ThinkFun Zingo

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This fast-paced, energetic variation of Bingo is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Kids get a kick out of pulling the Zinger forward to reveal two mystery tiles and attempting to be the first to call out the tiles that match the images on their cards. The first player to fill his or her card wins! Ages 4 to 8. 2 to 8 players. 2 levels of play. 8 double-sided Zingo! cards and 72 picture tiles. 8 inches x 10.5 inches x 3.5 inches.
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Technical Details

- Two levels of play
- Seventy-two picture tiles
- Eight double-sided Zingo cards
- Teaches image and vocabulary recognition, matching, memory, concentration, and social interaction
- For ages between 4 to 8 years
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 "Creative game" 2009-08-31
By R. Cavano (Florida)
This is a creative game, but according to the game rules, only 1 person is allowed to call the game piece. So if you are playing with your kid, obviously the adult or older sibling could call the game piece before the younger sibling would so it is unfair. We just played as if it were regular bingo. so our 5 year old had a chance to win more often.

 "The use of Zingo for children with autism" 2009-08-25
By RHC (NC)
This game is excellent for children with autism. It teaches them to wait for their turn, matching, reading, etc. It can easily be used as a learning tool without the child feeling he/she has been given a task.

 "Ideal toy but slow" 2009-07-22
By SJ Port (CA)
My 4-year olds love this game even my son who has very little patience for board games. It moves quickly and everyone gets a chance for a match so they don't get bored. I ordered another one to give as a gift - fulfilled by Amazon - but it took so long to arrive (more than a week) that it missed the party and will be returned. Other products I ordered at the same time arrived much faster, shipped directly by the other merchant. So while I recommend the toy, I'd suggest maybe getting it shipped direct from the merchant.

 "My Kids' Favorite game!" 2009-07-13
By L. Bouchacourt (New Jersey)
My 4.5 year old daughter and 2.5 year old son love this game - they play it together all the time. I like that it works well across the age span. Each loves to take their turn dispensing the tiles and the older one often helps out the younger when he's not so quick to notice a tile that matches his card. I agree with another reviewer -- it would be better if the tiles were printed on both sides for ease of reloading. But my kids have found that they like to reload while they're playing, but putting any non-matching tiles right back into dispenser on the spot. This makes for much easier clean up at the end of the game. Definitely recommend this game!!!!

 "Fun Game" 2009-07-06
By C. Peterson
My 6yr old twins got this for their birthday, (boy and girl)and are enjoying this game. It is quick to play, better for younger kids as they do get bored quickly with it, but they play other ways, (matching tiles, go fish, etc) The game doesn't take batteries, very durable, (little cousins can't break it)and can play on their own without parents reading the directions again and again.

Wouldn't recommend for kids over 6 yrs old but at or under it's a good buy.


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Melissa & Doug See & Spell

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Place the colorful wooden letters in their proper places to spell words on the cut out two-sided wooden boards. Includes 20 playful pictures with three and four letter words to keep learning fun. Includes over 70 letters.
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Technical Details

- Colorful letters
- 16 playful pictures
- Learn spelling skills
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 "Terrific toy!" 2009-08-05
By gran-ma (Brooklyn, NY)
My 28 month old loves this very educational toy. He's learning his letters, learning that they form a word, enjoying playing with it - fun around! Typical Melissa and Doug!

 "Awesome toy!" 2009-08-04
By K. Paskvan (North Pole, Alaska)
My son turns 2 in a couple months. He's been playing with this for a while and it has really helped him learn his letters. If your child likes puzzles, this is a really great toy! The only thing I would change is maybe include some sort of storage for the letters. We store them in the wooden box that comes with the toy, but it would be nice to have a lid for the box.

 "Perfect toy for a 2 year old!" 2009-07-21
By Michelle Frye (Houston, TX)
We just got this for our two year old and it immediately became a favorite toy for both of us. She already knows her letters and is now working on reading. This toy really emphasizes the different letters and how to put them together to make words. This is really great - we will now give it away as a birthday gift to all her little friends. This toy is highly recommended!

 "It's a good idea" 2009-07-10
By B. Coleman (STL, MO)
I liek the puzzles & the kids plat with it often - but I hate that the letters are covered with a lid or some type of plastic that snaps on. The letters are forever getting lost! Drives me crazy! And with a 2 & 4 year old I have a hard enough time trying to keep up with little toy pieces. I put it up now & when they want to play with it, I get it out, but then when they are done - it goes right back! But it's a good buy overall.

