( 30 reviews )
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Posted: 04-12-2009
This game is great for counting! One of the kids I work with, whom I didn't expect to recognize the numbers AND count, began to count out his spaces for each turn the second time playing this game! It motivates kids to count both the spaces and the aphids. I did tweak the rules a bit so we didn't have to give so many aphids to the ants--just made it so you only to give one or two to each ant. It keeps the game moving that way. I wish the pieces were not made of cardboard...I'm much more into the old school Candyland plastic pieces, but it's okay.
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Posted: 03-17-2009
The gameplay: Good, but slightly complicated, esp for its target age range. Lead to a bit of frustration at first. Seems to be a lot of rules; not altogether intuitive, either. You should see the instruction sheet - it's 1/2 story, 1/2 instructions. I can appreciate the concept of integration and engaging the players, but it's not executed well. Educational value: Good in helping with counting up to 10, but little else. Durability? UGH. Like I don't have enough pieces to keep together! We do pretty good with keeping games and their pieces together... but I feel like we spend more time cleaning up and putting the pieces in their respective ziplock bags than we do playing. (Well, maybe not - but cleanup time is a factor. That can be a good thing, too; assigning jobs and teaching responsibility...) There certainly is a cuteness factor that will appeal to little girls, with the bugs and all. Overall, though, I'd go with a game that's a little less complicated and has less pieces! Longevity was an issue as well - despite managing to not lose too many aphids and whatnot, we played it only a few times before my girls (3 & 4yo) lost interest. We have Silly Story Maker that has pictures on it where each player can lay down a card and add to the story the players make up as they go along - great for the 3-5+ age group, and better for brain development than 1-10 counting, which is all this game reinforces. Heck, even Sorry will outscore this game educationally, and it's easier for the little ones to understand. I don't mean to poo-poo the game too much. I know it was created by a 1st grader and all (it's kinda obvious, really) - and if she was my daughter I'd be really proud... but to compare it to other games, well, there really isn't a comparison. There's better bang-for-your buck out there.
