Hink Pinks #2

Were you able to solve all the hink pinks I posted last time? These riddles are great for the whole family. You can make them super simple for the younger crowd such as *cap that was sat on or more complicated for the logophiles like *bovine war.

See if you can solve those along with 10 more hink pinks that the kiddos and I created!

1. steamy cooking dish

answer: hot pot

2. fake Skywalker

answer: Anakin mannequin

3. elderly fungus

answer: old mold

4. buffed butt

answer: shiny heinie

5. incorrect lyrics

answer: wrong song

6. high barrier

answer: tall wall

7. swirling marine animal

answer: swishy fishy

8. humorous rabbit

answer: funny bunny

9. inexpensive vehicle

answer: cheap jeep

10. pointy instrument

answer: sharp harp





*  flat hat, cattle battle

Hink Pinks

The kids and I love solving hink pinks! These simple rhyming riddles are fun to decipher and even more fun to create. They make both the creator and the solver exercise their brains, so they're great for the whole family.

So what exactly is a hink pink? It is a short riddle with a pair of rhyming words as the answer. For instance, an overweight feline is a fat cat. Fun, right? I love grammar and plays on words. Hink pinks help me pass on that passion to my kids, ha.

A couple years ago, the kiddos and I made a list of our own hink pinks. I pulled out the list today for them to solve. It was a race to see who could answer first! Even the almost-five-year-old played along. Hink pinks are fun for everyone!

Here are a few that we created. See if you can answer them!

1. sugary dessert

answer: sweet treat

2. weird primate

answer: funky monkey

3. white extinct animal

answer: albino dino

4. furry fantasy flier

answer: hairy fairy

5. crippled coin

answer: broken token

6. tarnished tiara

answer: brown crown

7. aggressive denim

answer: mean jean

8. floral strength 

answer: flower power

9. carrying case for sofa

answer: couch pouch

10. deceased pencil

answer: dead lead

Now you can make up your own hink pinks and continue the fun!

Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks

* This post may contain affiliate links.

Anyone who knows our family knows that we thrive on hands-on learning in our house. I am a huge supporter of learning through play, and this review is perfect for our style of education. I know I review a lot of curricula, but when people ask me what to use specifically with their preschool and kindergarten-aged kids, I always tell them to let them play! The benefits of playing--especially during the younger years--are so vital. You know the old proverb about teaching a man to fish? That doesn't apply to only adults. Let kids learn by doing.  

Brain Blox is a family-owned company with that same belief. Their mission is to create products that encourage intentional and meaningful play as it nurtures brain development and confidence. I already explained about their Fun Family Chess, a new version that teaches the game with a gentle new approach but can also be used as a traditional set. Today, I'm talking about their Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks.

We first played with building planks like these at a science center years ago. My kids were quickly drawn to them as the planks appeal to their engineering minds. They spend time every day building something--anything--with Lego bricks and other building mediums. One thing that's different about these planks though is that there is no snapping of pieces together. Like blocks, these are used simply by stacking and are held in place by gravity and friction.

Another thing that's different about these planks is that the pieces are all the same shape ad size. Each building plank is approximately 4.75" x 1" x .25" solid New Zealand pine. They are precision-cut, chemical-free, and non-toxic, making them a perfect option for kids.  All of the edges on our planks are smooth with no worries of producing splinters. A red, canvas, drawstring backpack-style bag is included to store the pieces.

The building possibilities with these are endless! Truly, if you can think it, you can build it. I have been impressed with the creations my kids have made: pirate ship, table and chairs, army tank, houses, bridges, and countless towers of various designs, to name a few. Some of the builds were born out of their imaginations, but others were inspired by the Ideas Booklet that is included with the set. It features 15 building ideas by showing a pictures, how many planks are needed, and a tip or challenge for each one. No other instructions are given, requiring the user to depend on visual cues and thinking skills.