 "Excellent Spelling Toy" 2009-06-28
By Liza Dufresne (Boston, MA United States)
My younger son is four and a half. He has been interested in letters for quite some time. This toy has allowed the "penny to drop." He now totally gets it that letters make words, which is the next level after just "knowing your abc's." He looks at the picture, fishes out the letters, builds the word, then sounds it out. Once he finishes the word, I say, "what does that spell?" He says the word phonetically. I say, "and how do you spell that?" He spells it out letter by letter. He is so proud of himself that he is reading! The picture is there as a reinforcement. I really love the wooden, old-time solid contruction, too. I do agree with other reviewers that there should be a cover; indeed, it's odd that a plexiglass one is not included as it is with the other M & D sets. But that is really a minor complaint. Just store the thing flat. Also, I take out the letters and put them in a tupperware or on a larger surface area so that the child can find the letters more easily. Finally, I agree with other reviewers that this may not be a toy that the child will "play with for years." But isn't it worth the price to further your child's interest in reading? I also have a seven year-old who is now reading chapter books and, believe me, once they start reading you do not have to spend so much time entertaining them and the boob-tube goes off; they will be holed up in their rooms reading Chet Gecko, Nate the Great or what-have-you. YES!! For pete's sake, you can always save the toy for another child or pass it on to someone else. Go for it! p.s. I called it a "Spelling Toy" when I gave it to my son. I did not call it a puzzle or say, "Let's learn how to read!" Hence, the title of my review. I've always gotten better results by making things a game.


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Wild Planet Hyper Dash

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It's the electronic game that's as fast as you are. Test your speed and agility in a race against time using five targets and an electronic handheld unit. To start, set up your targets on the table, around the room, around the house or throughout the yard. Then, follow the announcer's commands as you zip around your racecourse to tag your targets with the handheld unit. The fastest time wins. Features four game modes that challenge your speed, skill, memory, coordination and teamwork. Includes ergonomically designed Hyper Dash unit and five labelled targets. Requires 3 "AAA" batteries, not included. Measures 4.5"L x 12"W x 10"H.
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Technical Details

- Consists of one electronic tagger and five different colored and numbered targets
- Great for improving math skills, athletic skills and just having fun
- Choose from four game modes to challenge your speed, skill, memory, coordination and teamwork
- Play solo, head-to-head, or in teams
- Play at varied skill levels
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 "Important Warning" 2009-07-20
By Daniel Liedtke
Important warning to all.



While this product is a nifty toy and everyone has already commented on the finite number of variations that you can make, there is something that buyers should take into account. Some early reviews state that you can put in more than one "crystal" to get a third color; ex. red and blue make purple. This is no longer the case. Hasbro has changed the programming and you can only get red, blue or green; no color combinations. To be honest, this was the selling factor for me, so I was quite disappointed to discover this.



All in all, the product is fun and a great addition to your Jedi arsenal, but just know that you will not be able to that beautiful purple blade you may desire.



A concerned Jedi.

 "Fun" 2009-07-14
By K. Brotherton (Iowa)
My son and his friends love this game. It has provided hours and hours of entertainment for them.

 "Disappointed" 2009-07-03
By Ryan M. Fritz (Fargo, ND)
maybe I didnt research this game enough, I read the "4 games in 1" and thought that was exciting...but each version is a slight variation only of the actual game. Or maybe its since my daughter is 8 and this is a game starting at 6+...I recall a game named Simon when I was a kid - and I think that game was more fun...25 years ago.

 "More fun than I thought it would be!" 2009-06-21
By V. Hutson (Duluth, MN)
I saw this game for some time, but just didn't think it would be fun. After seeing all the positive reviews I decided to buy it for my son's birthday. It is a lot of fun. The courses we set up do not span a great distance--so we don't do a lot of running. However, I'm thinking of expanding the distance and perhaps I could lose some weight as well as having fun!

 "Great toy - good exercise and educational value" 2009-06-20
By MrFurhley
We have 3 kids of our own. Our oldest is 6 and we have a 4 year old and 1 year old. One weekend when we watched my sister's kids (ages 4 and 1), we bought this game via AmazonFresh. It was great fun for the 4 and 6 year olds. Obviously not appropriate for the 1 year olds.



First you spread out the targets around the room or yard which are different colors and have numbers on them. You select a game (hyper dash, micro dash, micro team dash) and a level (1-3). The first player strikes any target to start. The "wand" then speaks instructions to the player such as "Green!" (strike green target) or "Double Strike Blue" (hit blue target twice) or "CompuStrike 6 minus 3" (meaning strike the target with the number 3 on it) or "Reverse" (strike last target) The player follows the instructions. If they get it wrong, the wand makes a buzzing sound and they have to keep trying. The goal is to get through all the commands in the round in the shortest time possible. AFter everyone has gone, the wand tells you which player won. There can be ties. The winners advance to the next round.



