When I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to see what Santa left me in my stocking. To be honest, I was just as excited about what was in my stocking as I was what was under the tree.
Every Christmas, Santa brought me an apple and an orange. If you Google it, fruit is often left in stockings as a special gift because back in the day, fresh produce was hard to come by.
In addition, I also received a new box of crayons, a coloring book, some candy and a “book” box of Lifesavers candies.
If you are looking for some stocking stuffer ideas, gift ideas, or even something to do this winter why you are cooped up at home, check out the fun, family games by Trend Enterprises. In addition to games, Trend Enterprises also has incentives, rewards, classroom essentials and decor. As someone who works with children (K-5th grade), I found a lot of things on the brand’s website that I’d love to have for my “work kids.”
Trend Enterprises was kind enough to send me some of their popular games to review. What I love most about these games (aside from being fun) is that they are small and compact in size, making them portable (great for traveling!), and don’t take up much space. Where I work, we don’t have much space. I appreciate that these games can fit inside a shoebox (they do – a plastic shoe box).
This is a matching game. The cards are triangular in shape.
This game is really unique because there are several ways you can play the cards. This is ideal for where I work because I have kids in grades K-5th. Some ways of playing the card game is easier for them, more so than the other children. Having a variety of ways to play these cards also ensures that no one gets bored playing them. You can play them a different way each time.
All of the games you can play with Lava Lizards involve matching. You can make the lizard color, lizard shape, or corners. Kids love matching games, so this game turned out to be a lot of fun for my “work kids.”
I like that I can wipe these cards down too (we wipe down everything once it’s been touched).
The games end when all of the volcano cards are drawn – then the lizards “explode” (the game ends). The kids really like that part, and sometimes the kids throw their cards in the air as if the lizard (cards) are exploding.
This game also has cards that are shaped like a triangle.
This game was a little harder for the younger kids to understand, but the older kids were able to grasp how the game is played.
There are cards that feature jewels and gems on them. The object of the game is to collect as many of these cards as you can. You also need to collect gnome cards. You need three gnome cards to protect your gem/jewel cards. If they are not protected, they can be “stolen” by the trolls.
The game plays until all of the troll cards are found. The player with the most gems/jewel cards wins.
There are other “obstacles” to avoid, such as a “snooze” card where you lose a turn, or a “sneaky” card where another player can steal one of your sacks of gems/jewels.
I do have to mention that the gnomes and trolls are adorable. I especially love the cute trolls.
Admittedly, we haven’t really figured out how to play this game. We’ve read the instructions (me and my co-worker) but it seems a little too confusing for us, let alone the kids. I think it’s because there are different “challenges” you need to win in order to advance you to a point where you can discover the Sasquatch (Big Foot).
This game looks cool. I think if we (me and my co-worker) had more time to read the directions and sit and play it step by step it would help. These days we’re lucky if we can breath at work, let alone sit down and figure the game out. But… it does look cool. And if it’s anything like the other games, it will be fun.
Of all the Trend games I was sent to review, this is the first one that stood out to me. I think it’s because it’s so easy to learn and I knew my little ones at work could easily “get” this game.
The object of the game is to collect six matching pieces to the same color gem, but watch out. You can lose a term or have some take (swap) one of your cards.
There are rainbow colored cards in the deck. If you get one of these they can be used to represent any color.
My little ones (and even the older kids) really like this game. Out of all the games, this one is played the most because it’s easy to learn and it’s fast paced.
This is a fun game that we’re altered a bit for the younger kids.
In EnCOWnter, players need to match the “Earthy objects” on their UFO card to win. Each UFO card has three Earthy things that the UFO wants to bring back with them (people, animals, objects and so forth). To win the game, you need to find three items that match your UFO card. But watch out, there are “action” cards that can throw you off track. There are also ways that other players can win with the cards YOU are looking for.
When the little kids play this game, I omit the action cards and just leave the object cards for them. It’s just that the little ones can’t really read, and I’m not about to explain what a “worm hole” is to them (ha ha). The older kids play with all the cards.
This is a matching game, and it helps kids recognize silhouettes and match items to them.
It didn’t surprise me that the younger boys took to this game right away. Boys love vehicles and trains. The little ones don’t exactly play the game the way it’s suppose to, but they are close to understanding it. Some of it has to do with the fact they can’t read, so they can’t read the action cards.
With On Track, you need to collect cards that match your tracks. The cards are triangle in shape, so you can match them together different ways.
The idea is to connect the tracks until you reach your terminal card. Action cards will veer you off track, and you’ll have to come up with an alternate route.
The little ones like this game because it’s almost like a maze, where you have to find a way to get from one point to another.
This game is different every time because the cards you draw are random, so you never know which way you’re tracks will go.
All of these games are available on the Trend Enterprises website. You can also purchase them from other retailers. I found some of the games on Amazon, through the Trend Enterprises Amazon store. All of the games are available through Prime, so you can get them quickly.
All of the games featured sell for $9.99. Compared to other games, these games are very “budget friendly.”
Trend Enterprises is also on social media. All of their links are found on the bottom of their website.
What do you think about these games? Is there one game that stood out the most to you?
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