You can find many more suggestions in the free Idea Cards download. There are over 70 picture cards that cover 8 levels of difficulty starting with simple two-dimensional designs to complicated three-dimensional creations. Even my 4-year-old is doing well with the higher levels.

The company is currently creating free curriculum instructions that focus on reading, math, physics, and more that you can use intentionally in your lesson plans. The activities teach concepts such as the ability to perceive a 3D rendering from a 2D image, manipulation of spatial information, linear thinking, fine motor skills, and more. If you're just looking for a quick learning activity to sharpen thinking skills, there is a collection of brain puzzles using the planks that include the directions, hints, and the solution. These are one of my personal favorite aspects of the set. I love watching my kids use their brains to figure out the puzzles!  

If you're looking for even more ideas, Brain Blox has also put together a a World eBook filled with additional design ideas from walls and fences to planes, trains, and automobiles and many other things. There are also suggestions for creating characters on the planks and the collection of brain puzzles. They offer tons of options to ignite creativity and learning. 

To say that my kids (ages 13, 11, 9, 7, 4) like these is an understatement. As soon as one of them dumps the bag out on the floor, the others are right there grabbing planks to start building. We have the 200-piece set, but we've already been eyeing the larger one. After all, Christmas will be here soon, and adding more of these fun and versatile building planks would be a fantastic gift. My kids love to show off their creations and enjoy building when their friends come over. Their current obsession is using the planks for contraptions for a Rube Goldberg machine. We've been having so much fun applying engineering, problem-solving, critical thinking, and cause-and-effect skills.

The Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks are a fantastic resource for everyone! Whether you're looking for intentional play, specific learning, or just a relaxing activity, these building planks are perfect. They are well-made, versatile, and loved by all.

You can connect with Brain Blox on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Make sure to head over to the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to see more amazing creations using Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks.

* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an

affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and
opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

Play Update #1

* This post may contain affiliate links.

We did 30 Days of Playing in June! I had been planning to post a few updates along the way, not just for accountability, but for inspiration, as well, because it's always fun learning new ways to connect with our kids.

But here we are, weeks passed June, and I'm just posting the first list. I guess we've just been having too much fun playing to stop and sit at a computer!

Here is what we played the beginning of the month. Maybe you can find a new toy or game to play with your family. Feel free to share what you've played last month, too!

1. Frisbee -- This ring frisbee is a fun variation of the classic and much easier for little ones to catch.

2. Rummikub -- This is our current favorite game! It's a rummy-style game played with tiles for 2-4 players. Alyssa (11 yr) loves this one because you manipulate the tiles to do what you want. It's a great strategy game for the older ones, but also a good game to reinforce numbers and matches for our 4-year-old. 

3. Football -- This is my favorite football! It's small enough that it fits perfectly in my hand and is a much better fit for the younger kids. It's softer than a regular football, too. Easy to catch, easy to throw. Perfect. The kids and I spent many hours tossing it around. 

4. Water Balloons -- Who doesn't love water balloons on a hot, summer day?! We grabbed a pack of 100 from the dollar store and filled them all. Many were thrown in a typical water balloon fight, others were reserved for tossing back and forth, and some were used for slow-motion videos. We had a lot of fun throwing the balloons on the ground or hitting them with a baseball bat and watching the replays in slo-mo.  

5. Melissa & Doug Castle Puzzle -- A few months ago we started putting together regular puzzles as a family. After many years of babies and toddlers in the house, we're at a point where we don't have to worry about a little one pulling pieces off a table or putting them in their mouth. We've mostly done 1,000-piece puzzles, but I had gotten this 200-piece castle one a couple years ago and never opened it. It's since been discontinued, but it was a fun and super quick build. I have my eye on this colorful doors puzzle next!

6. Football -- We spent another full day tossing, throwing, playing, and tackling.

7. White Mountain Candy Wrappers Puzzle -- Another puzzle! I had just purchased this one because the price had dropped and even though I hadn't been planning to assemble it right away, the kids asked. We finished it up that evening when Leighton came home from work. The White Mountain puzzles are our favorites. They are well-made and have fun designs. This candy one was a fun puzzle for everybody!

