Alphabet Alley

I have memories of playing games like Go Fish and Memory that go back a long way. Many rounds of the same games have been played in this house as our family has grown. They are classic games that never go out of style. As my kids have entered the preschool age they have loved playing these games. The basic concept is easy for them to learn and the game doesn't last so long that they lose interest.

I had the opportunity to try out these two games from a company called Alphabet Alley. This company was started in 2204 and their goal was to create faith based games for families. In addition to games they also offer blocks and puzzles. But in my mind, Go Fish is Go Fish and Memory is Memory. How could the game really be improved on? What would make this brand stand out from any other company or large store's version of the game?

I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. The quality of the parts to these games is excellent. The tiles in the Two By Two Matching Game were quite thick. They were the were the not the thin cardboard pieces that we have had before. The characters on the back inspired a few questions from our preschooler that started a meaningful conversation about the Noah story in the Bible. The Noah's Ark Go Fish Game provided the same kind of conversation as well. The cards in the game were very thick and made of a plastic type substance instead of thick paper. This difference means they will last much longer than usual. That's a very important factor to me in any preschool game. We have thrown away our share of games due to pieces being torn. Add in the fact that my little guy has asked over and over to play gives these games an A+ in my book.

You can find Alphabet Alley products at The Old Schoolhouse Store and I highly recommend that you check them out. They would make an excellent Christmas or birthday gift for a preschooler or a fabulous shower gift for someone adopting a toddler.

The Missing Link and a Giveaway!

Are your kids up for a good read? They might find it in a book we just got our hands on. It is a youth fiction book written by a twelve year old homeschooler and her mom, Christina and Felice Gerwitz. The name of the book is The Missing Link:Found. It is the first in The Truth Seekers Mystery Series and is made available by their company, Media Angels. A homeschool mom herself, Felice has also made literature guides to go with the books. What a smart mom!

I gave the book to my 10 year old son to see what he thought. After one chapter he said that he would read this one again and that is saying a lot. He isn't a big reader and it's a challenge finding books that he can stick with. While this isn't a work of literature, it is an entertaining read that I am comfortable with my kids reading on their own. There are exciting scenes throughout and for the family, the Murphy's, their love of the Lord in the book is evident. Not to mention the focus on their relationship as a family. I loved in the epilogue that during a family moment the authors describe the delight that the parents have in watching all of their children together. That is something that I as a parent can relate to.

The book is written in a way that combines suspense, faith and scientific information making it something a parent wouldn't be worried about their kids picking up. At the end of the book there is a nice letter from the editor citing that while this is a ficticious book, many of the scientific facts are true and come from resources such as Creation Science Centers.

Interested? Visit Media Angels and see this book and other Creation products they have available.

Now for the giveaway! Leave me a comment about your favorite series for kids and you will be entered into a random drawing for your very own copy of The Missing Link: Found. I will take comments until midnight November 21st.

Merry Christmas...almost.

Are you counting the days to Christmas? There are only 45 days away until the day arrives. Can you believe that? It sneaks up on me every year but this year I don't feel as blind sided.

I was given the opportunity to review a very cute nativity set by One 2 Believe. We already have a nativity set that we love. We set it out with care every year and it is only to be enjoyed from afar. Something that is very hard for little hands to leave alone. This set is different in that it is the perfect nativity set for your children. It is made for children and meant to be played with. From the moment I opened the box, my children couldn't wait to play with it.

It has 17 different pieces including the characters you would expect plus the creche. It also came with a small story booklet about Baby Jesus. After several playing sessions with my children, it has held up well. They are able to tell the story and play with the characters, making the story come alive.

There are some small parts such as the star that could come off and so I agree with the manufacturers recommendation that it is for children over 3 years of age. Also, while my 8, 6 year old and 4 year olds enjoyed the set, my 10 year old twins felt that it was a bit young for them.

This is very nice, complete set that is a great way for children to become more familiar with the Christmas story in a tangible way. Visit One 2 Believe to see other play products they offer.