Math Needs To Be Fun Sometimes (Product Review)

This is a sponsored post via USFamilyGuide.

Freemples received product to review, 

but shares opinions & information honestly.

I'm a little delayed in sharing my review of the web-based computer program, Splash Math, with you. If you'll remember, we first introduced you to Splash Math right before Christmas and were looking forward to giving it a try. In this instance my procrastination is to your benefit as I can now say with for certain that the game has staying power...

I should start by telling you that our kids are math lovers.  This is bizarre for my husband and I-we both struggled in math all the way through college-but, hooray, go kids that don't know math isn't supposed to be super easy!  Loving math is not a prerequisite to loving Splash Math, though.  The only requirement for that is being a kid who loves a talking hippo...what kid wouldn't think was fun?

Math lovers or not, as a parent it's hard to tell a child his screen time is over when he's pleading with you, "No, Mom, just let me do 20 more problems!"  

But Splash Math is not just a game, and this is what I love about it.  During set-up, you select your child's grade level.  It was encouraging to find the scope and sequence follows very closely with what my 2nd grader knows how to do and/or is learning.  As homeschoolers, that's been great because I can let him play knowing it's not too easy or too hard.  But if your child is in the school system, it's also a great way to look at what they're learning at school and then give them extra practice on that math topic at home.  Once logged in, you can work from the beginning and go straight through, or pick and choose which problems you want to work on.  

This short video will give you a better look at how the program actually works...

As you could see in the video, there is a game aspect with each question answered correctly earning points that can then be used to purchase animals to play with in an aquarium or the jungle.  Honestly, that's the only part of the Splash Math program that underwhelms me.  My 7- and 4-yr-old love it and race through their 20 questions to get to play with the crabs and giraffes again.  But it's pretty elementary, and I can't imagine it stays entertaining forever.  I especially can't imagine that someone using the whole program, K-5, would care much at all about that part once they were in the upper grades.  Also, our introductory session on Splash Math had a 20-question limit per day.  While I love my kids being able to do as much math as they'd like each time they play, I have to pay more attention that they aren't hurrying through their questions, playing in the jungle, and then forgetting to go back and do more problems.

Overall, we LOVE Splash Math.  I'm certainly not going to be the ones to tell my kids that they're really do school work every time they play.  You should let your kids give it a try!

Try Splash Math on the Computer

Try Splash Math in an App.  

Product provided for honest review via USFamilyGuide

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Utah Winterpalooza!!

This is a sponsored review via Tomoson.

I will receive complimentary passes,

but am sharing with honest opinions & interest.

We are having an extremely mild winter here in Utah.  It really has not been a problem to send the kids outside to play.  In that regard, it doesn't seem like the cabin fever is quite as bad as it could be.  BUT, winter is still winter and it doesn't always seem like there are as many things to do.  If your family is like ours and looking for a way to spend some fun quality time together, I've got a great last-minute opportunity for you...

Yes, that's tomorrow...nothing like living by the seat of your pants, though, right!  Look at all that is included with your $7.00 entrance pass:

Bounce Houses  Rockwall  Rappelling Ropes Course

Laser Tag Arena   Laser Tag Dome   Mechanical Bull

Human Wrecking Ball (WHAT??? That's going to be fun!)

2 Man Ferris Wheel 

Nail Station for all the little ladies and their moms

Bubble Balls   Jungle Jumparoo  Strider Bike Course

Paint Parties    Pretend Wear 

Rustic Mountain Art Classes

Drum Bus

Party Game Express, Game Trailer

30 Foot Sand Trailer

Face Painting   Glitter Tattoos Henna Body Art

Yes, all of that is free.  PLUS, there will be live entertainment including:

Live Animal Shows from Creature Encounters, Scales and Tails Reptiles.
There's Fun Puppet Shows from Kipper Brothers Puppeteers
U of U Break Dance Club (demos & instruction)

Tracy Aviary "Build A Bird" Activity
Magic Shows, Juggling Performances and More

And just when it seems like it couldn't get any better, there will also be free photo opps with all your child's favorite princesses and super heroes!

