Brain Games For Kids

Description

I really like the concept behind these books. They feature large, spiral bindings and pages of activities that you can just pull out and do with your toddler-preschooler any time with absolutely no prep and no writing. I envision using them to pass time when traveling, waiting at a restaurant, or anytime as purposeful play. Most activity pages hold 3-4 multiple pictures, each in its own brightly colored frame. Each framed picture has a simple question for the parent to ask at the top such as "How many pennies can you count?" "What is this body part?", "Which bowl is the opposite of full", or "Do you see the letter F hidden in the picture six times? Other feature pages that I really appreciate are the reading comprehension selections that appear in the Toddler Time and Preschool Prep titles. Those pages hold a well-known nursery rhyme or short story and then ask a question such as "What dried up all the rain? (Itsy Bitsy Spider) or "Where was Red Riding Hood going?" Each book features 301 pictures/questions total in areas that include language arts, math, science, social studies, physical and emotional development, fine arts, vocabulary, and foreign language.

A couple small "cons" I have to mention – the second page of each set of facing pages is an answer page that shows the same framed pictures only lightened, with the answers circled or written on top. Because of the spiral binding these are easy to hide, but since the questions are so simple, it seems a waste of paper. The other complaint is that some of the pictures/words represented on the letter pages in the Preschool Prep title are poorly chosen, such as "onion" for O, "chicken" for C, and "eyes" for E. That being said, I think you and your children will enjoy exploring these together! – Steph

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.