It's been a hot minute since I did a review and a giveaway on this blog, yes? What better time than December, when you are probably making lists and shopping for plenty of kids that seem to have everything already! #LearningResources has something that might fit your criteria.
When offered to review the Mental Blox 360 3D Building Game, I immediately said yes because it looked like something clever and different that we don't already have in his house. Sure, we have standard blocks and Legos, but this is geared more towards ages 5+ and is a real brain exercise. A 'smart toy' that has nothing to do with technology for once. Score!
I had all three of my kids open the box from Learning Resources when it arrived, and I wasn't sure which child would really dig this gift the most. I sort of thought Porter would like to just stack the blocks because of pretty colors, and I figured Cecelia would like organizing all of the guide cards. But Truman? He takes the cake with this game and is totally obsessed.
This is a game where you pick a guide card and it tells you which blocks to use. Then it shows you a configuration from a certain angle---either looking down on the blocks from above, or from the side. It's all about point of view and spatial relations, so it's more than just stacking the blocks however you please. Truman started with the easiest card and moved to the medium cards quickly. Then he pulled out the hardest cards, which are edged in red and I got a little panicky. Spatial relations are HARD man, my brain isn't great with all of those abstract angles and such. But Truman takes after his dad and completely nails it.
We had some trouble with card #37 and even looking at the answer on the back was tricky. We saved the hardest card, #40, for Nate when he got home from work. I should have continued to take pictures of his debut with this game because he was absolutely focused and got it assembled right away. Truman was in awe!
The little kids liked their own version of this game, too, and Cecelia could accurately assemble the first card configuration which made me super proud. Mostly she just likes to stack the blocks in fun ways, as does Porter. But I'd say for first graders and above this game really packs a punch. Truman told me before school one day that he wanted to try the hardest cards as soon as he returned from school, so I shouldn't put away the box because he had plans to master it in the evening. And he will just sit there and work through the cards without getting frustrated somehow. It's like this game was meant for his brain, that's for sure.
It's kind of fun to have the kids put this away, too, because inside of the box there is an outline showing how to make each of the shapes fit well. Total bonus for me, so that they don't get thrown into a big pile and shoved somewhere.
The game is sold online at Learning Resources, and today they are giving one of my readers a set of blocks. You have to be in the U.S. (sorry, international readers) and you'll need to visit the Rafflecopter link below to enter. I'll randomly draw a winner on 12/10/16. Ready, set, go!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
My smart 8-year old niece would dig this! She definitely enjoys a challenge. Thanks for introducing me to this company!
ReplyDeleteLooks really cool.
ReplyDeleteIsaac would love this! I have terrible (embarrassingly terrible) spatial relationship skills...Isaac outshines me by a long shot!
ReplyDeleteMy oldest would love this!
ReplyDeleteMy 4yo would dig this!
ReplyDeleteThis game is right up my alley and makes me super excited! I teach Drafting/CAD part-time so 3D thinking comes more naturally for me. But it's awesome that it was turned into a game for kids :)
ReplyDeleteThis looks so fun! My oldest daughter loves to build things. She would enjoy this!
ReplyDeleteOh man. I suck at spatial reasoning. You should see me park. This would be awesome for Charlotte! Hopefully, it's not genetic :)
ReplyDeleteMy 7 year old would love this!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin's son would LOVE this game. He is so into shapes and figuring things out.
ReplyDeleteI've looked at this on LR several times....my older two would love this!
ReplyDeleteBoth of my boys (4 & 8) would love these! And, they look like they'd last to be handed down again and again...always a bonus in my book!
ReplyDeleteMy 5 year old son would love this!
ReplyDeleteMy 5 year old boy would love this!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure both my kids would love these! Grayson (3) is so smart and loves figuring out how to put things together. Sawyer (1) would enjoy throwing them at the dog :-)
ReplyDeleteThis looks so refreshing compared to all the crap toys that are out there.
ReplyDeleteJoining the chorus of "my 5 year old" :)
ReplyDeleteMy 4 yo would love playing this- with dad!