8. Painting and Shopping -- No, those things aren't really playing. I know. Leighton had pulled up the carpet in our living room and had just refinished the hardwood floor. Since the room was empty, I thought it was the perfect time to paint--the living room, the entryway, and the hallway. It took the whole day to get it done. Even though there was no time to stop and play, I let the older kids paint for a bit (they thought it was like playing!) and then took them with me grocery shopping after the first coat of paint. We laughed and joked a lot and still spent quality time together even though we didn't play a game.

9. Yes and No -- We've been playing this game for so many years that I don't remember how it started.  It's like Twenty Questions, except the number of questions doesn't matter. Everything has to be a yes or no question and it has to be something everyone knows. Even toddlers like this one, even if they don't fully understand. We play mostly during dinner, but car rides are fun, too. Whoever guesses correctly gets to pick the next round.

10. Pirate Maze Book -- This is such a fun puzzle book from Usborne! It has over 60 pages of pirate-themed mazes. It is filled with cute details and tons of sailor, undersea, and treasure references--perfect for pirates and landlubbers alike. My younger boys love this book and have spent hours poring through the pages. There is so much going on in the book that we always find something new to enjoy when we do it.

That's only some of the fun we had during our 30 Days of Playing challenge! The fun hasn't ended just because the month did though, so feel free to list some of your family's favorite games and toys! 

And be watching for more ways that we played in the month of June.

* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless,
I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

30 Days of Playing

I participated in a challenge years ago to play with my kids every day in the month of June. Since I just shared that my Word of the Year for 2019 is play, I knew that revisiting this challenge would be perfect! 

I explained that even though my kids are with me all the time, I don't always participate in their playtime. Even with our experiments and activities, I'm always right there snapping pictures and relishing in their joy, but I don't always join in on the fun myself.

This year I'm working to change that!

I've been making quality playtime with my kids a priority this year, but the month of June I'm making it a daily fundamental.   

I'm challenging myself to dedicate time daily to playing with them. Not just watching them. Not just being near them. Not just taking pictures to remember the excitement. I pledge to actively participate in the fun!

Last time. the challenge was to play for 30 minutes a day for 30 days. I'm not focused so much on the length each day, as hitting that half-hour mark is easy to do. I certainly don't want to be distracted by keeping tabs on the countdown. And, honestly, kids will notice that dedication to daily playing even if it is just 15 minutes. 

So, what do you say? Do you want to join me in this challenge of playing with your kids? You don't have to be a slave to their favorite toy day after day. Take the initiative and ask them to play with you! Teach them a game from your childhood or learn a new one together.

Let's make June an opportunity to invest quality times of fun with our kids!

  

Sunya Publishing Review

Schooling tends to be a bit relaxed around here. I'm a firm believer that little ones learn best through play. That doesn't mean that we don't do any book work, but that we incorporate fun and hands-on learning often in our days. Games are an easy way to combine learning with fun. So when we had the opportunity to try out a brand new game from Sunya Publishing, I knew my little ones would be happy to play.

Sunya - The Magic and Wonder of Math and Science Adding & Subtracting (they also sell a multiplication & division version) is a card game for ages 7 and older. Players take turns making math facts. There are two different games that are played similarly, one for addition and one for subtraction.  

The game includes the following:

• Parent/Teacher Guide Book
• 60 Adding & Subtracting Playing Cards
• 30 Math & Science Fact and Riddle Cards
• Adding & Subtracting Number Line

This is such a new product that it's still in development. The Schoolhouse Review Crew was given the special privilege of testing it out. Because of this, there might be some kinks that need to be worked out.

The game itself is simple to play, but the directions are rather wordy. Some parts took me a few reads before I figured out the rules. I'm hoping they simplify the wording before going to print, because the game really is a good one. 

