Grandma's Trunk Alphabet Game {review and giveaway}

the review

We recently had the opportunity to review Grandma’s Trunk, an educational alphabet game from Educational Insights.

This is another language-enrichment game that really helps build and enforce kids’ pre-reading skills. While the suggested age is K+, my 4-year-old had a great time playing it. He’s been working on letter recognition, so this is another game that’s at the perfect level for him.

We played this game with his grandparents (even his great-grandma got in on the fun). Both kids were able to participate, too. My daughter (almost 2) and I were a team.

First we played Letter Sequence Memory, where we each took turns putting the cards back in the trunk in alphabetical order.

Then we played the Grandma’s Riddles game, which was very fun! My son hasn’t had much experience with riddles yet, so it was neat to see the wheels turning as he tried to figure out the answer from listening to the clues. This type of game play also exercised his listening skills. He really had to pay attention to what clues were being given in order to figure out what item needed to be put in the trunk.

The double-sided cards are colorful and nicely illustrated. They’re durable and should hold up well to standard game play.

I like that the cards are stored right in the trunk, which actually becomes a part of the game. I always appreciate when the packaging makes sense. The box is also small (about 5×7, I’d say), so it’s easily taken on the road.

What I liked most, though, was the sheer variety of games your family can play with the included cards. There are five different games (plus variations!) all outlined in the included Parents’ Guide. This makes game play go so much further. We’ll be able to play some variety of this game over and over without getting bored at all. That’s a lot of value in one little box.

Included games:

1. What Comes Next? Take turns placing the letter cards in the trunk in alphabetical order.

2. Memory Time Take turns repeating the sequence of cards already in the trunk, then adding one of your own and challenging other players to remember them all, in order.

3. Grandma’s Riddles Deal the cards, then read a riddle and race to see who has the letter card that answers it!

4. Letter Sequence Memory Deal the cards and take turns putting them in the trunk in alphabetical order, repeating the items already in the trunk and challenging other players to remember them all, in alphabetical order.

5. Grandma’s Adventures Place the letter cards in the trunk and take turns pulling them out to create a cooperative story: “Once upon a time there was a grandma. She saw an iguana.”

Here’s what we liked most:

• Variety of games to play in one box.
• Easily recognizable words.
• Colorful illustrations.
• Easy to store.

The giveaway

WIN IT: One lucky reader will win Grandma’s Trunk Alphabet Game, thanks to Educational Insights!

The rules: Open to U.S. and Canada only. Giveaway runs through Feb. 27. Winner will be e-mailed and will have 48 hours to confirm. If winner does not confirm, a new winner will be chosen. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Disclosure: Educational Insights provided a copy of the game to facilitate my review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.