Our 6 year old understood all the commands which includes colors & math & some memory. The math was too advanced for the 4 year olds but they got the colors & memory commands.



We found that if you placed the targets far enough part (outside in the yard or at the park), the game was good exercise as the kids ran around from target to target.



The game is easy to transport - light and compact. It takes 3 AA batteries. Fit well in our stroller.



The kids really got into this game and were quite tired when they finally stopped. It seemed to exercise all the right muscles and kept their attention for at least 1-2 hours


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SET Game

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This award winning card game is for one or more players. It is recommended for ages six and above. The object of the game is to identify "sets" of three cards. Each card is unique in its four features; color - red, green or purple, symbol - diamond, squiggle or oval, shading - solid, striped or open, and number - 1, 2 or 3. A "set" consists of three cards on which each feature is either the same on all of the cards, or different on all of the cards. This game contains complete instructions for play, 81 cards, and a durable plastic carrying case.
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Technical Details

- Award winning card game
- For one or more players
- Game contains complete instructions for play and 81 cards
- Comes with a durable plastic carrying case
- SET has become a classic game
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 "Great Game" 2009-07-07
By maya11300 (New york)
We enjoy playing this game by ourselves and with friends. There's no limit to how many can play this game, the more the merrier! It is confusing at first but once you get how to play it (usually the second time around our friends were pros at it) it is very engaging. It is based on visual observations and lots of cognitive sorting of different combinations of cards. it is very simple, portable, great travel game... only needs a flat surface to lay out the cards. this game is also great fro all ages. it is great fir children to develop patience, observation and thinking skills, and it is great for adults to keep the brain working :)

 "Could be the math geek in me - but I LOVE this game!" 2009-07-05
By J. Thomson (Salt Lake City, UT)
AND so do my kids.



We first encountered this game in our children's museum. My 8 year old son (our youngest) can win the game.



I am a Math PhD who has been a stay at home mom for the past 10 years. It felt so good to think this way again! I found my mom looking up math papers on the subject. :-)



VERY simple, VERY unique, VERY fun - just the combination I value in games. A+!

 "great combination of joy and education" 2009-06-21
By tiantianxiangshang (Bound Brook, NJ United States)
My soon to be 5 year old boy love to play this game. It is a great game to keep him thinking and focused.

 "Wow. What a work-out for the brain!" 2009-06-21
By Ulyyf (NYC)
This game is... both easy and difficult. There are four different categories for each card (shape, color, number, shading) and each category has three options. You have to identify sets that match in ALL four categories - either they have to be ALL the same in a category, or ALL different in a category.



So if they can be all green, all diamonds, but TOTALLY different in shading and number.



The person with the most sets at the end of the game wins, and they have suggestions for variations at their website.



Teaching yourself to recognize the categories is hard, but the rules are simple. I suspect that some people are just naturally going to find this game easier than others - it seems very much to be a "way your brain works" kind of game. That means it's certain to be a good levelling game because your kids might be better at it than you are - and all kids like to win because they WON and not because of chance or being allowed to win :)

 "A fun, but competitive game..." 2009-06-10
By Colleen Leung
The game SET is really a diamond in the rough. With all of today's video games, talking this & that and animatronic do-dads, Set is a great source of entertainment for all.



General Commentary:

- Ideal for groups of small (1) to medium size (5 or so).

- I normally play in a group of 20 somethings



Benefits:

- Great for mind stimulation.

- Great for younger (learning colors, numbers, shapes, etc) and older kids alike



Caveats:

- With older "kids", the game can get a bit competitive

- At times, the game gets very close to a game of Hot Hands and it's a matter of who can get there faster -- with apprehension anytime anyone moves a muscle

- Not good for car rides or playing outside in potentially windy areas



Overall:

- The game is wonderful, but can get a bit competitive and a little addictive.


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Quiddler

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The challenge of Quiddler is to arrange your entire hand into words. Draw and discard in turn. Try to use those high point letters, but don't get caught with them uncombined! Quiddler is fast paced because you can play using everyday words. A bonus is given for the most words in each round (so little words can help you win), as well as for the longest word. Quiddler is a delightful challenge for both rookies and word game lovers. Quiddler is for up to eight players.
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Technical Details

- The SHORT Word Game. The challenge of Quiddler is to arrange your entire hand into words.
- Contents: 118 cards & instructions. Solitaire instructions are also included.
- Ages: 8 to adult/1-8 players
- The Play: 8 rounds per game, players draw and discard until someone forms their hand into words using two or more cards per word. Once a player goes out, everyone else gets one last chance to draw and put down the words they have made.
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 "Quiddler is a fun game for all ages" 2009-07-18
By Barbara J. Dunn (Houston, TX)
Quiddler is a great game! It is a word card game - we refer to it as card scrabble. Lots of fun for all

 "LOVE Quiddler!" 2009-07-16
By S. Webster
Great family game. It makes us think while we are having a good time.