A number sentence (either addition or subtraction) is placed in the middle of the table. Each player begins with 5 cards (after being dealt 4 and drawing 1). He then makes a new number sentence using just the cards in his hand or a combination of those and the cards on the table.

For instance, if the sentence on the table reads 4 + 3 = 7, a player can place cards (2, 5) directly on those to create a new fact such as 2 + 5 = 7 or he could change it altogether, such as 6 + 3 = 9.

If a player does not have a play in hand, he draws one card at a time until he can play. There are also rule about reverse plays, wild cards, exchanging cards, the 0 and 1 rule, and an optional rule for blocking. If anyone needs help solving an equation, he can use the included number line card.   

The game proceeds until someone plays all of his cards in the number sentence. Sunya is a word from Sanskit, meaning empty or void of any quantity. In the game, the first person to play his last card declares, "Sunya!" and wins.

The winner then gets to draw a math & science fact and riddle card from the pile to read to the other players. The cards are filled with things like "How is the moon like a dollar?" and "What is a googolplex?"

The three older kids (10, 8, 6) and I have been playing Sunya. Since the main objective of the game is to strengthen your math skills, helping each other make sentences is encouraged. The kids like this part because it means that it doesn't matter if the other players see your cards. In other words, they don't have to try to juggle all their cards in their little hands without anyone else seeing what numbers they have. The riddle and fact cards have been a big hit too, as our whole family loves solving things like that. There have been lots of laughs as we play the game and many "please, can we play one more time?" In fact, we've been having so much fun that one of them said, "Wait, that was school?" I'm always happy when they're enjoying learning.

The guide book lists a couple other variations of the game, but we haven't tried them just yet. They both start with the basic game, but then get more difficult as more rules are added. The book also gives some suggestions for math activities using the number cards to be used with younger children. 

Our family has enjoyed this game. If you're looking for a simple game to encourage math abilities, you'll want to keep up with the news from the new company, Sunya Publishing.


If you'd like to read more reviews of this product or of the Multiplication & Division Game, please head to the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.

Zac's 5th Birthday

I've posted so many Smiles the last few days that I figured it was time to break things up a bit. Don't get me wrong, you can never laugh too much, but today we can Smile at cute pictures of a little boy, instead of the cute things the little boy says. And since I've been in the catching-up-on-posts mood, I figured I would finish up a post I started a while ago: Zac's 5th birthday. Yes, he turned 6 a few months ago. This is an oldie, but a goodie.

Happy 5th Birthday, Zac!

The birthday child always gets to pick breakfast. Zac chose buttermilk pancakes with strawberry syrup, topped off with fresh whipped cream and sprinkles. Certainly not healthy, but how often do you get a birthday anyway?
 

We dropped off the other kids with my parents and spent the rest of the day together celebrating him. The kids and I look forward to their Special Day every year. I love having one-on-one time with each of them and they love choosing the agenda. 

Birthday boy's choice for lunch? McDonalds. 

 

After lunch, we made a stop at the dollar store where Zac picked out a new school workbook, markers, and a toy.

What would a Special Day be without a Toys 'R Us birthday crown and balloon? We threw in a red Hulk, just for fun.

At home, we assembled the new LEGO set he picked out at the store and then watched the LEGO Movie together.

On the way to pick up the other kiddos, we grabbed Slurpees for everyone.  I always like to bring back a treat for the others so no one feels left out.
 

Zac picked homemade personal pizzas for dinner and chocolate cake with blue buttercream frosting for dessert.

And, of course, no Leaf birthday is complete without a LEGO birthday present!

Happy 5th Birthday to my sweet, tenderhearted, selfless, loving boy.

USAopoly Review

Homeschooling isn't all about books and learning. Our family loves to incorporate fun into our days, especially since we still have a house full of little ones. I'm a big believer of learning through play during the younger years. Games are a great way to have fun while increasing some skills without the kids even realizing it. We were happy to receive two games from USAopoly: Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game and Tapple: Fast Word Fun for Everyone.

