Learning Through Play with Fundels (REVIEW)

***REVIEW***

I have to say that I love games. And I'm really pleased that my boys love games too. Board games, card games and of course, electronic games. They love playing them, they love winning and they love having family games nights. So when we were asked to review some new Fundels games, that are just about to be launched by Cartamundi, the boys were very excited.

Based on a study that shows how our brains are up to 68% more efficient when we are having fun, Fundels is a series of card games that emphasise learning through play. 

Not all games have to be educational. We learn many different things through playing games about life in general including social skills… 

• How to have fun
• How to win and how to lose
• How to wait your turn

They can also develop our problem-solving skills, improve our memory, speed up our responses as well as make us feel good by having fun. But some games are educational too. 

One of the new games we were sent is all about Mathematics and the other how to draw using numbers. As boys who love maths and art, I’ve got to say the selection of games we received through the post was perfect. My boys were so excited. 

The range combines entertaining and colourful games and packaging with themes like language, conceptual thinking and mathematics, and all the games are aligned with the UK national curriculum. Gameplay involves flipping a mini-card and writing a word, racing players to win a counting game and creating drawings using the numbers zero to nine.

The first game we tried was the Multiplications Flashcards.

Standard Game: Multiplications

Multiplications is aimed at children aged 6+, and is a set of colourful cards with sums on one side and the correct answer on the reverse. You can play a variety of games with between 1 and 4 players. As its just the size of a pack of cards it will also be easy to carry around.

We played a simple version for four people where you divide the pack of cards equally. Then each player, in turn, places a card down with the sum facing upward. The other players guess the answer with the person fastest and correct keeping the card. The winner is the person who gets the most cards. We decided to make the adults wait 5 seconds before answering to encourage the boys to think and not get disheartened. 

We played this for about half-an-hour and it kept them interested. They would also play it again so a big thumbs up from them. 

The second game was a Play & Learn set which helps you learn to draw by using numbers.

Premium Game: Drawing with Numbers

Drawing With Numbers is aimed at children 7+ this can be played with alone as it involves choosing a card and following the instructions to draw an animal, person or object out of numbers. 

The box contains a pencil, picture cards, and a pre-printed notebook with drawings to complete. It all comes in a plastic box so it can be played anywhere. 

In order to draw the animals you learn to rotate, mirror, stretch numbers and practice writing, drawing and visualising space. My youngest, aged 7, took to it straight away. He loved it. Played all weekend and has already drawn them all. He now wants to make a large collage of drawing for the wall.

Yes, they are educational but also fun!

Deb x

Disclosure: We received a complimentary set of Multiplications and Drawing with Numbers in order to review. This post also contains affiliate links.