In my house board games are always a hit. I use them for fun and for education. My almost three year old asked to “play board game” just the other day. Since it is a favorite family activity we have to have board games that keep everyone’s interest and cause much laughter and fun. If the game is educational in addition it quickly becomes a mom favorite. Recently, a game caught my homeschooling mom attention for math, following directions and skills in taking turns. The game is Share A Berry by Simply Fun. The game is just that, simply fun. If you scratch the surface a bit you can come up with many ways to incorporate the game into learning activities for your preschooler.
Game Play
Players take turns flipping over their 4 Berry Path tiles, collecting the number of strawberries shown from the Big Berry Basket and threading them onto their string. When players begin turning over their River Path Tiles, they must remove the number of strawberries from their string and pass them to another player as directed by the bear on the tile. It’s fun to “Share a Berry!”
Lessons to Learn
The first lesson any game teaches is how to take turns. The second lesson a game teaches is following directions. If it appears my child is not willing to take turns or follow directions the game simply ends. There is no discussion. I pack the game up and inform my child that when she is ready to play properly we will play. Since Share A Berry is so cute and inviting I had no issues getting my almost three year old to sit nicely and take turns and follow directions. Learning to take turns and follow directions gives a framework of order for the child that will extend beyond a game.
Math Lessons
Share A Berry is a game centered on counting, addition and subtraction. My child flipped over a card and I asked her what number was on the card (number recognition) then I had her count out the number of berries she needed (counting). On the next card I had my child repeat the same steps but this time ask how many berries does she have now altogether (addition). When it came time to cross the river and “share a berry” I had her remove the number of berries from her string and tell me how many were left (subtraction). When the game was complete I asked her who had the most berries. I showed her my string and she showed me her string. I compared the two and asked how many more do I have or how many more do you have. Using the game as a teaching tool in this capacity has also helped my Kindergarten student sharpen her math skills.
If you are seeking a fun and educational math game for your preschool you will want to try Share A Berry.