Colorku: A different kind of Sudoku

If you are one that loves puzzles, Colorku is one to try. It's exactly like Sudoku, but uses colors instead of numbers. This particular version that we received from Timberdoodle is made of wood. It's large and sturdy. I love it.
Included in the box are cards ranging in difficulty to set-up your initial gameboard. So, you set up your board with the colored balls according to the card. Then, you play as normal; get one ball of each in every row, column and 9-square.

My 8-year-old loves this game. I love this game, probably more than him. Puzzles are such a great way to exercise your brain and my brain certainly needs help. Colorku was a bit of a challenge at first since I was used to playing with numbers like in Sudoku. My brain had trouble locating the colors in the columns and rows and I messed up quite a bit. (If you notice in the photo above, I have two light green balls in the same 9-square. I had to restart this board.) There is a sheet of answers for all of the puzzles to check your board too, just in case you need a little help. After a few puzzles, my brain did adjust and located the colors missing more quickly.
Sometimes my 8-year-old and I will play together to solve a puzzle, but its usually played individually when we need to take a break or need some quiet/ alone time. I'd love for this game to just hang out on the coffee table so that it gets more use, but with wooden balls about the size of a large marble, the game lives in the closet most of the time. But, seriously... this game is fun and I am glad that it lives with us now.

This Colorku game is included in the 2018 4th Grade Curriculum Kit Elite from Timberdoodle.
We do recommend it to anyone that enjoys logic games. It would make a great present too.

Solitaire Chess... A New Favorite Game

Timberdoodle has amazing products and games. We love so many of their things and are super excited that we get to review some of them. Timberdoodle provides curriculum and games for all ages and when we received a box of goodies my 8-year old went crazy. He was happy about everything, especially this Brain Fitness Solitaire Chess game.
Mr A has been wanting to learn how to play chess for years. I am no good at it and don't really understand the game. I've never taken the time to learn so I could teach it to someone else. So, when Mr A saw this tiny version of chess he immediately opened it to figure out how to play.
Solitaire Chess is a single player game with 80 challenges to strengthen mental speed and focus. You are given 10 pieces with a challenge booklet and solutions pages. Challenges range from Beginner to Expert. Mr A has begun with the Beginner levels to get used to how the pieces move around on the board. He is doing a great job at these early levels. The Movement Rules page shows how each piece can move and has helped him become familiar with what each one does.

Basically, with this game, you are playing against yourself. You are trying to eliminate one piece with every move. I love watching and listening to Mr A play this game. He talks himself through the plays and resets when he doesn't get it right. It's a process of elimination with one last piece standing. Some challenges take one try and others take over 10 until he gets it right.

I love things that can be taken on-the-go. This is probably one of our new games to take in the car or to the restaurant. Small, individual games are great for road trips or just quiet time.

Mr A is happy to finally be learning a little bit more about chess. This Solitaire Chess game is great for strategic skill building and becoming familiar with the game before moving to a real board. It would also be good for individuals who just love chess and want to play more frequently.
We are happy to have this game in our cupboard now. Mr A loves the progressive play and working his mind through the challenge until he gets it right.
Solitaire Chess is included in the 2018 6th Grade Curriculum Kit from Timberdoodle, but would also be great for any chess lover or a simple gift idea.
Have fun with this single player game... because we are.

Day and Night

Timberdoodle allowed my kids and I to review another game called Day and Night. We've always loved logic games and this one did not dissapoint.
Day and Night has a small flip book with pictures to use as a guide to build a replica with the wooden shapes on the peg board provided. The pictures are either colored with details for the Day or show just the outline of the blocks for the Night. Mr Z likes to work with the Night side of the pictures for a little more of a challenge.
The Day and Night game is included in the TImberdoodle Preschool Curriculum Kit and is recommended for ages 3+.

Mr Z was more enthusiastic about the game, just not about his brother trying to interfere aka help. This is a great little game to foster independence and to get little ones critically thinking on their own. Mr Z says he likes the Day and Night game because "I can follow the dark picture and do it so good."

My 18 month old likes to explore this game too, though I can never catch a picture of her using it. She practices fine motor skills by placing the blocks on the tall pegs. It is fun to watch her work with the game for such a long time.

Thank you Timberdoodle for such great learning options for little ones.