Can you think of anything better to do tomorrow?  Seriously, your kids are going to LOVE YOU!!

Here's what you need to know...

    Where:  Sandy, South Towne Expo Center 

    When: Saturday, January 24 (remember, that's tomorrow)

                                10AM-8PM

     Price:  $7.00 if you book online now using this link:

                    www.WinterPaloozaUtah.com

                 $10.00 if you buy tickets tomorrow at the door

                  (Ages 2& up)

Last minute, yes, but the best surprise of your children's new year!!

Will I see you there?

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Holiday Traditions, Then and Now

Taking a break from reviews and giveaways 

to share the important things this holiday...

The winter holidays are meant for kids.  Santa Claus is real, snow falls solely for sledding and building snow families, and a baby (just like I used to be, they'll say) was born in the hay.  When else do we let them bring trees in the house or bury them with brand new toys, shiny paper, and glittery ribbon?  In the thick of it, they'll tell you every bit of it is magical.  It's not until we get a little older that particular pieces of that holiday magic begin to plant themselves in a special part of our memory. For me, the enchantment was the Christmas tree.

Growing up in Iowa, the formula for the perfect Christmas tree involved waiting for a bitter cold day and swirling biting winds.  The whole family piled out of the station wagon at the country Christmas tree farm, picked up a hacksaw and trudged acres and acres to the farthest, most un-harvested hill.  The arguments then ensued as six girls poured out their hearts in defense of their " perfect"  tree.  Ultimately, Mom got the one she wanted, and the saw went to work chopping down her tree.

The adventure continued on as we dragged our enormous tree back across the snow-laden hills looking for a tractor and trailer willing to give us a ride back to our car.  If we were lucky, the tree would fit in the baler-one year it would not-and a great big Christmas tree bundle got strapped to the top of the car.  Piling back into the station wagon, we raced home to set up our tree.

The happy memories don't end there.  Getting the tree home was only half the act.  Enter Pa-pa and his voice of reason.  "Dawn, that tree is too big.  It won't fit in our house."  He was right nearly every year.  The tree's trunk always  received a second round of shearing before taking it's place front and center in the living room window.

After the tree was decorated and lit, we enjoyed seeing more and more presents accumulate underneath.  We would plug in the lights in the late afternoon and sometime before going to bed, Mom and Dad would unplug it again.  Until Christmas Eve.  On Christmas Eve we all knew the twinkling lights stayed on all night.  Early in the morning (or later in the morning depending on how old we were getting to be), six girls would tumble out of bed, shuffle into the living room and be greeted with the most breathtaking sight!  The glow of the Christmas tree illuminated the room, shining off wrapping paper, and calling attention to a big bag from Santa. Spread out on the floor, in front of the tree, were six stuffed-to-the-brim stockings inviting us to come and partake.  With the allure of new toys, the moment was over in the blink of an eye, but the living room aglow on Christmas morning is what Christmas time magical to me.

Imagine then, the struggle it's been with a husband who grew up a little bit differently.  In a home that in all ways seemed even more frugal than my own, the electric bill at Christmas time apparently just went out the window.  He wants the lights on all the time, day and night and any extra time in between.  Last year we followed each other around, secretly plugging and unplugging.  I was certain he was being obstinate only because he didn't like digging around for the loose cords to fit into the socket.  There had to be a solution before we started our holiday celebrating again this year.

In come our kids.  Even before talking about getting a tree, they tell us excitedly and assuredly that Christmas trees have lots of presents and candy canes.  I have no idea where the candy canes came from, but they are certain and now our tree is covered in candy canes they can eat every day.  The first night we had our tree up I heard our oldest telling his dad that if he couldn't sleep he would just come out and look at the tree.  The second night we had our tree up, I found him sleeping on the couch and when he woke up the first thing he said was, "I just wanted to lay here and look at this beautiful tree."

A mom's heart melts.  It's a struggle to walk by and see the lights on at all times of the day.  I want my family to know joy the way I remember it as a child.  At the same time, who am I to take away a three-year-old's joy?  Children make the holidays!

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