Home School Product Reviews

Thinking Putty

Think Again!

Think again! We bought thinking putty as Christmas gifts for our children. It ended up in our daughter’s hair, on the carpet, on the couch…. It was worse than gum! We’re generally careful about where our children play with potentially messy toys, but as this is billed as an item to fiddle with while doing school, we allowed it in our schoolroom, aka family room. Big mistake! We called Timberdoodle to find out how to remove the putty from the carpet and they in turn called the company. We followed all the instructions and while the stickiness is gone, we still have lovely dark stains spotting the carpet. And our daughter had her hair trimmed….

They love it!

I originally bought the putty because it looked like a lot of fun and I needed something for my parents who really NEED nothing. My nine children are all grown and I already had Christmas gifts for my grandchildren that year. I wasn’t sure they would really use it, but they love it! They each set theirs (I bought different colors for each of them) beside their recliner and use it to exercise their hands while they watch TV. It helps keep their joints from being stiff, too. Just a warning-put it back in its container when you finish! It conforms to the shape of its container as it rests. If you put it in something with a small mouth you might not get it out very easily or if you leave it sitting in a ball it might spread out all over your table! Don’t worry though, you can scrape it up with itself and roll it up and start over. It is really addictive as anyone who sits in the chair and happens to pick it up will tell you! I have plans to purchase some for myself someday, but I haven’t needed enough items to make the cost plus shipping a reasonable price for something I just want and don’t need. The price on the item is good, but the shipping cost for just the one item makes it too expensive. Maybe I’ll have to convince some friends to go in with me and buy a case of it!

Thinking Putty is available from Timberdoodle. Check out our shipping special of $4.95 on any order.

Thinking Putty

I purchased a few kinds of Thinking Putty as Christmas gifts, and they turned out to be the most popular thing under the tree! My children love to manipulate it while in waiting situations (in the car, before hockey games, and even while I read aloud); they’re particularly fascinated with the color-changing properties of the “Hypercolor” variety and are eager to try the other versions. I’m convinced that this product has therapeutic, stress-relieving qualities for adults as well – it’s hard to keep your hands off of it!

Timberdoodle has over a 15 varieties of Thinking Putty at timberdoodle.com.

The Fallacy Detective

We were very disappointed with this book. We assumed since it was sold everywhere it must be good. However that faulty logic as we learned in Lesson10! Many peple can be wrong or perhaps there are just not a logic programs available? The content of the book is fine but the exercises are terrible. They often are so vague they could be several answers. Others need to rewritten to be more clear. I thought my son was just doing his usual complaining about this book until I did a week of lessons out loud with him. We both agreed at Lesson 16 to stop this book and look for something else.

Only one star? Read other reviews of The Fallacy Detective that give it five stars and decide for yourself.

Mind Benders Beginning Book 1

My boys first attempted these types of problems in “Beginning Mathematical Reasoning” (another great product by Critical Minds), and they just loved them. I’ve always enjoyed doing logic problems myself, so it was a joy to see my children puzzling things out and drawing appropriate conclusions. This kind of thinking can only aid in any number of other subjects in which a child makes a deduction based on given information. The only negative, if you can call it that, is that I had to read the clues aloud to my still-learning-to-read set.

Mind Benders

I used Mind Benders book 1 with my 5 year old.  I had to help her the first few times, but then she really got the hang of it.  Her older brothers even got in to it.  They would hang over her shoulder and watch her, and ask if they could do it.  So I am hoping to buy some more mind benders for them.  I think they make thinking fun!

Are you looking for more books from Critical Thinking Company? Click here.

Architecto

Architecto is a great way to occupy one child while working with the other.  I keep this game in my stack of “Wise Ways” activities (wise ways to use your time while waiting on mom).  If my son finishes  his independent seat work before i have finished working with his younger brother, he can pull out the Architecto game and stay focused and quiet without being a distraction to others.  I also keep a check list with the game to keep track of which challenges he has successfully completed.  He is one who likes to “jump ahead” to the most challenging exercises without working his way up.  The checklist is my way of giving him the opportunity to govern himself and his desire to jump ahead, and of reinforcing the idea that rewards are EARNED.

Developing the Early Learner

I like Developing the Early Learner, though I do think that some of the tasks are a bit challenging for some younger children. I was told that the product indicated that all the child had to be able to do was, “hold a crayon.” Well, my 4yo son can hold a crayon very well, but remembering tasks after 1 minute (some of the tasks tell you to give instructions, wait a minute, then let the child begin) seemed very challenging for him. I think Developing the Early Learner is a great program overall — it is challenging so he is learning. Oh, and some of the worksheets are meant for more public school children — my son does not know really about Valentines and Halloween costumes.

Can You Find Me Preschool is a book of fun riddles that really  make you think to figure out the answers.  The riddles are picture motivated.  My daughter loved having me read them to her when she was young and now she reads them on her own for fun.  She has a sense of accomplishment when she gets the right answer and wants to do more.  These books are geared toward specific grades but not limited to those grades.

Think skills is a vital part of homeschooling our children. Here some great Thinking Skills Curriculum

Magnetic Mighty Mind

I affixed the sticky magnets to the plastic shapes as per the instructions. My 3 yr old daughter separated many of the magnets from their plastic backs. At first I merely blamed my daughter’s destructive behavior, but after I saw how easily they came off, I changed my mind. Manufacturer needs to affix the magnets themselves and do some tests before creating a product like this!

Landers, CA

Four customer gave Magnetic Mighty Mind 5 stars. Find out why.

Lonpos 303

I bought Lonpos 303 game for my nephew for Christmas.  It was one of the most passed around items of the Holiday.  Whenever one person finished with it, someone else picked it up and started playing with it.  Of course, the kids were much more successful with it than I was.

Check out the new Lonpos 505, just added July 7th.