Monday, October 15, 2012

Educational Insights' Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Review

I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to review a game from Educational Insights recently. I think their products are great for learning through play. Have you heard of Educational Insights yet?
If not, here is a little information about them from their site:

"Based in Southern California, Educational Insights, is the manufacturer of playful products with serious educational value, including subject-specific classroom products, teacher resources, educational toys, and games. Our products are designed by seasoned educators and parents who know that, first and foremost, learning must be fun. "

We had given the girls quite a few Educational Insights products for Christmas last year. I especially want to get them things that will help with our homeschool. When they have fun games and toys to play with, and are learning at the same time, you know you are doing something right.
I loved the look of Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game. I am a sucker for squirrels, so that helped. I also thought it was the perfect time of year to be playing a game where a squirrel is gathering acorns as we are learning about leaves and fall.  Additionally, I love all the different educational benefits of this game. Sneaky Snacky Squirrel can help children recognize and match colors, recognize numbers, count, improve their fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills, and work on strategic thinking.

Here is what you will find when you open the tree shaped box.
The tree shaped box is actually a part of the game; it is the game board.
There are 4 logs, 1 spinner, 1 Squirrel Squeezer, 20 colored acorns and an instruction guide.

The object of the game is to be the first one to secure all 5 acorns in your log. In order to do so, the players take turns spinning the spinner and gathering or losing acorns. If the spinner lands on a colored space, you get that color acorn. However, if you land on a number space you get to pick what colors you need. Of course, a game wouldn't be fun without some adversity, would it? So, if you land on the sad squirrel, you lose a turn, if you land on the storm cloud you lose all your acorns, and if you land on the sneaky squirrel you get to take an acorn from another player. Of course, this is where the "strategic thinking" comes into play, gotta make sure you take the correct color. And of course, you would want to take from the player who has the most acorns providing the color you need is available.

I think it is ingenious that the box was made to be a part of the game. The box is quite sturdy and is a great place to rest the squirrel tweezers between turns.  The tweezers are the cutest things to work with. They feel a bit bulky, but they are fun to use once you get comfortable holding them.


The girls loved this game. It is a bit of a struggle to pick up the acorns with the tweezers at just the right angle to get them to go into the log without assistance of bare hands. The trick is to grasp the acorn by the stem.


Hannah really got into spinning the spinner. Now, it did take a few turns for her to learn to hold the squirrel in the right spot so she could actually squeeze. At first she kept trying to squeeze the tail.



This game is ideal for younger children because it is fast moving. Even with the "adversities" in the game we still finished our first game within maybe 10 or 15 minutes. Perfect for their short attention spans. Of course, it is recommended for ages 3 and up because of the small pieces (i.e. the acorns).  Hannah was able to participate, but I watched her closely. I love that it is reinforcing the colors and counting for Hannah. It is the strategic thinking that I am finding beneficial for the older two. They need to focus to see which acorn(s) they need in order to win.
I also added a bit of a twist for the older girls. Tabitha actually won the game according to the instructions. However, as it was over so fast I decided to say she wouldn't be the official winner unless we went around each player one more time and she still had all her acorns when it got back to her. This left it open for more than one winner. In fact, she didn't have all her acorns when it was again her turn. She had lost one acorn when her sister landed on the Sneaky Squirrel space. Here again is another great way to incorporate strategy. Her sister had to know to take the acorn from her log instead of mine or Hannah's. 
So in the end, Amelia and Tabitha both had a turn to win.

I would highly recommend this fun learning game. 
Check it out at the Educational Insights website where it sells for $21.99.
You can also follow Educational Insights on Facebook and on Twitter.

But wait, there's more!!
I have been given the opportunity to offer my readers a giveaway!
So, don't forget to stop back for your chance to win this great game.

Disclosure: I received a Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game from Educational Insights for free in order to review it. This did not in any way influence my review. I only recommend products I use personally and feel will be a good products for my readers.

33 comments:

  1. this would be great for my 4 year old and 7 year old to play together

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the look of this game. It is cute and looks like something I'd really enjoy playing with my boys!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love the illustrations in the game. The fact that they learn something from playing is great!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like you guys had a great time playing - and such an adorable game!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This looks like a real interesting game. I love how you post pics and explains it. My grand children would love it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. That was a great idea to alter the game for your daughter!!! My nephew would really like this game...thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think my children would enjoy this game...more interactive than just rolling dice and counting spaces like some children's games

    ReplyDelete
  8. This looks like a fun game for younger kids. It's sort of the same idea as Hi Ho Cherry-O which my kids love. They'd love using the squirrel!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This game looks like it would keep the kids interested to continue to play.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is really cool! I love the little twist you put on it, so that it would make the game last a little longer. =)

    ReplyDelete
  11. This looks so cute and fun! I know my kids would love it as much:) Thanks for sharing such cute photos of your kids!

    ReplyDelete
  12. My kids would love this, they love games and squirrels!

    ReplyDelete
  13. OH Brea loves squirrels and this would make learning fun debbie jackson

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brea loves squirrels and would love this debbie jackson

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great review, thank you! I think my kids would love this, we already play hi ho cherri-o!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think my kids would enjoy this game while learning at the same time. I know my kindergartener would love it.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love these hand eye coordination games, and the art work/illustrations are very pretty, not at all typical of your average board game these days.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I like how they used the box as part of the game.Looks like a cute game for little ones

    ReplyDelete
  19. My husband is not a big game fan but this looks like something he would enjoy playing with our son

    ReplyDelete
  20. this would be great all of my kids can play together
    kelly willis
    kellycurtis@rocketmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. my niece would love to play this and help others learn to play with her, :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. looks like this would be a lot of fun, my grandson & granddaughter would love it

    ReplyDelete
  23. love the board shape! my 4 year old grandson would love this game

    ReplyDelete
  24. That is so cute! I love the "sneaky squirrel" result. My son is such a little sneak lol.

    ReplyDelete
  25. amy guillaume lindermanOctober 23, 2012 at 5:34 PM

    i'd love to play this after thanksgiving dinner

    ReplyDelete
  26. This really looks like a game our whole family would enjoy! My four year old is finally grasping the concept of game rules. Now if only she didn't insist that we all take turns winning. :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love games that make learning fun!

    ReplyDelete
  28. This game really looks like a lot of fun! My three year old would love it. We have squirrels in our yard all the time, so he loves squirrels and he has enjoyed "collecting" acorns this fall. He calls acorns "chipmunk food" or "squirrel food." I know he would have so much fun with this game.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Tis game is SUPER cute. I remember seeing it at Target a few weeks ago and wanted it for my boys. It's not often that you find games for kids under 5, so I'm super excited about it.

    ReplyDelete
  30. This looks like such a cute game! I bet my 4-year-old cousin would love it! I would love to win it for him! Thanks for hosting this awesome giveaway! :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. This looks like a perfect game for my kids.
    Thank you so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sneaky Snacky Squirrel looks very fun. Thanks for the interesting and informative review!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I love to read your comments, so please leave me one if you have the time.
Blessings

Related Posts with Thumbnails