ToyBox Thursday - Educational Insights E-Z as ABC and Numbers Count Review & Giveaway

I have been lucky enough to work with Educational Insights a few times and I am continually impressed by their products. As both a Mom and an Educator - I value their learning-based, interactive toys. Their products can easily be used both at home or in the classroom.

Educational Insights is a leading manufacturer of learning toys and hands-on educational materials.They provide quality, award-winning educational products in math, science, social studies, language, language arts, reading, early childhood, Spanish, ELL, ESL teaching and classroom management. (from Educational Insights website)

Recently, the Lil Divas and I had the opportunity to review Numbers Count and the E-Z as ABC Game Set.

The E-Z as ABC Game Set:

I love that there are quite a few ways to play with this game. Children can complete picture puzzles by sorting and matching uppercase and lowercase letters. They can match initial sounds with photographs, match pictures to words and sequence the alphabet.

The included directions pamphlet features 7 hands-on, phonics-based games with varying levels of difficulty and no reading is required to play so even the young ones can get in on the fun and sort through the pieces as puzzles with some assistance. The cards have great pictures - bright, colorful & engaging and they are also thick enough to be durable yet easy for lil hands to manipulate.

The set includes 52 puzzle pieces, 26 word cards, 26-word vocabulary list and a puzzle-cut alphabet strip.

The Lil Divas loved playing with this set. We worked on matching the lower and upper case letters and reviewing their sounds by naming the pictures and going over the initial sound in the word.

They were so proud of themselves when they got them all matched up!

Overall I found it to be a wonderful set and great for introducing the ABC's, early phonics skills or even just puzzle play.

The Numbers Count  Game Set:

I have to admit that lately I am trying to spend a bit more time on our numbers. I really haven't focused on them as much as I have our language/phonics and the Lil Divas knowledge isn't as soun in this area as a result of that. Of course - I like to try and find fun ways to help them with number recognition and counting. The Numbers Count set really fits right in what I am trying to do. This set features 6 early math games that reinforce matching, number recognition, counting, sequencing, number values and one-to-one correspondence.  

This math game set includes 44 self-checking puzzle pieces representing numbers 0-20, 42 "Secret Number" cards, 2 arrows, 21 English/Spanish word cards and an activity guide. Once again, the cards are like puzzle pieces and they have great pictures that would appeal to kids of toys, desserts, etc.  Just like the ABC cards they are also thick enough to be durable yet easy for lil hands to manipulate.

Since we are focusing on number recognition and counting we first used it as a matching style game. I put out all the number cards from 0-20 on the floor in mixed-up order and piled the picture cards. The Lil Divas had to pick a puzzle piece and count the items and then find the matching number piece. They were so proud when they finally got them all matched up!

Then they had fun couting & sequencing the cards in order from 0-20. Here they are hard at work counting to see which number comes next! :)

I like that you can use 0-10 as well as the whole set 0-20 so you can adjust to meet your child/s needs/age.

We can't wait to incorporate the arrows and secret numbers! The Lil Divas are ecited about using this set to play different games. I love they are excited about learning and that I don't ahve to buy 6 or 7 different games!

It's always a plus when you can use a product like both the  Numbers Count and the E-Z as ABC Game in so many different ways - a real $$$ saver!

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Buy It: Purchase Numbers Count and the E-Z as ABC Game at Educational Insights website.

Win It: Educational Insights has graciously agreed to giveaway One (1) Numbers Count and One (1) E-Z as ABC Game  so there will be Two (2) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Reader Winners (1 for each set)!

How to Enter:

**Contest ends on 5/26/11**

 One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas reader

(US Residents Only!) is going to receive:

(1) Numbers Count Game Set

&

One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas reader

(US Residents Only!) is going to receive:

(1) E-Z as ABC Game Set  

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me which Game set you would prefer to win then visit Educational Insights and tell me at least one other product you would like to try!
**This must be completed in order for any extra entries to count**

Extra Entries (Optional)
Please leave a seperate comment

for each entry &

please include your e-mail

so I can get back to you if you win! 

*If you are already a follower leave a comment and let me know as that will count as an entry*

1. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Publicly via Google Friend Connect 
2. "Like" Educational Insights on facebook 
3. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Twitter 
4. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas emails 
5. Make a comment on any non-giveaway post on Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Blog and leave a link.  You can do this for up to 3 posts but please note that comment must be dated after the start date of this post - not valid on previous comments.
6. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link - can be done once a day
   
   Tweet: #Win an @ed_insights E-Z as ABC or Numbers Count Game Set w/@Momto2PoshDivas Ends 5/26 http://t.co/79oK9qE #giveaway #homeschool

Giveaway Rules:
Giveaway ends 5/26/2011 at 11:59 (PDT)

Winner will be chosen via random.org. 

Winner will be announced on 5/27/11 through a post on the blog

& contacted via email if an email is given .

Winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize.

Please note any entries that can not be verified will be disqualified.

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Disclaimer:I received both the E-Z as ABC & Numbers Count Game Sets for the purposes of trying them out for this review. That being said, this review is my 100% honest opinion of this product - I  am not paid for my reviews or optinions! They are 100% mine! Please remember that your opinions and tastes might differ from mine. 

Good Luck,

Bern