USAopoly is a company that is all about fun and games. They have been a leading developer and manufacturer of puzzles and board games "with a twist" since 1994. Their products are designed to bring friends and families together by creating memorable moments and emotional connections. When the company's values are "bring a smile, play fair, do it right, honor your word, and give it your best," you know the products are going to portray it.

Wonky is the crazy cubes card game. Players build towers using oddly-shaped blocks that come in 3 different sizes and 3 different colors. The game comes with 9 custom blocks, 54 strategy cards, storage bag, and rules, all packaged in a wonky, misshapen box. Players take turns choosing cards that show which type of block to add or an action to complete. The first person to play all his cards or who successfully plays the 9th block on the tower wins.

Some examples of the cards are

• Stack the large blue block
• Stack the small purple block
• Stack any size, any color block / The next player draws a card
• Pass turn to next player without stacking a block
• Stack any color medium block
• Stack any color, any size block
• Reverse the direction of lay without stacking a block

What a fun, silly game this is! Like I said, we have a house full of littles, and little ones haven't quite honed the skills needed to stack crooked blocks, ha. We've played a few times with the cards, but mostly the kids just like to take turns choosing blocks to add to the wobbly tower. I'll even find them each playing by themselves sometimes, concentrating on stacking all the blocks. I love that they have to use strategy and building sense to make it work. My husband, with his engineer's mind, is definitely the best at the game. It'll be even more fun, I'm sure, as the kiddos get older and can understand the tactics of playing certain cards to sabotage their opponents.   

The blocks and the pack of cards fit comfortably in the canvas drawstring bag, so it's convenient and space-saving to store the game in just that, rather than the cute, bulky box. 

Tapple is fast word fun for the whole family. It contains the portable Tapple wheel (requires 2 AA batteries), 144 categories on 36 cards, and rules. The cards fit conveniently in a compartment on the back of the wheel, making the game easy to store. Players choose a category and start the timer. Then they take turns naming a word that fits the category, tap the corresponding letter for the beginning of the word, and press the button to reset the timer. The next person has 10 seconds to pick a word starting with a letter that has not been used and reset the timer again.


Categories include the following:

• Countries
• Something Red
• Boy Names
• Books
• Candy
• Fictional Characters
• Furniture
• In the Ocen
• and so many more

I love word games! This one is fast-paced and lots of fun. The younger kids like to play, but quickly get frustrated because of their inexperienced spelling abilities. The older kids though really enjoy playing. There are so many great category topics (like Bible Characters and Family Members), but we like to make up our own too, to make it a little easier for the little ones. We'll also play without starting the timer and just press the letters. The lack of pressure from the ticking causes less stress and makes it more enjoyable when the younger ones get frustrated. The letters pop back with a simple twist at the top of the wheel. This game, especially, would be perfect for parties, game night, get-togethers, and holidays.

We've been having lots of fun as a family playing these games, and I'm sure we'll enjoy them for many years to come as the kids get older. Even though both games are best for ages 8+ and we have only one child that fits that age range, we've been able to adapt them to be enjoyed now. These games are great for any family to own.

You can connect with USAopoly on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Instagram

If you'd like to see how other homeschool families used these games, please read the reviews on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.
    

Funtastic Unit Studies Review

My kiddos love science. They thrive on experiments and hands-on projects. They long to understand how and why things work. They enjoy examining and discovering just about everything. My little ones, like their daddy, are naturally drawn to all things science. I knew they'd be excited to use the Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers this summer. 

This book, written by Susan Kilbride, is part of  Funtastic Unit Studies. Susan, a homeschooling mother with a degree in biology, started the company to help other parents feel comfortable teaching science. She used the methods that she applied when teaching her own son and the unit studies book was born.      

Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers is broken into 2 sections: studies for ages 4-7 and studies for ages 8-13.

