Bunny Peek-a-Boo from SmartGames

Cool toy!!

This game was greeted with great enthusiasm by both of my kids, partly because its has a really cute wooden bunny, and partly because they are beginning to get the concept of "new toy!" in general.  (uh-oh!) This is the toy and what is included in the box...mine got torn open too quickly to take a good picture but this Amazon photo shows it nicely. 

Cute right?!  First impression - nice colors, sturdy pieces, and so simple looking.  The goal of the game is to match the photo on the cards using the provided wooden blocks and bunny - deceptively simple.

My kids were quickly engaged in a heated debate over who got to play with the bunny when I pointed out the play cards and tried to show them how we could use them.  They were curious, but went back to freestyle playing with the blocks and bunny.  Later I tried my daughter, who is the puzzle-master of my twins, at it alone.

Does she look like she likes it?  :)  First try she nailed a match between the cards and the blocks and I thought we were on a roll.  My little genius!    Well, she had several misses after that, even with assistance, then another hit.  She took to saying "ta-da!" when she thought she got it right - but seemed to take equal glee and "ta-da!"'d away when she got bunny balanced on the blocks freestyle as well.

Either way she was having good fun.  As with most activities with kids that just-turned 2 this one didn't last super long.  My son had a shot at it another day and also got several good matches, I think even more than my puzzle-loving daughter - so apparently this toy is appealing to different styles of thinkers.

Final verdict - great toy!  For now their attention span with the game is pretty short but I really think they will grow into doing the matches more.  They were ridiculously proud of themselves when they got it right and they are liking more kinds of puzzles all the time so its a natural fit.  I love that they can use this game in multiple ways and that the challenges will be good for them for quite a while.  Also love that its a game that they can work through the challenges alone and get a sense of accomplishment - kind of Montessori.   I'll be bringing this game out regularly.  Small, sturdy, attractive, and mentally challenging game for little ones - fantastic!

Tip - I did find that putting the toy up on a raised surface, like a table, was better than playing on the floor because it gives you the same view of the blocks that is presented on the cards.  Even better - propping the card up against something so they could look at it in the same plane as they were working in.

(Full disclosure - this game was provided to me free of charge by SmartGames to test out.)

Finding care for my kids

This is where I'll be posting my impressions and some basic info on daycare and preschools that I visit near my home - in the Bay Ho community of San Diego.  Choosing where to put your precious children when you have to work is a daunting task at the least, and something that I've undertaken recently as I transition my 2 year old twins from at home care with a nanny and Babi (grandma).  I've been checking out at home daycare/preschools, daycare centers, and church daycare/preschools - the choices are a bit overwhelming, though somewhat constrained for a full time working single parent.  I've found that there are so many options for families with an at-home parent that can drop off/pick up a child in the middle of the day (not my situation), so with that in mind, I'll be focusing on my search of finding full time care - 9 hours a day, 5 days per week. 

If the information I post here helps even one other mom out there to choose where to visit or ultimately place her kids I would feel it was worthwhile!

Big-toe

Well, here goes - entering the blog-o-sphere.  Dipping in my big-toe...there...it doesn't hurt after all!

First thought that came to mind...and frankly I have to re-commit every day since my kids turned 8 months old when their obsession started...is a decision to NOT get my kids something - their own Iphone.  I've heard of parents who start their kids very young with their own phones or tablets and the great games they have and how they are entertained for quiet hours... I don't judge.  I've just decided to wait until they're a bit older.  I do however, give in regularly to handing them my shock-proofed Iphone, which beautiful images like this attest to.

They are enthralled.  Enraptured.  They stare at the videos.  They swipe skillfully, and gleefully call out their names with each photo.  It feels fantastic to provide them with such pleasure!  Time ticks, and ticks...still fascinated... more time...let's play that again!...more time...  And of course, slowly, painfully I realize that, once more, I have to take the phone away before they are tired of it.   I seem to have acute short-term memory loss for the last phase of each Iphone mini-saga, when the inevitable crying, screaming, collapsing, fighting, running away drama follows.  Always.

One of these days I'll be posting about the phone, tablet, or leap-something or other that I've broken down and purchased for them.  Choosing one will be easier if I can just put off getting it for a bit longer (more options for slightly older kids than just-turned 2).  Then again, I may run out and get them tomorrow...