Buzzmills

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel...

Please excuse this slightly random post, but, I feel like I must share!

A few months ago Meg shared some great games for three year olds in a post which was then followed up by many many great game suggestions from her readers.  

Who isn't looking for games to play with their toddlers?  The problem is that it's hard to know which games will really be good, right?  Another problem, games are expensive!  So, isn't it great to get recommendations from other people who are actually playing them with their kids.

Anywho...the very first commenter, Jen, recommended a game called the Sneaky Snacky Squirrel.  A funny name right?  Well, good thing it was a funny name, because somehow it stuck in my head and when I was browsing down the game aisle in Target the other day looking for checkers, the Sneaky Snacky Squirrel popped it's head out above all the rest!  I wasn't necessarily looking to buy a board game, but I have to honest with you...I thought the box was pretty (and non-commercial looking) so we bought it.

The game is simple (with not many pieces, yay).  The box is the game board.  Dump the acorns into the box, spin the spinner, pick up acorns with the squirrel tongs, fill up your log.

So simple in fact that I'm kicking myself, why didn't I think of that!  Ha, ha!  Seriously, you could make it if you wanted...some wood, a drawing, some tongs and some of these acorns

And goodness knows that we have some Sneaky, Snacky, Squirrels around here...

But I digress...

Henry (2 years, 3 months) and Violet (4 1/2) and both Brad and I (no need to mention age here, right, ahem) really enjoyed playing the game.  

Henry recently, as in the past couple of months, seems to have a good grasp of his colors.  So, this game is great for color recognition and motor skills (using the squirrel squeezer, tongs).  

This is the first game that we have been able to play from start to finish with Henry actually playing along and understanding.  He enjoyed it.  He participated.  He listened.  Certainly, there were moments where we would have to pause the game to help him understand the rules a bit more, but we actually played through two games straight with no arguing and honest to goodness fun for all!  So, in my book this can be counted as a huge success!  

Up until now, games have been more of a thing that we play with Violet while trying to keep Henry away from the board so he doesn't move the pieces, etc.  But this game gets us all involved!  

So, you see, I had to share, because playing the Sneaky, Snacky, Squirrel game in the shade of our dogwood while our Sneaky, Snacky, Squirrels were munching above us, on a warm late summer day was fun...and that is something to be shared, isn't it?

PS.  I am in way affiliated with this game ;) I just liked it.

In preparation...

Between coughing fits and head fogs this weekend I still managed to make a few little quiet car games for our upcoming vacation to the beach.  To the beach, Yippee!  Hopefully we are all healthy by then. 

Of course, I always wish for long drives to be filled mostly with naps but in between there will be a lot of music (that's Brad's job, although I do give some input), some books on tape, definitely some silly craziness, hopefully not too many crankies, and now some fun car games too!

Violet already has a little bag to tuck her goodies in to, I made it for her for our vacation last year.

This year, along with some crayons, and stickers I made her a felt tic-tac-toe game.  Tic-tac-toe is one of her favorite games to play, although, she doesn't fully grasp the concept of it yet. 

She is also getting some car bingo cards put into her bag.  This is a Martha Stewart craft that I have been holding onto for years and years, since before we even had kids...I think it will be fun!

I made Henry his own little bag to put his goodies in, because, let's face it, he really does like to have everything his big sister has! 

Into his bag I am putting a little felt board with some felt shapes, very simple.

I also made him a peek-a-boo lift the flap and find the animal folding board. 

Henry is loving all of the new animal noises that he knows how to make now so I imagine that this will be quite fun, especially if Violet gets in on it too, then there will be a whole farmyard of animals in the back seat!

Here's to hoping all of these new little toys keep everyone happy both on the way to and back from vacation.  And now, on to the rest of the preparations...Why does getting ready for vacation take so much work?

***Note:  I now have mini tutorials written up for each of these little travel games, go here to find out how you can make your own!***