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Usually, when my kids take their naps I like to get things accomplished around the house but lately, it has been more difficult now that my daughter has given up her nap altogether. What makes it especially difficult is that she likes to have one-on-one time with me and I feel guilty not eating it up because she will all too soon be off to school. Then, of course, there are the years she’ll not want anything to do with her parents…
So yesterday I forgot about my long list of to-dos and just played games with her for hours while the little man slept! We played Cootie, Dr. Seuss’ Super Stretchy ABC, Surprise!, and one of her favorites Tell Me A Story – Fairytale Mix-up. While researching for gifts last holiday season I came across these amazing literacy games made by eeBoo. This particular edition was given the “Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award (Gold Seal)”, which piqued my interest even more. I read up reviews on Amazon and it didn’t take much to convince me to buy it.
It is easy to play – there are 36 cards and all you do is use them in a sequence of random selection to make up a story. However, when we first played it earlier in the year my daughter had little interest. We’d maybe create one story, and really it was me doing most of the talking. Yesterday though we played 3 times and each time she made up the story completely! She is almost 4, so I think age plays a difference but also vocab & imagination. She is very creative and loves to talk, so this game just enhances all those things and it is great quality time. As time goes on and I blog more you’ll definitely find I absolutely LOVE games, and not online or video games. Old-school board & card games, the kind you spend playing with each other, face-to-face, laughing, talking, singing, dancing. So anyhow, I really love this game and how much it enhances literacy, creativity, storytelling – so many things. I think it would even be a fun game for teachers/child-care providers to play with their students, maybe giving each student their own card and when it is their turn they add to the story as much as their little mind can imagine!
Here is a list of the different versions I’ve found on Amazon, most of which received the Oppenheim Gold Seal. They run about $10.00 a pack, some a little more and some a little less. They are recommended for ages 3 and up. Instructions include a few game variations but there is no right or wrong way to play!
