Toybox Thursday: Educational Insight's KaBAM! Word Building Game Review & Giveaway

Happy Toybox Thursday!

I LOVE being able to bring awareness of wonderful products to you -

Thursdays have become of my fave blogging days! :)

Today, I am excited to bring you another fabulously fun learning game
from Educational Insights: KaBAM!

What is KaBAM?

KaBAM! is a quick thinking, head-to-head word building game.

Who Can Play KaBAM?

The recommended ages for KaBAM! are 7 & up

but as you will see below I modified and successfuly played with my 4 & 5 year old.

How Do You Play KaBAM?

Tp play yoevenly divide the card deck between the 2 players or teams and set them down next to each other, face up. Each card features word parts including suffixes, prefixes, single vowels, consonants and dipthongs. In order to win you need to be the FASTEST word builder! To build a word you adding one or more letters to the sets of letters on the cards. Be the 1st to build a "real" word and you win the round.

What's in the Box?

The game includes:
 72 unique 3"W x 5"H cards featuring letter combinations
Instruction Manual

 

Our Thoughts:

Although the game states it is geared for ages 7+ I was able to successfully play with my 4 & 5 year old. They got the "idea" of the game quickly. The problems initially came with forming "real" words but I have to admit they had a great deal of fun trying to make words and the game took on a life of it's own. Lots of giggles were heard as they inevitably formed their fair share of nonsense words. :) 

Personally, I LOVED the game and I can see us playing for years to come! KaBAM! had the Lil Divas reviewing letter sounds and sounding out combinations, brainstorming "correct" letter/sound additions to form words and distinguishing real words from nonsense words.

The Lil Divas had a great time making up the funniest "nonsense" words on purpose. While I admit this may not be the aim of the game it provided me with a wonderful way to check their word awareness and it was the perfect way to adapt the game to their playing level. Whenever we got a combination where we could not think of a real word to use it with - they got to be extra silly and come up with wacky sounding sounds/words to fit it. I enjoyed the playful way they made up these "silly nonsense" words on purpose and most of the time they were able to find "real" words on their own by adding in these sounds! :)

Overall, as a mom and an educator I appreciate that the game promotes phonics and reading, vocabulary expansion and spelling skills in a fun way. It can be used at home or in school. It can be played one-on-one or in teams to help promotoe cooperative play.

The Lil Divas simply found the game FUN! I love when they are able to play with a game and not even realize they are learning or practicing skills that I want to develop.

KaBAM! was a word building hit in our home!

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Buy It: 

Purchase KaBAM!

at Educational Insight's website. (Retail Price = $12.99)

Win It: 

Educational Insights has graciously agreed to giveaway

One (1) KaBAM! Word Building Game

to One (1) lucky Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Reader!

How to Enter:

**Contest ends on 8/18/11**

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

(US Residents Only!) is going to receive:

(1) KaBAM! Word Building Game

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me who you would like to win KaBAM! for? (ie your child, grandchild, students, friend, etc...) 

**Mandatory Entry must be completed for 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 that counts as an entry*

1. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Publicly via Google Friend Connect  (+2) leave 2 comments
2. "Like" Educational Insights on facebook 
3. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Twitter  (+2) leave 2 comments
4. Follow Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas on Facebook (+2) leave 2 comment
5. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas emails  (+2) leave 2 comments
6. Subscribe to Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas Newsletter  (+2) leave 2 comment
7. 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 5 posts but please note that comment must be dated after the start date of this post - not valid on previous comments. (+2) leave 2 comments
8. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a link - can be done once a day
   
   Tweet: #Win an @ed_insights KaBAM Word Building Game w/@Momto2PoshDivas ends 8/18 http://goo.gl/fb/qteOq #giveaways #homeschool #teachers #parenting

Giveaway Rules:
Giveaway ends 8/18/2011 at 11:59 (PDT)
Winner will be chosen via random.org. 
& 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 KaBam! 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