@stemlabkids Bertie the Balance Bot Review

I really like toys that kids can build themselves. Recently Isaak got Bertie the Balance Bot from STEM Lab Kids to review. 

I was thinking he'd want help building Bertie. NOPE! Isaak wanted to build Bertie the Balance Bot himself. I sat back, watched, and took pictures between each step. 

It took about an hour for the bot to be built. It was a good afternoon. Isaak didn't get too frustrated. He did make a mistake, but it was way at the end. All was good. 

Parts:

There weren't a lot of parts. 

• Wooden pieces that were pre die cut
• Plastic pieces
• Screws - the set included extras if needed
• A battery holder
• Batteries
• A mini screwdriver
• Stickers
• A manual 
• A file - I'm assuming was for the wooden pieces if needed 

Isaak got right to work!

The manual wasn't too hard to figure out. He only struggled with two areas. Considering this toy was made in China, I was wondering if the instructions would be hard to follow. They weren't. 

The wheels were first on the list to be built. Popping them out of their wooden background makes Isaak uneasy. He feels like he's going to break them. I suggested he use a kitchen knife to help him push the pieces out. Of course you wouldn't want to make this suggestion, for any kid younger than Isaak. I was watching him the whole time. 

Isaak liked that the instructions had visual photos, along with text. He's an artsy kid, so visuals help. 

Step 1: 

Sometimes Isaak and I take things a bit to literal. One of the first instructions was to insert the axle into the pulley. They mentioned to use a wooden piece to help push it in. In the visual they show a wooden piece pushing the axle. Isaak was looking for that exact wooden piece, but the piece didn't exist. It was just to assist with pushing the axle in. I suggested to Isaak he go use his hammer he had from Lowes Clinic. He got that, and tapped the axle into place. 

Step 2:

Isaak got to put the battery holder in. 

The Middle Steps: 

Forming the box wasn't too hard. Isaak didn't need any help.

Finishing the last cube like panel was hard, for Isaak. He got it. 

Finishing it up:

I always panic inside when kids get to this point. Like will it work? Did he do this all for nothing? I knew this was for a review, so it could have totally flopped.

Isaak messed up with the batteries. That's something I've done countless times. What can I say? He's my son. We were both thinking it was not going to work. I suggested he put the batteries in the other way. Boom it worked. 

Finishing Touches:

Isaak used the stickers to decorate Bertie. You could go as far as painting the bot if you wanted to. 

Positives: 

• It encourages STEM Learning = Science | Technology | Engineering | Math 
• There's problem solving skills that occur with this toy
• Kids make Bertie the Balance Bot themselves 

Negatives: 

• They left out "A" in STEM to be STEAM - A = Art - Bertie uses art with the stickers and kids designing it themselves - Being a former art instructor this is important to me 
• The batteries are not the best brand
• The toy its self was made in China

Overall I think it's fun to watch kids process through something. It was like watching Isaak's brain wheels move right along with Bertie's actual wheels. 

Disclaimer: I got this product for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Code Piano Review - Teach Kids Coding, From @LetsStartCoding! #LetsStartCoding #Coding

This was the first year Isaak didn't believe in Santa. I should be thankful that he believed, for so long. He's in sixth grade, and I stopped believing in fourth grade. I wanted it to be a special Christmas for him. I kept reminding him that the spirit of Santa is still real. You can look up Saint Nicholas, and he was in fact a real, and giving person.

One of my favorite gifts that Isaak got, was Code Piano from Lets Start Coding. 
  

I was going to put it in his stocking, but decided I wanted to make it a bigger gift than that. I put it in a big box, filled with confetti, a note in there that he'd start actual Piano Lessons towards the end of January, and wrapped it. Code Piano is a perfect stocking stuffer size.

Learning how to play the piano has been therapy for Isaak. If he gets frustrated with his homework we tell him to go play his keyboard. It takes all frustrations away. It's the only thing I've found that works to calm him down, when he's really frustrated. I knew Code Piano would be up there on his list!

If you don't like to play the piano, that's ok. It's really mostly about coding. Lets Start Coding does have other sets!

