ThinkFun Balance Beans Math Game - Engaging Pre-Algebra Puzzle for Kids | Enhances Logical Reasoning & Critical Thinking | Award Winning Educational Toy | for Ages 5 and Up

Once again, ThinkFun has created a game that kids enjoy while secretly learning important educational skills. Balance Beans a single-player game that introduces young learners to elementary algebra, physics, and logic in a fun, hands-on format.First, assemble the see-saw by placing the balance tray on the base. The balance tray contains 7 rows of 3 raised circles that fit into the feet of the beans. Next, choose one of 40 challenge cards ranging from easy to difficult. The front of the card indicates where to place particular 'stationary' red beans on the balance tray. From there, player(s) attempt to strategically place indicated 'moveable' orange, yellow & blue beans on the tray without it teetering. What players don't realize is that when they balance the seesaw, they are actually balancing an equation! If the challenge is too difficult, the solution is on back--although some challenges will have multiple solutions. Through continual play and as the challenge cards get harder, players begin to rely less on trial and error and more on math and reasoning skills. The game can be enjoyed by one player or multiple players that want to work together on the solution.The ages for this game are listed for 5 and up, however children do not have to understand the math behind the game to play. Through simple hands-on experimentation, young players discover how beans placed farther from the center of the balance tray will lower the board more than an equal number of beans placed closer to the center. My 4 and 5 year old sons quickly grasped the concept and eagerly progressed through the challenge cards. Sometimes they opt to create and solving their own puzzles. The first level of puzzle cards can easily be completed through play and experimentation.I am a Pre-K educator and am excited to introduce this game into our independent STEM center and see my students strategize the bean placement and problem solve.As for the contents, the pieces are well made and will stand up to a lot of use. The beans all have cute expressions printed on their 'faces'. The cards are pliable, but laminated with a thin material to protect from minimal spills. I will likely laminate them with a thicker sheet for durability and attach them to a binder clip to avoid losing cards since I will use this game in class. The game comes with a mesh bag to store the balance tray, base, beans, cards, and instructions.Overall, Balance Beans is a great game to introduce a little math into your child's playtime! I write my reviews in order to assist shoppers make informed purchasing decisions. If this review has helped you make your decision (to buy or not to buy) please rate my review helpful. If you think I left something out, disagree, or have a question, please comment! I never post a review if it is not my genuine opinion or experience. If this is an issue for you in any way, please skip over this review. I did receive this product in exchange for my honest review, but I review products the same as if I had paid full price.

Ordered this for my grandsons, they are 2 and 4 years old. I know they are slightly under the recommended age, but like all grandmothers, I think mine are smarter than average! I was right, they were old enough to do the "easy" cards on this. I like that the game really grows with them too, more difficult cards they can advance to... or that their mother and I can play with :)They had so much fun figuring out how to place the pieces, I was surprised at how much it really got their brain going, you could see the little wheels spinning.The quality is great on this product, sturdy enough not to snap in the hands of a 2 year old, but light enough to be easily carried (in the cool bag that came with it) to my house, or school or wherever they want to.The directions were well written, the cards outline the goal and have the answers on the back.The colors are bright and happy, the faces on the little beans are adorable and welcoming to children.Very very happy with this product! Love that a company is making thinking cool again!Oh!! I almost forgot! I don't think I have ever seen the boys as excited to clean something up as they were this. I am not sure what it was about that little bag, but they thought it was super cool and both wanted to be the one to clean up first. Bonus!Full Disclosure: I have either received this product for free or at a discounted rate in exchange for my HONEST and unbiased review.I will not recommend products that I do not truly believe are worthy, nor will I copy and paste product info to increase my "word count", we all know lots of people use lots of words and don't say a damn thing...My integrity has always been of the utmost importance to me.If this review is helpful to you, please let me know by clicking on "helpful." If it is not, please let me know what you felt was lacking.

Very interesting and engaging. Child is entertained and yet doesn’t know he is learning

I bought this game as a church donation to kids in need. It arrived fast and was easy to package up to make someone smile at Christmas.

I actually ordered two boxes so that I can play this head-to-head with young family members. (Of course I can let the youngest ones win deliberately, but I just want to make it more social.)This is the first solitaire style puzzle game that my family and I have been able to get excited about. I tried several others, and I could not come up with any context or storyline or reward system that would get any kids interested in playing them. They follow the same system: draw a card from the puzzle deck, then use the pieces listed on the card to solve the challenge on the card. BALANCE BEANS has finally managed to make it fun!! It's a perfect blend of logic, math, cute gamepieces, and the twist of a wobbly game surface that actually physically indicates when you are correct. If the game surface levels off, then you solved it! Somehow, this is far more motivating and rewarding than the other games in this genre. It's a winner.

My 6-year-old grandson enjoyed this toy. He responds well to the challenge format, where he must solve the problems presented on the challenge cards. Before I gave him the challenge cards, we experimented with the weights, and he could see how moving the "beans" further in or out on the platform affected the weight. We also used the term, "balance the equation" which will help higher math feel more familiar when he gets to it in school years from now. This is a wonderful toy because it is fun, develops problem-solving skills and abstract reasoning.

The game is fun for my younger students. I run a boardgame club after school for K-2 students and this is one of the more popular games. They enjoy having 2 players where one player sets up the balance board and the other player solves it. I also like the carrying bag that came with the game.