Monday, July 27, 2009

ThinkFun Review & {GIVEAWAY!! (5 Winners!!)} CLOSED

ThinkFun offers amazing games for children that are not only fun, but educational too. With so much entertainment for our children that is just time consuming, it is a relief to know there are options that allow children to use their clever minds. ThinkFun offers games for Kindergarten and Preschool age, Kids 5-7, and Kids 8+ to adult.
I had the opportunity to review three really fun games that even I enjoyed.
First was S'Match, a matching game.
From ThinkFun site,
A Memory Matching Game with a Spin!
A new take on the classic memory game, S'Match challenges young players to find matching pairs by color, number or category. Only here, it's the S'Match Spinner that decides which way to match-and every player gets a spin! Pictures and words allow pre-readers and early readers to play together and enjoy hours of memory-building fun.

Ages: 4 and Up, Multi Player

Next, was Clever Castle, a pattern game.

From the ThinkFun site,
A new pattern matching game from ThinkFun designed specifically with younger kids in mind. Players use the clues that the King and Queen of Clever Castle have provided to help all nine of the party guests find their rooms in the castle. When every princess, knight and dragon finds their assigned room, flip the challenge card over to see if you are right! With a Parent's Guide and 40 Challenges ranging from Easy to Super Hard, Clever Castle has been specifically designed to encourage children to explore, succeed and have fun.

Ages: 5 to 7

I brought the pattern game to an activity night at church that I am in charge of for 10-12 year old girls. The girls absolutely loved it. The game comes with a flip chart letting you know which pattern you need to figure out how to create on the board. The patterns start at easy and go to super hard. The girls found the easy to be appropriate for the intended 5-7 year old. The super hard patterns even took my 10-12 year old girls a while to figure out. Even at an older age, the girls did not want to stop playing this game. I have to be honest, I was really in to it, too! This game is meant for a single player, which I think is great to keep a little one entertained, but working together to figure out these puzzles was also very fun.
Finally, I was able to review Hoppers Jr., which reminded me of a game of checkers for a much younger crowd.
From the ThinkFun site,
Young kids can now enjoy their own version of our popular Hoppers Peg Solitaire game as they help Red Frog Freddy win the leaping contest by being the last one on the pond. Players choose a challenge and place the frogs on the playing board to match the picture shown. To win, players hop all of their frogs around the pond until only the Red Frog remains. The 40 challenges, ranging from Easy to Super Hard, will keep kids' minds busy, they will need to use smart moves to win the title of "King of the Lilies"!

Ages: 5 to 7, Single Player

I also brought Hoppers Jr. to the activity night. The girls thought this was a fun game, but enjoyed the Clever Castle game a bit more. Even though they struggled with the super hard challenges, they felt this game was definitely more directed to the intended 5-7 year old age group. I felt differently. My opinion is that the concept of this game would take some thought for little ones. The easy-medium challenges would be perfect for 5-7 year old, but as they challenges get harder, I think a parent would have to step in to give the child some clues. I liked this game more because I like the idea of a child focusing on figuring out the correct solution and I like the idea of the parent having to step in to give little clues.

WIN IT!!
ThinkFun has generously offered FIVE of our readers their choice of either the Clever Castle or the Hoppers Jr. game.

Mandatory entry:
Visit ThinkFun and then come back here and let us know your favorite game.

You must complete the mandatory entry before doing any extra entries.
Extra Entries (Leave a comment for each entry):
1 Entry: Follow our blog publicly (found on right sidebar).
1 Entry: Subscribe to our blog via reader.
2 Entries: Become our friend on Facebook AND update your status with link to this giveaway.
5 Entries: Post about this contest with a link back to our blog AND a link to ThinkFun (Leave a link back to your post in your comment).
2 Entries: Favorite us on Technorati
1 Entry: Follow us on twitter and tweet this contest. You may do this once daily (always leave the link in your comment).
5 Entries: Add our new button to your blog. (You must have our new button to gain entries)

Good luck! Contest ends on August 6th at midnight. Winner will be announced August 7th.
Winner will be chosen through random.org.

Please be sure to include your e-mail or have it in your profile so I can contact you if you win. Thanks!

Open to U.S. only.

161 comments:

  1. My boys have played River Crossing and love it. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  2. The Chocolate Fix game looks like fun!

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  3. I'm a Facebook Friend and I updated my status.

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  4. I'm a Facebook Friend and I updated my status. entry 2

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  5. I faved on Technorati. entry 2.

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  6. I follow on twitter and tweeted. http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/2877043847

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  7. I like the S'match and zingo game the best. amsbolda@hotmail.com

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  8. follow on twitter and tweeted. amsbolda@hotmail.com

    http://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/2877115489

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  9. Chocolate fix game looks yummy!

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  10. I like the Hoppers Jr game the best.

    zippieee@msn.com

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  11. follower

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  12. subscribe via reader

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  13. faved on Tech #1

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  14. faved on Tech #2

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  15. follow on twitter
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  21. the game rush hour looks cool
    shopannies@Yahoo.com

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  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  23. The game Zingo looks like fun. They can learn to match the picture that comes out with the picture on their card. hollybear4@gmail.com

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  24. I'm a follower! hollybear4@gmail.com

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  25. I subscribe via blogger as well! hollybear4@gmail.com

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  26. Zingo looks like fun. My girls would love a new game

    chicstyle at live dot com

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  27. I follow your blog

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  28. I subscribe via google reader

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  29. I have your new button #1

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  34. Zingo looks like fun. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ms0812@zoominternet.net

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  35. Ducks in a Row seems really cute!

