{Family Fun} Dr. Seuss App and Card Game Combined

My kids and I have been playing this SEUSStastic Dr. Seuss Fun Machine game lately. It’s a new app and board game combined, released just in time for Christmas.

If you have played any of the Dr. Seuss board games by Wonder Forge you’ll know they are all created in whimsical Dr. Seuss style. The Dr. Seuss Fun Machine AppPlay game by Wonder Forge is an excellent merge between digital and traditional board games created for families and preschool children.

What does it do?

The Dr. Seuss Fun Machine AppPlay game takes the simple matching game up 55 notches. You buy the game tiles at a store (or online here) then download the free app. The app works for iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.  There are also instructions for ways to play without the app. When using the tiles with an idevice there are several ways you can play. The three games are ‘matching, slap down and guess-a-roo.’ The app leads you through a few quick directions then kids can play solo or with others (1-4 players).  They slide handles on a machine displayed on the screen to tell them what cards to look for. Each card has a special color, shape and character on it so the app tells them a variety of things to look for in each game.  It has simple, medium and hard levels.

What did we think?

I loved that we could play this as a family. There aren’t many apps that do that well. Parents and kids can play together.  My older kids (ages 6 and 9) tried out the guess-a-roo detective style game by themselves but the other games are set up to encourage playing with others.  I also liked that the game tiles create a hands-on element. Sometimes younger kids can get frustrated trying to swipe the screen for games but as we played I helped swipe. Then my 2-year-old could find the card and he would tap the screen to say he found the match.  It is perfect for preschool ages (3-6) who are learning their colors, shapes and yes,…introducing them to the Dr. Seuss characters.

Proud moment:  I have to admit I felt all warm and fuzzy as my 2-year-old said “Seuss game” and I realized it was the first time he said the word “Seuss.”

My 2 year old loved finding the tiles. It would tell him to look for a shape, color or character and he could do the color and character really well. We are still working on his shapes and this game was a great introduction to them.


The idevice doesn’t really recognize the cards, my son just liked to set it on top once he made the match. Then he presses the green button to say he found the match and it makes a fun noise.  This is his face (below) every time he pushed the green button.

Here is a description of the game from Wonder Forge:
The Cat in the Hat is back ... with an app! Dr. Seuss AppPlay Games combine the classic fun of tabletop games with the dynamic play power of apps, all served up for iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Match wits and make match-ups with these madcap mixes of family fun! Sturdy, colorful tiles pack up in a flash for quick bursts of Seuss fun ... near, far, or or wherever you are.

See all of Wonder Forge’s fun Dr. Seuss games here.
Follow Wonder Forge on Facebook for more Dr. Seuss fun and other game news.
This Dr. Seuss appPlay game can be found at ToysRus and other specialty stores or online at Amazon.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this game from Wonderforge for review purposes. All opinions are my own. I would gladly buy this game myself.

Are You My Mother? {Printable Matching Game}

To celebrate Mother's Day this week we are reading the book Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
My children giggle at the silly story line (The bird is in search of his mother. Is the cow his mother? Is the airplane his mother?). I love the repetition in this book. It helps my children feel comfortable guessing the words as they learn to read. The text is predictable and they can look at the simple illustrations for hints.
I created this worksheet so you could have children color it, then draw lines to the matches or try cutting the animals out to use as a matching game.

LITERACY ACTIVITY:
Print the free worksheet below to have cards for a matching game for the children’s book Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman.
Are You My Mother Worksheet

To Print: Click the word ‘Scribd’ in the lower left corner of the image, or click here.
Free Printable for non-commercial use only. I found the images from various free clipart sources on Google to create this worksheet.

TO PLAY: Cut out the animals in a rectangle card shape.  I hand wrote the names of the animals on the back of the mother cards. I asked my son to turn over a blank card (with a baby animal), then he would read the words to find the matching mother.

Happy Mother's Day!

Guess How Much I Love You Flash Cards

I created some simple heart-shaped flash cards of high frequency words for one of my favorite valentine children's books; ‘Guess How Much I Love You’ by Sam McBratney.


We have the story time or classroom size version that is about 18 inches tall. We also own the board book. This is a classic that you’ll want in your home library or classroom. The pictures are simple and relaxing and the text is memorable.

As I read books with my kindergartner I like to have him read the high frequency words while I read the more challenging words. It works best if I review the words before we read the book. Then he is familiar with them and doesn’t struggle so much during the story. 



For this book we reviewed the words, then I had him find the matching word in the book the second time we read it.

FREE PRINTABLE FLASH CARDS (for non-commercial use only)
I printed mine on pink paper.
Guess How Much Love Cards Obseussed

You can download the free flashcards by clicking the lower left corner of the box ‘Scribd’. Or click here for a link to all my Free Printables.

You could also let your child use the hearts to create a valentine by using a glue-stick and construction paper.

Happy Valentine’s Day!


Check out more great blog-land Valentine ideas: