New Review and Giveaway! Carlito C. Caterpillar's Math House Games

Contest Closed.

I just got another package from propeller which contained Carlito C. Caterpillar's Math House Games.  I honestly didn't even know what I was getting.  I half expected an online game, or perhaps a board game.  It was neither.  This is several cards on a ring with different games on each card.  A description from the company follows, but first I had to share a little classic Crazy Mom funny.  One of the games is about matching.  It starts out by telling you to seperate some pairs of matched socks.  Okay, that's hilarious!  Matched socks!  Here?  At my house?  I was just glad none of the games involved clean underwear!

Okay, moving forward...  ;)  Here's what the makers of this product have to say:

Carlito the Catepillar's Math House Games is based on a 20 step sensory math teaching system, which teaches kids math in a fun way! Early childhood development professionals note that young children are most open to learning when they play. Thus, they have created activities and games for parents to play with their children. The material is presented in 3 stages, with a total of 20 steps and 2 games in each step covering quantity, numeration, and operations.

Now, here's a letter to moms from the creator:

Dear Mom,

Most parents know the importance of math but many are unsure of how they can help their young children learn the fundamentals of math. There are so many questions. "How early should I start? What does my child need to learn? What concepts are most important? What do I do if my child has more trouble than other kids their age?" Often times the answers to these questions are not clear or consistent.


The c3pla Sensory Math Teaching System was created by Domenico Marcario, M.S., a retired math teacher and loving grandfather, to answer those questions. This system utilizes the natural way children learn to teach them math skills. We have built the Carlito C. Caterpiller's Math House GamesTM from this system and are excited to offer you a chance to receive a copy of the Games Pack to review and a copy to offer as a gift to one of your readers. The Game Pack is presented in 3 stages, with a total of 20 steps and 2 games in each step covering the math skills of quantity, numeration, and operations.


You are a mom and understand the importance of learning. We value your feedback about the product. We want to help kids learn math and we want to help parents to have the resources they need to make that happen. Thank you for your consideration of the Carlito C. Caterpiller's Math House GamesTM.


Sincerly,

Bill Haljun
Co-Founder, Director of Creative Development

So now you might be wonder what I thought of the games.  (Well, I hope you do!)  Anyway, first of all, my youngest is now eight (sniff, sniff) so he is beyond these games, so I really wasn't able to actually use these games with any of my kids.  I did do some of these kinds of things with my kids just sort of naturally.  Well, I did with the older ones, because, well, I wasn't quite so overwhelmed with life at the time.  I have often thought that I wish I could have done more with the younger kids.  I admit that I did far less with them just due to the fact that I was also teaching their older siblings, and cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry for ten.  Soooo..... yeah, I did struggle to find time to work with them doing fun little things as the day went on. 

Perhaps having something like Carlito C. Caterpillars games could have helped.  It's all planned out sequentially.  (And if you know me, you know I am totally sequential.)  Being honest, I doubt even with this product I could have squeezed in a whole lot more time out of my schedule, but I could have put an older child in charge of playing these games with the younger kids. 

So, I have pondered this, and here is what I have come up with.  I think most parents with just one or two small kids probably wouldn't need something like this necessarily.  However, I know a lot of parents like to get started "schooling" at the preschool level because, let's face it, it is a huge undertaking to homeschool a child.  So, for the parent who is either very structured, or just feels he or she needs something tangible to use for early math, this is great.  My philosophy is to hold off on things like worksheets as long as possible becasue most kids, especially boys, just aren't ready for it.  However, what kid wouldn't love to spend time playing games with Mom or a big brother or sister?

I think Carlito C. Caterpillar's Math House Games is also be a great idea for a preschool class or co-op.  I mean, it is all logical and thought out, and even though my kids just did fine as we did it my way (all of them, even the younger ones who didn't get my full attention) I know there are folks out there who love things like this.   As always, my suggestion is that you check it out for yourself. 

Website: http://www.c3pla.com/products.shtml

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlito-C-Caterpillars-MathHouseTM-Games/190370157687889

How would you like to win one of these games?  It's easy!  All you have to do is leave a comment either here on my blog, or, if for some reason that doesn't work, leave it on my facebook page.  (Under the contest post, please or I might miss it.)  I have had several people tell me they tried to comment, but couldn't, plus I know some others actually read my posts via facebook, so I am trying out this option.  Please don't comment in both places as I am trying to keep it fair.  ;)

For each of the following you can gain one addtional entry.  You must let me know either here or on facebook under the contest post with a seperate comment for each thing that you do for a total of five possible entries. 

Like me on facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
Become a Google Friend Connect friend.  (See sidebar.)
Subscribe to my posts via Feedburner.  (See sidebar.)

NOTE!!!  I have changed up the rules a bit!  For this contest you must be at least 13 years old, and not a member of my immediate family to enter.  More than one person per household may enter, but please do not enter as an individual more than the five possible entries.  Make sure you leave me a way to get ahold of you if you win!!!  THANKS!!! 

The contest will end at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, October 23, 2011.  I will draw and contact the winner sometime on Monday, October 24, 2011. 

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally
and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance
with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the
Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

______________________________

Happy game playing!!!

New Review!!! Wits and Wagers Family from North Star Games!

