Category: Toy Reviews

Education, Reviews, Toy Reviews

EXIT The Game brings the escape room experience to your home (ages 10+)

Erin Sluka

Comment: I was sent these games. Thank you to Thames & Kosmos for collaborating with Parenting Healthy

EXIT: The Game brings the escape room experience to your home

Have you ever experienced an escape room event? If you have teens and need a party gathering idea, I challenge you to try an actual escape room. Its puzzles and riddles that get you out of the rooms and the faster you solve them the faster you move to the Exit. EXIT The Game are games for ages 10+ (depending on the version as some are 12+ and 16+). These bring the escape room to your home!

EXIT The Game

Anthony is 12 and we first learned about EXIT The Game from Thames and Kosmos when we visited Sweet Suite Toy Fair in NYC a few years back. Anthony was a tad young, had never experienced an escape room but I thought these looked so fun. Now he is a few years older and I finally got my hands on a few to try.

Once we realized how to solve page 1 riddle we began to make more sense and moved through the rest – yes, we had to use all 3 hint cards but this was our first attempt. We played House of Riddles rated for his age and it was challenging, a good thing! See how hard he is contemplating below…

escape room game

I have not dug into The Catacombs of Horror as that is an expert level ages 16+ but we will graduate to that soon enough. The riddles are fun and perhaps there is a bit of a theme to the set of riddles as you turn each page.

The instruction booklet worked well for us, but the best way to learn to play EXIT The Game is to download the Kosmos Helper App. In the app, you can find animated explanations of the instructions and other helpful features for a selection of Kosmos games. Available on iOS and Android devices,

EXIT game rules

This is such a great sleepover game for tweens and teens. If you like challenging games and to witness your older child’s level of problem solving the family game nights will surely be fun and challenged with any of the EXIT The Game sets. Available from Thames & Kosmos as well as retailers such as Amazon.

Deals, Kickstarter, Toy Reviews

The Countdown Game – A tech toy that encourages play Kickstarter Deal

Erin Sluka

Comment: I am proud to partner with Pressure Games

The Countdown Game

Beginnig today, July 28 there is a new tech toy in town that promotes active play and social gaming with familiar games in 1 handheld unit. The best way to be of the first to own The Countdown Game is to take advantage of their campaign on Kickstarter.

Whack a Mole

The Countdown has 7 games and 4 play modes in this in unit. Play hide and seek with it or use it as a social table game with friends. I have just as much playing as my 12 year old does. WE play together or can play solo. Try setting it out on the table as a centerpiece when you have a social gathering and watch the adults grab it and get into game mode.

Play time

The Countdown Game Modes (Timed Games)

  1. Hide & Seek is a mode that is played with 2+ players. One person hides it and the others look for it. Once found by a seeker there is a puzzle to correctly solve top stop the timer. Watch out! If you make a mistake, the timer speeds up!
  2. Hot Potato is played with 2-8 players. Each player must play a random puzzle and pass to the next. Whoever is holding Countdown when the timer expires is out.
  3. Table CO-OP is played with 2-8 players. Similar to hot potato, you set the timer to work through challenges as teams or individually before time runs out.
  4. Single Player is just for you! Beat your own time with 12 mini-games to play.

The Countdown Games (Puzzles and Games)

  1. Trigger Finger – You will be assigned a color and as buttons light up different colors you only press in when it lights up your given color.
  2. Color Wheel – The * button will display a color. The player must cycle through all the colors until each button matches the * button.
  3. Whack-A-Mole – it’s like the classic! A button will light up randomly and the player must press that lit up button and it keeps going.
  4. Cut the Wire – Follow the screen prompts as it tells the the player to press one or two colors until all the buttons are no longer lit up
  5. Tie the Bell – A color will light up + you will hear tones. You are only to press the lit up button when it plays the tone
  6. Simon Says – do I need to explain this one? Probably not!
  7. SafeCracker – The player must turn Countdown clockwise or counter-clockwise until the word “hold” appears. The game will light up green and become brighter the closer the player gets to the correct angle.

Impressed yet? There is so much fun you can have and it looks deceiving doesn’t it? Who would guess so many games are packed into this?

But there is one more aspect packed into The Countdown Game and it is in the levels. Set games from level 1-9 depending on age, ability and challenge. This way the young aren’t overwhelmed and trying to beat impossible clocks and the older are challenged enough to have fun!

How to get The Countdown Game BEFORE it hits retail? It is in their Kickstarter campaign.

  1. Head to The Countdown Game Kickstarter Page HERE
  2. Make a pledge that fits the deal you wish to qualify for
Education, Kids, Summer, Toy Reviews

Pickup Sports starter kits + live virtual coaching for young kids age 3-6

Erin Sluka
Pickup Sports starter kits + live virtual coaching for young kids

This COVID-19 can’t stop our kids but closing group classes will. This is why Pickup Sports is a great way to teach your child a sport, at home with all the gear they need. You buy the box and the access to virtual coaching classes are free.

sports box

My neighbor is busy with 3 boys and I gave her my Pickup Sports Soccer Box. It comes with all your child needs to attend the virtual class with his/her coach and more. There are basic branded balls, markers, cones, a scarf, stickers, whistle (if you dare), playbooks, pump and more. Once your box arrives head to the website, choose your sport and fill out a short form to get your child connected to virtual coaching classes.

learn soccer

Foe soccer, the classes are Mondays. Each session is 4 weeks long at one 15-25 minute class a week. The lessons are short enough to keep your child’s attention. Then they spend the week practicing what they learned before next class.

You can even choose sessions best for your child’s age: Starters (ages 3-4), Explorers (ages 4-5) and Ballers (ages 5-7). The bracket you choose depends on the time you will sign in to class.

soccer lessons for kids

More than just soccer, you can choose to have virtual coaching from the following sports for your child:

  • Intro to Tennis
  • Intro to Basketball
  • Intro to Soccer
  • Intro to Baseball/Softball
  • Intro to Flag Football
  • Intro to Volleyball
  • Motor Control, Ball Control Skills for Kids
  • Adaptive Fitness FUNdamentals (for kids with physical limitations)
family sports

This unique product is a great way for parents to teach kids how to play, improve their physical literacy, and just get outdoors and have fun! My neighbor said it was easy enough for the 3 year old to follow along too with big brother. The entire family will have fun exploring the box and playing outdoors. Buy your Pickup Sports box today to get started with virtual coaching of your favorite sport!