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  36. tweet
    http://twitter.com/amolino/status/2909590324

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  37. I've had rushhour since it came out and still play it, so that's my favorite! If I won, I'd get the hoppers. It looks really cute and fun.

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  38. The "What's Gnu?" game looks really fun - thanks! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

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  39. I have your new button at www.alicedemskehansen.blogspot.om - thanks! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

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  40. 2 -I have your new button at www.alicedemskehansen.blogspot.om - thanks! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

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  41. 5 -I have your new button at www.alicedemskehansen.blogspot.om - thanks! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

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  42. Zingo looks fun, but Hoppers Jr. is my favorite!

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  43. Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/2919790080

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  44. tweet: http://twitter.com/Kimmchic/status/2920272053

    chicstyle at live dot com

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  45. tweet
    http://twitter.com/amolino/status/2929882089

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  46. Daily Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/2935506720

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  47. Chocolate Fix would be fun I think

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  48. tweeted - http://twitter.com/phxbne/status/2936822063

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  49. Daily Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/2951928211

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  50. tweet
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  51. updated facebook # 1http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/posted.php?id=1579017172&share_id=116800215985&comments=1&ref=nf#s116800215985

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  52. updated facebook # 2
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  53. the ame i would like to try is rush hour!
    amandaymiller@yahoo.com

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  54. the ame i would like to try is rush hour!
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  55. i follow
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  56. i have your button
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  57. tweet
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  58. Daily Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/3074460797

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  59. River Crossing looks like one my boys would enjoy. We have seen these games at a local toy store and they looked like such fun!

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  60. My kids would LOVE Toot and Otto!

    jellibeenz1978@hotmail.com

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  61. Follower
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  62. Subscribe via Google reader
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  63. Have your new button #1
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  68. Zingo looks like fun!
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  69. I am a follower
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  70. I am a subscriber
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  71. Tweeted at http://twitter.com/justicecw/status/3095730212
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  72. What a great learning game site!
    Our family would enjoy Rush Hour.
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  73. I follow your blog publicly!
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  74. I am subscribed to your blog via my Google Reader Page!
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  75. I requested to be your friend on Facebook!
    Thanks, Cindi
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  76. You are favored on my Technorati Page!
    Many thanks.....Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  77. I follow you on Twitter and Tweeted your giveaway ~
    http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/3095844681.
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  78. tweet
    http://twitter.com/amolino/status/3103209904

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  79. My son loves Rush Hour Jr. He is 8 and finished all the puzzles in a day and can't wait for us to get him Rush Hour. But the cutest thing was that the day after he got Rush Hour Jr. he was teaching his younger brother, age 5, how to solve the problems. Now he likes to play it too. We love all Think Fun games at our house because they promote logical thinking.

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  80. I think Shape by Shape looks like a lot of fun!!

    jlsemon at gmail dot com

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  81. I think my boys would like ducks in a row. Thanks
    Mrspoofa@aol.com

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  82. "Tweet!"
    http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/3108883048.
    Thanks again, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  83. What's Gnu? looks fantastic! I may just buy that for my older son.

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  84. Blogged here: http://spoodles.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/thinkfun-giveaway/

    (1)

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  85. Blogged here: http://spoodles.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/thinkfun-giveaway/

    (2)

    ReplyDelete
  86. Blogged here: http://spoodles.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/thinkfun-giveaway/

    (3)

    ReplyDelete
  87. Blogged here: http://spoodles.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/thinkfun-giveaway/

    (4)

    ReplyDelete
  88. Blogged here: http://spoodles.wordpress.com/2009/08/03/thinkfun-giveaway/

    (5)

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  89. Daily Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/3115694311

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  90. I follow publicly
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  91. I subscribe via reader
    christabrower@msn.com

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  92. tweet
    http://twitter.com/amolino/status/3123974720

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  93. I like Toot and Otto.

    cdfunkhouser at gmail dot com

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  94. Daily Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/3130165482

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  95. Toot and Otto is my fav!

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  96. tweet
    http://twitter.com/amolino/status/3145883275

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  97. Daily Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/3146806907

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  98. I think my kids would like ducks in a row.

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  99. I like What's Gnu?
    bethanyhalverson@hotmail.com

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  100. I have your new button on my blog.
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  101. "Tweet!"
    http://bit.ly/3MTcPL ThinkFun games giveaway! 5 Winners!!
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  102. Rush Hour Jr. looks like a game my daughter would love!

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  103. Fan on Facebook & updated status.

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  104. Fan on Facebook & updated status.

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  105. I follow & tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/gordy93/status/3157874947

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  106. What's Gnu? looks really cute! My son would love it too!
    mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  107. I follow.
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  108. I faved you on Technorati-MommaStaciA.
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  109. #2 for Technorati-MommaStaciA.
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  110. I have your new button.
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  111. #2 for button.
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  112. #3 for button.
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  113. #4 for button.
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  114. And #5 for button. Thanks!
    mommastaci33(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  115. tweet
    http://twitter.com/amolino/status/3166437461

    ReplyDelete
  116. I like the chocolate fix game

    amyndavid1987(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    ReplyDelete
  117. I follow blog

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  118. I subscribe

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  119. Fave on Technorati 1

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  126. the 36 cube game looks interesting.mavans@scottsboro.org

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  127. I like S'match

    Amanda

    awilmeri@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  128. I follow

    Amanda

    awilmeri@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  129. S'match looks fun!

    luvtosave at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  130. followed your blog

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  131. button added

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  133. Daily Tweet- http://twitter.com/joannagiveaway/status/3173607718

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