• Code Piano $44.99
• Code Speaker $19.99
• Code Rocket $44.99
• Code Car $44.99

I have to admit I was apprehensive about Isaak starting to use Code Piano. I just kept thinking, What if we can't help him? The product was new to me as well. 

If there's one thing I disagree with, it's the age range 8-12. I think it's for ages 8 and up! It would be good, for a lot of adults to use.

Isaak kept saying, "I know how to code. Let's do this." So we did. The cards can seem like foreign language if you're not familiar with coding. They are helpful when you dive in to the project.

We read all the cards, and just decided to begin. They have everything you need to get started. It will work on my Macbook from work, but not my newer laptop I own. The newer one has no USB ports. There are adapters, but as is it won't work. 

Once it's plugged in, a download comes up, for the application. That was the one thing I wasn't sure where to put the coding in. It simply worked right after it was plugging it in.

From there are tips, videos, quizzes, and sample code to use.

If you code wrong, your code highlights in red. That way you know to fix it.

Isaak started out just like me, knowing what to do, but really knowing nothing. Ha! He got lots of code that was red, and not working. Thankfully they do have a refresh button.

We left him home alone, to do his thing. He called when we got a few blocks away. "Dad! I did something! Listen!" A few notes chimed in. He called a few more times after that. He was excited about his accomplishments!

I got home, and we did our video. He learned a lot in the few hours we were gone. He still needs to learn more. If he knew everything, Code Piano wouldn't be as fun. He'd have nothing to learn.

What I really loved, was that there was notes from Isaak all over my note page about the product. He said, "Mom I had to do some math to figure out some of the coding. You need math to code." I said, "Remember that when you tell me that you will never use math in the real world." 

I'd say Code Piano is a success! It's a toy, but also a learning device. 

Questions for you:

Do you know how to code well? Do you find it challenging? 

Out of all the sets they have, Which one would you choose: Code Piano, Code Rocket, Code Speaker, or Code Car?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free in exchange for an honest review. 

#gameweek With Tri-Ominos

Memories:

I have never played Tri-Ominos before. I have great memories of playing board games with my family when I was a kid! I do remember playing a Domino Game called Chicken Scratch. This game seemed similar.

Mica and Isaak have some great friends that love game nights. I was hoping to include them in some reviews, but one of them just had brain surgery. Right now the one kid's eyes are bothering him from surgery. We'll soon have them over to play games soon.

Tri-Ominos is a great game for ages 8 and up! With the boys getting older, it's important to find games that are not too elementary.

Game Contents:

• Four Racks
• 56 Crystalline Deluxe Pieces With Brass Spinners
• Instructions
• A Fun Triangle Hard Cardboard Case

Set Up:

This is for two to four players. Ages 8 and up.

Scramble the fifty six triangle tiles up. Playing with two players: Each player will take nine Tri-Omino tiles and place them in their tray. Playing with tree or four players: Each player will take seven Tri-Omino tiles each.

Pick a scorekeeper to write down each player's name, and points throughout the game.

Start the Game:

The player with the highest number starts by placing it on the table.

If three of the same number can be can be played, that player earns 10 bonus points.

The Scorekeeper keeps track of the points earned throughout the game.

Objective:

The first player to get 400 points wins the game.

Encourages STEM or STEAM:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Art
• Math

The boys liked this game! It was fairly quick. While there is some strategy, some of it's chance - what tiles are picked have to do with their chances of winning.

Have you played Tri Ominos before?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free from  Goliath Games | Pressman Toy Company in exchange for an honest review. Pressman did not tell me what to say for this review. All opinions are my own. 

#gameweek With Rummikub

Memories:

One of my favorite games is Rummikub. I played it a lot growing up at family gatherings. It most certainly brings back memories. My Aunt Becky introduced it to us, and My Grandma that is no longer with us loved to play!

Everyone would sort of get annoyed with me because when I was around 10 (Isaak's age) I'd dismantle the whole game just to try and figure out how to get my tiles played.

I tried to get my kids to enjoy Rummikub like I did. They didn't seem to take to it. Possibly it's because I played so much growing up that I won every single time!

