Toy Reviews - Parenting Healthy

Speedy Scribbles is a game of fast thinking and drawing for memory

We have had a blast with this new game of pressure and scribbles by Goliath Games. Speedy Scribbles is a memory game where you have to rely on quick scribbles to remember the 20 words read aloud in a round. My son is 13 and this game will be going in the RV for camping game nights this summer. It is addictive and you will easily get several rounds in on game night.

Set up is easy. Speedy Scribbles is a 4-8 player game. There is a colored score game board and colored pegs. It also comes with the scoring sheets, game cards, bell and scoring sheets. You do not need anything else to play this game. It is ready to go right from the box.

Each player chooses a peg to play. Notice that where you start on the board is a red rectangle? This means round 1 will be played from the red side of the game cards. The long card holder is numbered 1-20. These are the 20 words played on that round from the red side of 4 cards drawn by that round’s Reader.

The steps are easy. Dealer draws 4 cards from the deck. Depending on the color being played that round, the 4 cards will be placed in the card holder 1-20 (overlapping so the correct words by color are in the corresponding number slots as shown above). The Reader is the only one who draws, sets and sees these cards. The Reader will read each word 1 second at a time. The other players use the scoring pads to quickly sketch whatever will help them remember that word and move through the 20 boxes as the 20 words are read in 20 seconds. Notice above, here is an example of how a round will look like after words are read and because it was Round 1, red cards were used due to everyone starting on the red START on the score board.

Scoring now begins. The Reader will choose a player and ask them to name a word in any box (“Joe, what was word 13?”) If Joe gets it right, he gets a point (Reader will say “Correct” or “Incorrect” to Joe without giving away the right answer). If Joe gets it wrong, any other player can be first to press the bell for their chance to get it right and earn that point. Only 1 extra guess per word and the Reader will move on to ask a new player for a new word. A round ends when every player was given a first chance by the reader 3 times each (If there are 4 players: 1 is a Reader, 3 are players. So, the Reader will ask all 3 players 3 times each for a first guess – any 9 words of the 20 total). The players will move their pegs the number of points they earned that round and the player with the most points dictates the next game color according to where their peg lands). It is fast-paced and so addictive.

Buy Speedy Scribbles on Amazon!

Education, Toy Reviews

Montessori Toys That Will Grow With Your Child

February 18, 2021July 9, 2023 Lauretta Williams

Maria Montessori developed the Montessori educational philosophy in 1897. This philosophy emphasizes hands-on age-appropriate activities for your child to nurture their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. And although this child-focused educational technique was meant for classroom settings, it’s now possible to introduce it to your toddler or baby through play. And the best way to do this is by buying your little one a few Montessori toys.

Montessori Toys That Will Grow With Your Child — Photo by Paige Cody on Unsplash

What sets a Montessori toy apart from other toys?

You may be wondering what you need to look out for to know that a toy is Montessori friendly. Well, here are a few pointers that will help you know what to look out for when buying a Montessori toy.

Toys made from natural materials – Maria Montessori emphasized using natural classroom materials that a child can touch, explore, and connect with. Thus, toys made from natural materials such as ceramic, metal, cotton, wood, and wool are the best. These materials are also safe for your child, and their different textures help define your child’s senses.
Purpose-driven and realistic toys – The Montessori philosophy emphasizes the use of realistic toys that are purpose-driven. The toys should be a representation of something real. For instance, if you were to choose between a unicorn and a rhino figurine, you should go for the rhino figurine. Further, the toy should allow your child to engage in meaningful play.
Simple but engaging toys – Toys that are free of distractions are the best. Think toys with no bells, batteries, or whistles. The toy should be passive, encouraging your child to manipulate it to make a sound. They should also be simple but encourage your little one to explore and engage in self-directed creative play
Toys that hone a skill – Montessori toys should teach your little one a skill or build on one. This helps create a good foundation for advanced learning in your child’s later years. A good example is a shape puzzle that teaches your little one concentration or shape recognition.

Now that you know what to look for when buying Montessori toys let’s look at a few amazing Montessori-inspired toys you can get for your child.

Grabbing toy for babies who are starting to reach for things

Manhattan toy Skwish natural rattle

This rattle and teether toy is perfect for your little one who is yearning for something to hold and touch. The toy is lightweight, making it ideal for tiny hands to grab, plus its unique shape makes it easy to reach. Besides, it produces a gentle rattling sound that allows your little one to explore sounds and understand cause and effect.

The fact that it’s made from wood with a smooth and baby-safe water-based acrylic finish makes it safe for your little one who is teething. This is also a toy that won’t break when banged as it’s made from quality and durable wooden material.

Rattling roller for crawling babies

PlanToys wooden rainbow baby roller with sound

Is your little one just starting to crawl? Then, it would be best if you got them a toy that encourages their gross motor skills.

This wooden rainbow baby roller from PlanToys is perfect for tiny hands to pick up, plus it’s beautiful when it rolls, keeping your little one interested.

