Friday Family

 

  With snow and cold uncomfortable temperatures outside we are stuck inside a little more then we care to be.  So we do other things instead.  Board games it is.

  I have collected many board games over the years.  Some games I have bought over the years and others are my childhood games.  Either way playing them with my kids makes for some good entertainment and we are warm.

  Playing games with 2 children is a learning lesson.  You experience a variety of a variety of emotions, behaviors and if you watch closely you even catch them cheating!  I know right? Cheating! Now I have noticed cheating for kids is different.  Sometimes its obvious like switching cards or changing the dice but, other times are pure accidentally but coincidentally beneficial. Sometimes they are like magicians with a slight of hand trick.  I thought you were on the blue spot but some how your on the red now.

 This particular day Chutes and Ladders by Milton Bradley was the game of choice.  This game is for 2-4 players and suggested for ages 3 and up.

  You get to pick a boy or girl as your piece which is fun compared to only picking a specific color.

The spinner is fun to play with for advancing your space compare to dice too.

The object of the game is to start at 1 and climb your way to 100.

You get to climb ladders for good deeds such as baking a cake or helping a cat put the tree but, if you read a comic book instead of your homework you slid down the slide.

My kids get along pretty well on this game.  They laugh at each other when they slide down.  Sliding down all the time or on the same spot gets frustrating but they still want to keep playing.

It's nice to see my older child helping the younger one with counting or deciphering the instructions.  This is even a game that they can play by themselves without parental guidance.

When was the last time you played a game?  Do you still have your childhood games?

School with Letter I

  So my printer is on the blitz.  I hate how every few years it seems I need a new one.  So when this happens we have to really take advantage of workbooks, chalkboards, and dry erase boards.  I even found some old sheets I had used with my daughter that were in sheet protectors.

  

  Although I put his letter of the week on his desk we still work on a variety of areas daily.  He learns numbers, as well as math.

  Of course a little tablet or computer time in addition to books, puzzles, crafts and other hands on activities helps pass the time and aid in fun learning.

Take a look at that first picture.  Do you see the ice cubes?  We played Don't Break The Ice! 

In addition to the ice game we played Cooties because cooties are insects!

I spy was played as well.  Some of these were really hard to find but he showed a great persistence in looking.

This worksheet had him coloring leaves based on some of his sight words.

We attempted to make an igloo with mini marshmallows.

I made an island for him but to my disappointment it wasn't not met with much enthusiasm.  It was yogurt I had dyed blue which he didn't care for, nor did he care for the mound of brown sugar.  I don't know what's wrong with that boy.

Lastly, we made ice cream!  He didn't quite follow through with all the necessary shaking but, he did appreciate this snack!

  My biggest struggle for letter I week was books.  On my hunt to find books this week I found there not to be a big selection.  So a lot of books had I this, or I that but only a few exact words. Ice cream, insects and a couple specific names.

So glad letter I is over.  Just before the local ice rinks opened so we will make a special trip to those.

Watch Ya Mouth Game Review

  A family plays games to have fun.  They play games not to win or pass the time but to enjoy each others company.  A family plays Watch Ya Mouth Throw down version to entertain themselves and maybe drool a bit.

  This family game is a newer version of Watch Ya Mouth.  It still has made the 2017 toy of the year which should tell you something.  If that's all I had to say pick up your game now with this 15% discount using this code: 15THROWDOWN. It's available here!

  Four of us with an audience played the game the other day and had a blast.  So much so it was talked about before bed and then the next morning over breakfast! It wasn't about winner or losers it was about the fun and laughs we had.

  This game got us all looking silly together so that evens the self conscious part.  Age didn't really matter except for some tasks required on the cards.  Otherwise this game easily makes playing a game just about the game.  There is a winner after 4 rounds by declaring he who has the most cards wins but it was never about that at least for us.

  Now let's get serious about the game!  The game states it's for ages 8 and up.  There are cards to read and tasks to complete.  My son utilized grandma who was watching us to tell him what the card said. Problem solved.  The game comes with various other props you may be called upon to use. Some easy items you may also need to supply yourself.

Wash the appropriate items that will be make mouth contact, read the directions designate who starts based on hygiene and begin!

Nothing is ever not a race.  You not only have a mouthpiece in but, you also get timed!

Secrets had to be shared but, if you guessed it you got the card!

We even had to phone a friend! No one won that one.

Pens not included! 

Water transfer was very interesting and our last highlight of the night! 

I believe with certainty that this 2017 game of the year was the right decision.  I have never had so much fun playing a game before. It was nice to play game that everyone could play and wasn't too mature for young kids to play and to "cool" for older kids to play.    

I was provided this game complimentary for review purposes but all experiences, opinions and fun were my own! 

Party Night with Q And Kids

  I was chosen to host my first party by Tryazon and Qtainment.  As a mom what better opportunity than to find some friends and play some games!

 

The game stars a monkey trying to reach his tree house.  Kids are tasked with a choice of 3 opportunities to help in this process.  They either answer or solve a dilemma that Q is having, answering a question pertaining to themselves or do an action.

I think my favorite card is the do.  What better way to keep kids entertained and distracted then to having another child do something funny.  This takes the boredom factor right away.  Also the kids have to wait their turn to see which card they get.

The focus of the game is to help boost and promote social skills, behavior and physical coordination.  It's geared for ages 3 and up and although that's a young age; parents can help or coax their child with answers or prompts enforcing the right answer or solution.

My daughter confiscated (her younger brother didn't have a chance) the stuffed Q for herself.   The additional workbooks are a nice way to continue the learning and fun.

I love the app that is available as well because we can play it when we are on the go.  I am not sure if the game has my kids interest because of the monkey, or its just plain fun.  It's not like any other game you have played before.  Each card makes the game more fun.  It's not about who gets to the top first as much as it is about the overall interaction between kids to get there.

Letter D preschool

 

Some weeks I will be able to find more objects for the letter of the week and I will take full advantage of that!

 Diaper, doll and duck!

Donut, dragon, deer, Doc McStuffins, dimes and the hat was for discover!  On our discovery walk we kept our eyes low and saw some interesting things.

I like to make a desk up as its something that's passed first thing in the morning so my son is already checking out and identifying objects.  He knows what a dinosaur is but never knew it started wit a letter D.

We used dimes to mark the appropriate number of objects.  He counts the objects and has to figure out what the number looks like.  He then places the dime on the appropriate number.

The big letter d became a road.  D is for drive.

I also used toilet paper rolls to make a marble run because d is also for drop!

I will tell you it's amazing to see how much fun a child can have with the simplest things.  I guess because it was new but also it moved, it worked it stirred up imagination!

With 4 letters under our belt I think next week we will plan on reviewing all the letters up to this point which will include identification, writing, and sounds.  We will discuss shapes, and numbers as well. 

Creative Action

  So growing up in NY your accustomed to snow and what it's full potential is.  We had winter carnivals and snow sculpture contests.  Went to school even when it snowed, lol.  My children have this concept drilled in their heads snow equals no school.  This misconception comes from the nearly 2 weeks of interrupted school last year.

  Raising kids in Virginia when it snows leads to the need to be more creative.  It's amazing how cold it actually is when it snows.  This leads to a huge dread on my part to get outside with the kids but they are so excited to see the white stuff we have to move and act quickly before it disappears.  One day already this snow season it snowed then stopped.  Nothing stuck and therefore there was no playtime!  What's the point of snow if you can't play in it?

  Enter potato pieces and snow!

 I bring snow in from outside and you insert the pieces just like you would with Mr.Potatohead.

 Depending on your snow it may be easier.  Sometimes her snowball was too packed for her to put pieces in.

Even the boy had fun playing with the snow and pieces.

Anything goes! 2 snowball pets!

The makings of a miniature snowman!

This lady was walking her dog!

We even enjoyed some snowcream.  Mint and vanilla flavored!  This is a rare treat based on the quantity of snow we get.  There have been years when the children have been deprived.

I will tell you what she played with the snow inside a whole lot more than she did outside.  Maybe all the winter clothes are too constricting.  It can't possibly have to do with the temperature of  30°.

The hub bub of the holiday

    We participate in all the traditional fun of Christmas.  We unwrap presents, play, eat, nap and do it all over again minus the unwrapping part.

  Either way my goal is to not over indulge the children but to make it a special day for them.  The get a variety of items.  Some they want and some they don't.

New clothes for everyone.  Socks or underwear anyone? Yeah!

Toys for the young and old.

Toiletries for the teenage girl. Her very own stash to spare mine for a little while.

Even homemade ornaments made great gifts for everyone.

  My favorite thing to give my family are family gifts.  The kids get to each unwrap one of them and it's a surprise for everyone.  This year it hit a little bit of all areas for everyone to have fun in.

All the family gifts were accepted happily along with ......

The Pie in the Face game.

  No matter your traditions I hope everyone finds happiness somewhere in today.