That's until lately! Even though I won most of the time, I taught the kids how to play too. I just played the boys and came in last place! Yep my ego is heartbroken. Ha! I'm just glad they finally learned how to play well enough to kick my butt!

Game Contents:

• Four Wooden Racks
• 106 High Quality, Durable Tiles, Including Two Jokers
• Instructions
• A Wooden Case 

How to Play:

This is for two to four players. Ages 8 and up.

Scramble the tiles up, pick 14 tiles.

Organize the tiles by runs (same color in number order) and three of a kind (same number, different colors). You have to have 3 tiles in both sets and three of a kind to put them on the board. You can have more than three, but not less than three. Don't let your opponent(s) see your tiles.

We play youngest to oldest, but you can draw a tile to see who goes first. Whoever has the highest tile starts the game off.

You can play if your tiles = 30 points. If you have a joker, it can equal any tile, and equals 30 points right away. If not you can not play, draw, and it's the next player's turn. You can not go after you've drawn.

Once you've laid out, and it passes one more round you can lay tiles on other people's runs or three of a kind to equal a four of a kind, You can steel a fourth tile to add to two of your tiles to make another three of a kind, or run. You can split in a run up to play more tiles within it.

Anything goes!

Three or four of a kinds have different colors, and more than three tiles. Runs have to have the same color, and at least three tiles.

Objective:

The objective is to get rid of all your tiles.

Encourages STEM or STEAM:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Art
• Math

Rummikub is about pattern recognition, and planning skills.

I love this game because it makes the players think!

What's your favorite board game that includes numbers?

Disclaimer: I got this product for free from  Goliath Games | Pressman Toy Company in exchange for an honest review. Pressman did not tell me what to say for this review. All opinions are my own. 

Ugears @UkrainianBridges Review

I love toys like Ugears! 

Why do I like them? 

1. They make my kids think before, during and after they create. 


2. They are toys for older kids. Mica still likes getting fun things, but he's growing out of many toys on the market. The sets we got from Ugears actually are for ages 14 and up.


3. Their models help push STEM learning: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Except I like to add in STEAM: A = Art. Their models have it all. 


4. It was a bonding experience between Dad and the boys when they were built. 

Sets:

Ugears were so kind to send us 2 kits to review.

1. Ugears Dynamometer $19.90 | 48 Pieces | Level Easy


2. Ugears Tractor $29.90 | 97 Pieces | Level Intermediate

Wood:

The parts are all in sheets of a high tech wood. They really do not waist on packaging. I love that these models are not plastic!

The sheets look like this:

You want to pop the pieces out evenly to prevent them from breaking. We had to correct Isaak.

Here's one of the gears in the process of being put together:

Travis loved helping the boys put these together. He's like, "I could see making sculptures like this!" 

We did have some hiccups. Like how Mica thought he needed no help. He also thought he could get by without measuring things. Umm...no! I think he learned how important it is to measure with his model. He also learned that not all instructions are just like Lego. The instructions for Ugears are all pictorial. 

Isaak relies on help much of the time, since he's 9 almost 10. He just learned to pop the pieces out evenly. 

Instructions:

The instructions had no words. I think the boys wished they had some words. It's nice for the company because their models are sold in other spots around the world besides the US. Their pictures are really detailed. 

I Almost Want to Keep the Left Overs: 

Ugears Dynamometer: 

This really turned out to be fun! Isaak did need help putting together the 48 piece set. It reminded me of something that would be in the movie Hugo.

Ugears Tractor:

The rubber band still could be added. Otherwise it's finished. Mica needed assistance with this 97 piece model.

Here They Are Together:

Excuse Isaak's, "The sun's in my eyes!" look, even though the sun was on the other side of the house. Ha!

Check Out Our Video:

Which Ugear model do you like the most? The Tractor or the Dynamometer? What could you seeing them add to their collection? They have 35 or so models on their website.

Disclaimer: I got both Ugears Models to review. Ugears did not tell me what to write, or think of their products. I choose to write about products that fit this site.