 "Great way to learn to spell" 2009-07-07
By N. Cousino (Massachusetts, USA)
This is a great game to learn how to spell and increase your vocabulary - both adults and kids.

 "Quiddler" 2009-07-01
By Judi H. Johnson (CA USA)
Such fast service on delivery! I almost got the product before I ordered it! Well packaged, too. It's a fun game and the company delivered well.

 "great game with kids" 2009-06-15
By Cathlyn A. Mercier
Fun game for kids and adults, can be very competitive or everyone can help other players, good for new readers with help.


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Live Butterfly Garden

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Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close with this reusable, collapsible habitat. Fine, transparent mesh lets you see butterfly metamorphosis up close. Product includes easy-to-use feeder and complete instructions for habitat. Butterfly larvae with food shipped directly to your home. The habitat collapses for storage when not in use. You can adopt and raise a handful of caterpillars, watch them transform into painted lady butterflies, then lift the garden cover to release your beautiful specimens into the wild. This exciting habitat makes a fabulous introduction to the miracles of nature. The larvae and food available round the year.
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Technical Details

- See butterfly metamorphosis up close.Reusable, collapsible habitat.
- Includes feeder.Complete instructions included.
- Includes mail-in voucher for five butterfly larvae and special food. ($3.00 fee for processing)
- Witness one of nature's most spectacular transformations up close.
- Just mail in the included coupon for larvae and food.
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 "Flawless fun" 2009-07-20
By David Mednicoff (Amherst, MA USA)
We got our butterfly garden with the coupon to send in at our convenience for the larvae. It was a gift for my 7-year-old, but the 3-year-old loved it as well. All five larvae turned into chrysali and then butterflies without problems. All five were successfully released and are staying near our flower garden. Our experience with this product was wonderful, and we are likely to purchase it ourselves in the near future.

 "great learning opportunity" 2009-07-17
By engaged consumer (virginia)
All five caterpillars survived delivery and formed chrysalises. Both my 9 and 6 year olds have enjoyed watching the progression. We are awaiting the emergence of butterflies!

 "Live Butterfly Garden" 2009-07-13
By Dale R. Green
This is a great science experiment for the kids. They have spent hours watching them eat & grow. Definately worth it. I only wish they had these when I was a kid.

 "Live Butterfly Garden" 2009-07-12
By M. Zurlippe
This was a birthday present for my neice. She loved watching the butterflies emerge. What a great experience. Letting the go was fun for her too.

 "Butterfly Pavilion" 2009-07-07
By Carla Tipton (OH)
I have not seen any butterflies yet, so it is hard to get excited about this item. I also think it was way overpriced.


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Bananagrams

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Bananagrams is a fast and fun word game that requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a table. One hand can be played in as little as five minutes. It is a great for family fun as well as being educational. Bananagrams portability makes it perfect for travel. Just grab the pouch and go.
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Technical Details

- It hides a word game with huge appeal
- Features 144 letter tiles that are face down in the middle, from which players choose their tiles
- For 2 or more players
- Great for travel
- Recommended for 7 years and up
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 "Banagrams! Greatest thing since the invention of ice ;)" 2009-07-08
By C. Householder (San Antonio, TX USA)
Bananagrams is a game for kids and grownups! Better than scrabble and really challenges the mind. We are enjoying it with kids from 7 to 70 !

 "Love it!" 2009-07-06
By Lorna D. (Hollywood, CA)
The other enthusiastic reviewers have pretty much covered the joys of Bananagrams. I just wanted to add, that unlike most games, there is no accumulative score so players can be added or leave the game between rounds. Particularly great for family gatherings.

 "Fun for some" 2009-07-05
By Sandra L. Ainsfield (Maryland)
As with other games/toys, those who are good at it enjoy it. Our family ranges in age from 6 to 67. The 6 year old was too young, but the 12 year old enjoyed it. Most of the adults who are good at language enjoyed it.

 "Fun and unique" 2009-07-05
By J. Thomson (Salt Lake City, UT)
Reading the directions, I didn't think it could live up to its reviews. I brought it on a family trip thinking it might keep the kids entertained.



One of the stops on our trip was to visit some old friends - and they had the game out on their counter. They play it every day. We were immediatly hooked.



Yes, the play is very simple. Yes, you do play somewhat independently. But we really really like it. The fact that the leader can draw a hard tile and someone else can win at the last second.



This one is a keeper.



(You could just google the rules and play with your scrabble tiles too.)

 "Bananagrams" 2009-07-04
By K. Young
Great game. For those who like word games but don't enjoy the formality of scrabble.


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