I Can Do That!
I’ve mentioned I Can Do That Games in the past and we recently received two more games from them that have quickly become family favourites.
Richard Scarry’s BusyTown Eye found it! Game is my son’s new favourite game. He’s about 3 1/2 and it’s just the perfect age for him, but I could see it working wonderfully in my classroom full of 6 & 7 year olds as well. The game consists of a giant 6-foot long game board in three sections that connect like a puzzle, 4 mover pieces and bases to stand them up, a spinner, a cardboard ferry tile, 6 food tiles, 10 magnifying glass tokens, 30 Goldbug cards and a sand timer.
Players race through Busytown, teaming up every time someone spins a “Goldbug” to search for whatever item is on the card that they flip over. (Wow, that was an awkward sentence.) They’re racing toward the ferry that will take them to Picnic Island where there are two pigs slowly devouring the food. Together they need to get to the island before the food is all gone.
There are so many things that I love about this game. Each player strives to move as far on the game board as they can, but because the ultimate goal is to get everyone to the island there’s a wonderful component of teamwork that’s absent from most board games. Because the game is so large and you’re pretty much forced to play it on the floor, it allows children to move around as they play and doesn’t attempt to force them into a chair for an extended period of time. Like a search & find book, it promotes attention to detail and builds confidence as children search for an find the items on the Goldbug cards that they flip over when the spinner lands on that icon.
The BusyTown game is available from Amazon and absolutely makes my list of top ten preschooler gifts. Rated 10/10 by my two little peeps – it’s fabulous.
The other game we received was Dr. Seuss’ Super Stretchy ABC Game. Think a preschooler sized version of Twister with a more educational focus. The game includes an oversized mat, a game board with a Thing 1 and Thing 2 Tornado Tube, 34 Letter tiles, 4 Toy boxes and 15 Word cards.
This game encourages letter and picture recognition, develops early word-building skills, uses both fine and gross motor skills and gets players twisting, turning and stretching while they play. “Can you put your hand on the letter E—while placing your foot on the letter K—AND still put your ear on the letter Q? You’ve got to be super-stretchy to meet the challenge!” In this silly game of physical challenges and alphabet fun, kids spin the Thing 1 and Thing 2 Tornado Tube to deal out letter-to-body-part challenges. Then it’s time to for the players to get down on the colorful, oversized Dr. Seuss alphabet mat (one child on the mat at a time – those developers have met preschoolers!) and stretch, turn and twist to put their body and brain to the test! My children gave this game a 8/10 – not as loved as the Busytown one, but certainly a great game that they enjoy.
Super Stretch ABC is also available from Amazon.
Win it! I Can Do That Games is giving away these two fab games to one T.O.P. reader. To enter, comment below before noon mst on Feburary 15, 2010. You can get up to 5 entries in every T.O.P. contest- just check the rules!
CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED
February 9th, 2010 at 12:22 am
My family loves playing games together…especially my two sons! Thanks!
Jawan´s last blog ..It’s all about what you see
February 9th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Those two games sound fabulous and I’m sure my 3.5 year old would love them. Thanks for the giveaway.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:23 am
I’ve subscribed through Google Reader.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:24 am
I tweeted to win: http://twitter.com/Carmenscontests/status/8845654376
February 9th, 2010 at 11:05 am
oh man my two oldest would flip for these!
February 9th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
What fun games! My little ones would really enjoy these!
Kristie´s last blog ..Make Something Monday: Taco Lasagna
February 9th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
SO FUN! My preschoolers would LOVE these!
February 9th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
I’m a google reader subscriber
February 9th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
We’ve played the Richard Scarry game and my preschooler loves it! I love that it teaches teamwork rather than competition.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
I’d love to win!
February 9th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
email subscriber
February 9th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
sounds like 2 great games my sons would love to play!
February 9th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
My little boy is just starting to get into games. These sound like fun.
Madeline´s last blog ..Let The Countdown Begin
February 9th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
I’m a subscriber.
Madeline´s last blog ..Let The Countdown Begin
February 10th, 2010 at 12:17 am
Oh, these would be a hit in our house.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:16 am
They both sound like a lot of fun. I’d love to win.
February 10th, 2010 at 7:48 am
These look really cool and remind me of the games I played as a kid.
Pam´s last blog ..Tell Me Again
February 10th, 2010 at 8:39 am
I’m looking for some games to play with my 4 year old. These would be great!
February 10th, 2010 at 8:41 am
I subscribe too!
February 10th, 2010 at 9:26 am
I love Richard Scarry and its so fun for me that my kids like the books (and they love games).
Heather´s last blog ..Win some Fruit Roll-Ups & Fruit By The Foot (and enter to win a laptop for you and a child in Africa)
February 10th, 2010 at 9:46 am
We love games and try to have weekly game nights. These sound great.
February 10th, 2010 at 9:53 am
And with twins, it would really be great!
February 14th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
My nearly 4 year old daughter would love these games we have recently been looking for some new games to play.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Both of these games sound fun. We love board games, and have been playing lots of them lately…we’ve been snowed in for two weeks and counting! lol. Thanks for the chance!
enchantedtree(At)hotmail.com
tree´s last blog ..New Doll, introducing Melody.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
i’m an email subscriber!
enchantedtree(at)hotmail.com
tree´s last blog ..New Doll, introducing Melody.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
i’m subscribed to your feed via google reader!
enchantedtree(at)hotmail.com
tree´s last blog ..New Doll, introducing Melody.
February 15th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
i have your button on my blog!
enchantedtree(At)hotmail.com
tree´s last blog ..New Doll, introducing Melody.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
I love Richard Scary. We try to play games a couple of times a week to keep the family spending time with one another. I would love to win this game set.
Madonna ´s last blog ..samples and some shopping deals
February 15th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
signed up for email updates.
Madonna´s last blog ..samples and some shopping deals
February 16th, 2010 at 2:20 am
I too am looking for educational games for our boys, these sound great.
Michelle
February 16th, 2010 at 2:20 am
oops, didn’t look at the time.
M.