Ages 4-7

• Our Senses
• The Human Body
• Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life
• Animals
• Insects and Their Kin
• Fun with Magnets
• Stars and Planets
• Health
• Beginning Plants
• Animal Ecology

Ages 8-13

• Insects
• Microscopes and Invisible Creatures
• Atoms and Molecules
•  Matter
• Chemistry Fun
• Weather
• Force and Motion
• Simple Machines
• Light and Color
• Plants II

Each chapter starts with a list of materials needed for that topic. Then, it's broken into parts or subtopics for the unit. Each part lists activities for learning. For instance, we started with Chapter 1: Our Senses. The unit is as follows:

• Part 1: Introduction
• Part 2: Taste
• Part 3: Touch
• Part 4: Sight
•  Part 5: Sound
• Part 6: Smell
• Part 7: Review of Senses 

This book is very simple to use and makes teaching science fun. Since we do science together as a family, I like to find activities that include all the children (9, 7, 5, 3). The chapters for the younger group work perfectly for us.  I've done a study on the 5 senses with the kids before, but this one was even more exciting for them. We did activities like read "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and pointed out every time one of the senses was used; tasted some yummy treats and discussed whether they were sweet, salty, bitter, sour, or savory; took turns hiding objects from around the house in a paper bag and tried to guess what they were by feeling them; listened to different pitches of sound on glasses of water and even played "Mary Had A Little Lamb;" took turns picking things from the kitchen and tried to guess what they were just by the scent; played Mad Libs in which an orange turned into a popcorn machine; and experimented with many other activities to learn about our senses.

 

The activities for the older group are more in depth, of course. They include using a microscope; writing a research paper; decoding physical and chemical properties; classifying objects; and using materials like a pulley, cellophane, a carnivorous plant, iodine, colored marshmallows, and more. There are also accompanying tests and worksheets along with the answer sheets.

This book is packed full of activities and experiments that could easily keep your kids busy all year. Most of the materials are things that you probably already have around the house.The activities are easy to prepare and take just minutes to set up. In fact, I know that I could hand the book to my 9-year-old and allow him to preform the majority of the activities on his own. This book truly is written to make learning science as simple as possible.

Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers is thorough, affordable, and fun, and one that you'll want to utilize in your homeschool. If you can't wait for your own copy to arrive, you can start with the 2 free PDF units from the book that are offered or use one of the other freebies on the site. 

My kids ask every day if it's time to do science. We're all enjoying this book and will continue using this wonderful resource.

If you'd like to see how other homeschool families used this book, please read the reviews on the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.

Alyssa Turns 6-and-a-half!

We've been celebrating half birthdays for 4 years now. The kids get just as excited about adding that half as they do when they turn another year older. We make it special by allowing the half-birthday-er to make meal and activity choices throughout the day. And, of course, we always make some sort of cake, usually cupcakes. Then we end the day with a small gift.

So, even though Alyssa is now technically 6-and-three-quarters, haha, here is how we celebrated her half birthday 3 months ago.

The celebrated child almost always picks pancakes for breakfast.

I know I'm a little partial, but isn't she a pretty little girl?

This time, it was chocolate chip pancakes with homemade maple syrup and candy-coated chocolate chip sprinkles.

And some butter, for good measure.

Alyssa had gotten a princess cupcake kit. Her half birthday was the perfect time to put her baking skills to the test.

I stood back and took pictures while she did all the work.

Of course, decorating the cupcakes was the best part! She and her brothers were very meticulous as they added the icing and "pearl" sprinkles.

They even made specific cupcakes for each member of the family.

I made sure that Tyler's were topped with less icing than the others. Because everyone knows, that boy does not need extra sugar!

Yum!


Alyssa also got to go to the store with her daddy to pick out a gift. Normally, I purchase something for them to unwrap that day, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. When that's the case, they always pick the same thing: Lego. She chose 2 Lego Mixels and was very excited to show them to her brothers. It was a great end to a great day.


Happy Half Birthday, my sweet girl! We're so proud of the little lady you're growing up to be.