game indicates it is for ages 8+, but even my 4 and 6 year olds enjoyed playing.  The directions were easy to follow; the cards have pictures with words (making it easy for non-readers to join along).  It is designed for a minimum of 2 players, but can have more than 2 (making it a perfect family game!).  The point of the game is to stack all the cubes and not knock the tower over….of course you also can win if you place all your blocks and used all your cards.  We had games end both ways.  It’s also a bit fun to reverse play when the tower gets tough!  Lessons in physics while having fun, who even knew they were learning???

Tapple is also recommended for ages 8+, but even my 9 year old had a bit of difficulty.  You have to be quick to think of words that start with the letters that have not been used yet on any given topic, such as vegetables.  It has a timer, so that sort of stressed him and the other kids out.  This game is for 2-8 players, and each round is timed, so you can play a short game OR play several rounds.  It would best be played with older children though, maybe even older than 8, (depending on your child).  Accommodations could be made for younger kids (giving a little help or coaxing when needed).  The cards are two sided, with an easier side and a harder side for topics.  They needn’t know how to spell words, they only need to know the first letter!  The 6 most difficult letters (and not used often letters) are not included in the game board.  So there are only 20 letters to come up with words for.  BUT…you can’t use a letter that has already been used, that’s when it gets more difficult (and when my kids really got stumped and frustrated).  It’s a great way to help expand vocabulary, work on beginning letter sounds, and depending on the topic work on other subjects as well!

Games are one of the best ways to learn!  Most of the times kids are having to much fun to even recognize it’s educational!  Have a family game night, or replace some book work for the day!

USAopoly has many other games and puzzles to choose from!  Including themed items such as Zelda, Harry Potter, A Christmas Story, Mario Bros and The Hobbit and more!!!  Lots of games and puzzles to choose from for your Christmas List!  I found a great Back to the Future edition of Yahtzee that I’m thinking of getting my dad (shhh! don’t tell).  Several more spins on classic games are available (Risk, Clue, Candy Land to name a few!).

Social Media:
Twitter https://twitter.com/USAopoly
Instagram https://instagram.com/usaopoly/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/usaopoly
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/usaopoly/

SimplyFun Saturday–Bee Alert!

Bee Alert by SimplyFun is a great game for early learners.  This take on the game of memory is more fun and more engaging!  While playing your child is learning colors, working on memory and observation skills, fine motor skills and taking turns!  It also works on counting to up to 6 and one to one correspondence.

This game is recommended for ages 5+, but could easily be used with younger children with help and supervision.  It’s a favorite of all my children, even the older ones.  The game can be played with 2-5 players, making it a fun family game.  The rounds are short (about 15mins), which keeps young ones with short attention span involved for the duration of the game. 

The rules are simple to follow and easy to learn, it’s a quick out of the box play!

This game is available for $30.

SimplyFun offers homeschool discounts through their PlaySaver program (though you needn’t be a homeschooler to join)! You can also host a show to earn FREE games!  Let me know if you are interested! Please comment or contact me with any questions!

Disclaimer: I am a Playologist Consultant for SimplyFun, all links lead to my website.  Thank you!