Well, hello there!!!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  :)  I bet you'd like to get my posts delivered right to your inbox, now wouldn't you?  So why not sign up for Feedburner?  Check it out, it's right there in my sidebar!  Thanks!!  :)

About the product/service: As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free Wits and Wagers Family game from  North Star Games so I could let my kids play it and let you know what they think!

The concept is simple.  A question is read off a card and everyone tries to come up with an answer that is closest to the actual answer, but without going over.  (All answers are numerical.  But you already figured that out, didn't you?)  The questions can be about just about anything from how tall the Disney castle is to what the record is for a dog holding tennis balls in its mouth.  Anyway, if you are closest, you get the points.  There's a bit more to it, but it's too hard (for me that is) to explain here.  No sense in getting into all the detailed instructions before you buy the game.  :)  (But seriously, it's quite easy!)

There are also other North Star games that you might be interested in.  Click here to check out Say Anything, or here to check out Cluzzle.  The original Wits and Wagers can be found here.

What are the pros of this product? I like that everyone can play.  (Well, technically it's for 8 and up.)  Because it's a guessing game, and most of the questions are unique enough that most people don't know the exact answer, everybody has a pretty good chance of winning. 

Another thing I like is that it doesn't take forever to play.  Kids with a short attention span (or adults with short attention spans, for that matter) will appreciate that the game moves along quickly.  The average game takes only about 20 minutes to play, and the rules can be taught in just minutes(as long as it's not me trying to explain them!)  Want more?  Just play again!

And here's one for fellow Crazy Moms who have kids like mine that tend to lose game pieces.  Most of the game pieces are replaceable.  I mean, you can use any dry erase marker, or you could use a game piece from another game if one is lost.  And if you lose a question card or two, it won't affect the game.  We are just awful about keeping games together so this is actually a huge plus for me. 

It's fun and you might even learn something!



What's not to like? Well, call me weird, but the only think I don't like is that the game comes with dry erase markers.  I hate dry erase markers because they stain.  I am glad to report, however, that we have had no incidents here.  Just don't let the kids play in their Sunday best!  :)

Oh, and I have to add, SMALL PARTS!!!  CHOCKING HAZARD FOR KIDS UNDER 3!!!


The Crazy Mom take:  Well, I haven to admit, I have not played the game.  My kids, however, have played it a ton!  They really seem to like it.  It's so nice to see them all sitting around playing a game together.  It's great because it is set up so that the younger kids have pretty much the same chance of winning as the older kids.  Well, my seven year old makes some crazy guesses, but he still has fun, so I am not complaining!  I think it's worth checking into for your family!

Happy playing!!!


What's the bottom line?  List price $19.99

I am going to give Wits and Wagers 4 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://www.cluzzle.com/games/wits_and_wagers_family/



See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783505/





*The Smiley System:

I can't really recommend this product.

I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!


Disclaimer!!! I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others. Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way. I am in no way obligated to give a positive review. I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal! What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive.

As with all products, you must do the research before buying. Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying. I can't guarantee that a product will work for you. You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s). I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review. I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else. I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath. Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2010 Ramblings from the Crazy House 2

Win Scribblish!!! A New Game from Cranium!!! :)

Does your family enjoy playing board games?  Well, here's one you might like.  Scribblish is like a morph between the old Telephone game and Pictionary.  You chose a caption to draw (or scribble) and then other people write captions to fit your drawing.  Then everyone has to figure out "How did THIS became That?"

Would you like to win Scribblish?  Well, I'm giving one away!  Just leave a comment telling me your favorite board game for an entry to win.  For additional entries, please follow me on Facebook and/or Google Friend Connect.  Simply leave a comment and let me know how you are following me and you'll be entered an additional time.  (If you follow on both, leave two comments for two entries.)  Also, if you sign up with Feedburner to get my blog entries delivered straight to your inbox, I'll give you THREE additional entries.  Just leave me THREE comments telling me you've done so!  :) 

You must enter by Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 11:59 PM.  Please make sure you leave me a way to contact you if you win or I will choose another winner.  You must be 18 or older and not in my immediate family to win.  Good luck!!!  :)

Hasbro provided me with the product, information, and prize packs through MyBlogSpark.

A New Review for You! Solitaire Chess from Timberdoodle!!!

The wonderful folks at Timberdoodle sent me a complimentary Solitaire Chess game so that I could give them an honest review of the game right here on my blog.

I was really excited to get this game.  You see, my son Dode Man is really into board games.  Lucky for him, he has seven siblings, right?  One would think, but he often can't find anyone to play.  The easy solution would be to let him just play endless computer games, which he would gladly do, but, well, that's a "no-no" around here.  So enter Solitaire Chess!!!

 
I'm not so sure I can really explain the game very well, but it comes with 30 two-sided playing boards and ten chess pieces.  Each game board shows you  which pieces to set up for play.  You must then capture every piece but one using the same rules to move the pieces as in real chess.  The catch is that you MUST capture a piece with every more.  Sound easy?  It's not!  I tried the easiest game board and even that took me a few minutes to figure out.  I didn't dare try the harder ones!  LOL

Dode Man had already played the game several times and most of the others have too.  As a matter of fact, my two oldest kids are in a "Thinking Detectives" class at our co-op and I'll be bringing it in for them to play.  Very cool game!!!  Get it here.

Price:  $17.50 

• For more one-player games click here.
• For more family and educational games click here.
• Get a free Timberdoodle catalog by clicking here!