ReplyDeleteMy nephew would love those!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin's grandson would love this. He likes to visit me and while his older siblings play on their tablets, he's always wanting something fun to do. This would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteMy little boy would love this, it looks so neat
ReplyDeleteI love games like this for my kids! We are a puzzle family, for sure.
ReplyDeleteMy 5 year old would love this!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! I could see Kai loving these in a few years.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely something my 5 and 7 year olds would enjoy. Thanks for reviewing it!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter would love this - it reminds me of the CAD classes from high school back in the day.
ReplyDeleteThese look really neat! My 4 year old would love this!
ReplyDeleteI think my first grader would like this. Actually I think we all might!
ReplyDeleteMy math-inclined 6 year old would love this. Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy boys
ReplyDeleteMy daughter would LOVE this! And I would love that it's an educational game and not technological :)
ReplyDeleteI want to play with these! I think the kids might beat me at it though. How did Porter get so big kid? I think I am glad Helena is still almost bald... She look younger than she is.
ReplyDeleteMy 6 year old son, Levi, would love this!
ReplyDeleteVery cool, always looking for new ideas for the kids!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter would love this and I'm actually curious to see what areas my four year old could figure out! Cool toy!
ReplyDeleteMy students would absolutely love this gift. I actually teach first grade and they are all into building things right now.
ReplyDeleteMy son and my engineer husband would love this! What a great product!
ReplyDeleteI would love to give this to my kids. I love toys like this what really help with critical thinking.
ReplyDeletejessicarwarfield at gmail dot com
My first grader would love this!
ReplyDeleteMy kids - 5 and 3 - would LOVE these!!
ReplyDeleteThis would be interesting for my nephew!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great!
ReplyDeleteFun! I always love learning about toys we don't already own! I feel your pain on the spacial relations. ;)
ReplyDeleteMy four-year old would LOVE these. Little engineer in the making.
ReplyDeleteI have boy girl boy kids the same ages as yours and they would love this!
ReplyDeleteI have a four-yr-old grandson who would absolutely love this!
ReplyDeleteMy son is only 4, but this could totally be something he can do with his 8 year old cousin!
ReplyDeleteThis looks fun - I think the whole family could enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteMy son, who is 6.5 and my daughter who is 4.5 would absolutely love this.
ReplyDeleteLooks fun!
ReplyDeleteso fun! love how it grows with them.
ReplyDeleteMy nanny kid and nephews would love this!!!
ReplyDeleteI think this would be something our whole family would love. We have a 2 year old, 6 year old and 13.
ReplyDeleteMy first grader would love this!
ReplyDeleteMy 7 year old nephew would love this!
ReplyDeleteI know a little guy who would love this. He lives in California and I would love to send it to him!!!
ReplyDeleteMary Mattioni
We're at the point where our son is outgrowing little kid games but not ready for much bigger kid games ... this seems like a good option! Thanks for the review - never would have known about this otherwise.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and smart game!
ReplyDeleteMy nephew would love this!
ReplyDeleteMy kids would love this!
ReplyDeleteI would love this! Ha! But also Charley, my 5 year old.
ReplyDeleteMy girls have so much fun building with the blocks!
ReplyDeleteMy kids would love these!
ReplyDeleteWould love these for my girls!
ReplyDeleteI have nephews that would love this gift!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun gift! My son the builder would love this!
ReplyDeleteThis would be so perfect for my 5.5 yr old! Going to track one down right now!
ReplyDeleteOur friends' kids would love these! Our daughter might still be a little too young for it, but you never know! I like that it's a smart toy and doesn't require parking your butt in front of a screen!
ReplyDeleteMy almost-5 year old would love this gift!
ReplyDeleteMy almost 5 year old would really enjoy this. She loves a challenge!
ReplyDeleteMy students at school :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Christmas gift for the kiddos!
ReplyDeleteMy son would love this game!!
ReplyDeleteThis would be perfect for my 6 and 4 year old children!
ReplyDelete