Moreover, this toy has a rattling sound that ensures your baby doesn’t give up crawling even when the roller rolls away. The wood sound is soothing and not distractive.

The rainbow colors further stimulate your baby’s sight, and since this product is made from quality chemical-free rubber wooden material, you can rest easy knowing it’s safe and it will serve many generations.

A memory toy

Montessori and Waldorf Inspired Sea Life Matching and Memory Game – 18 Piece Set

This matching sea life matching and memory game from Playskills Toys is perfect if you want to encourage your child to concentrate or focus on a task.

This game also improves your child’s short-term memory and nurtures their creativity. Since this memory game is based on linking two related images, your child’s visual discrimination will also improve.

The 18 piece set of sea animal cards are made from non-toxic wood, so you don’t have to worry about your child getting sick after putting one or two cards in their mouth.

Letter writing toy

Montessori Safari Animals

These wooden safari animal figurines keep in line with the Montessori principle of giving your child lifelike playthings to spark their creativity and interest.

With a realistic-looking lion or giraffe, you allow your child to experience what a real lion looks like before visiting the zoo. It also becomes easy to name all the animal body parts if you’re homeschooling. Besides, since your child is also supposed to match the figurines with similar-looking flashcards, they learn to concentrate, which improves their memory.

This sturdy set of safari animals and matching flashcards is made from natural wood with a non-toxic child-safe paint finish. It’s best suited for children who are age three and up.

Final thoughts

In closing, this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the Montessori toys available in the market. But these five toys and games are some of our highly recommended Montessori-friendly ones. Besides, they are suitable for different age groups, making them ideal if you have children of different ages in your home. Get your child one of these toys, and we can bet they will fall in love with it.

STEM Learning, Toy Reviews

Create a Nerf Gun Battle Ground with Make-A-Fort Kits

February 2, 2021July 9, 2023 Erin Sluka

Even on the rainiest of days I can get my tween to gather up neighbor boys and get outside away from video games, especially when I give them a nerf gun adventure. With Make-A-Fort kits your child, tween (or adult) can make forts, tunnels, mazes, a Nerf gun battle ground and more. They can be creative or follow their project guides.

Our son is 12 and there are many neighbor boys his age and they always bring out laser guns or nerf guns when they meet outside. They are cool 7th graders, but there is still some ‘boy’ left in these growing tweens and it showed the day I brought out the Make-A-Fort kit. The rain didn’t stop them either. Before the kids arrived, Anthony started building. He decided to use only 1 kit for this day because rain was off and on and he wasn’t sure how long they’d stay in the cold rain. He created ‘walls’ or bunkers and used them as hiding blocks.

Make-A-Fort kits are made from an upgraded cardboard that is much stronger and much more durable than normal shipping box cardboard. When the rain didn’t stop, we brought out blankets so it wasn’t sitting in direct puddles gathering. Then I grabbed my old paining cloths for him to drape over so they didn’t get too wet and we would have to dry the panels.

Using the painting cloths actually made it look like real bunker walls and kept the rain off. The boys said it felt like they were in paint ball courses. Even as the rain came down they lasted well over an hour out there and the kit was in great shape afterwards. We brought it right inside and in a moment was torn down and back in its carry box it arrived in. It packs up neatly and is narrow to store in a closet or on a shelf.

The 2 walls he built was 1 full kit. You can have a load of fun with 2 or 3 kits. There is a Mansion pattern for 2 kits he wants to build one day with our second kit, but he still is thinking about gifting the second kit to his cousins. He kept saying how much fun my nephews would have with a kit then when they get together he can bring his and then with both they can build bigger things. They really do make great gifts!

What is included (per kit)?

18 x Panels (each 23” x 23”)
10 x Braces (each about 8″ x 8″)
80 x Connectors (each less than 3″ in diameter)
1 x Carrying Case (24” x 24” x 4.25”)
1 x Getting Started Guide
1 x Children’s Product Certificate

Interested in finding a fun activity that your kids can entertain themselves or the whole family can play together? Visit Make-A-Fort and order as many kits as your kids need for that building fun!

Infant Toddler Products, STEM Learning, Toy Reviews

Stick-O Cooking 16 Piece Set – Toddler Toy Review

January 29, 2021July 8, 2023 Erin Sluka

Looking for some new toys to engage your toddler? These Stick-O Sets by Magformers are such a blast. I may or may not have been caught piecing these together as I sat with my nephew at play. This is the Cooking 16 Piece Set. Each piece can match to its pair – such as a handle to the fry pan or the yolk with the egg shells or watch them mix and match the pieces.

Magformers has a very safe reputation for making magnetic toys for kids that are well made with very little risk of harm to your child. There are no visible magnets or easy access to them at all. They just work and build and are an engaging imaginary and role play toy.

These Stick-O sets are great for brain development, critical thinking and STEM education. Develop color and shape recognition, fine motor skills and problem-solving ability. Buy on Amazon today.