[Good Brand] Lego

There are a few brand that I am quite passionate about.
Lego is one of them.
There are other brands developing the constructable little cubes, but Lego, by far, is the best we found until now.

[+]
1. First and foremost, the design is beautiful and creative. Bright colours, many interesting shapes, brilliant thematic packages (not only buildings or vehicles, it also have mosaic, calendar, ...). We kept on finding more features of a certain pieces, even months after purchase. Hopefully the creativity will pass down to our kids *keeping fingers crossed*
2. Mechanically, it's a good design too. What our kids love from Lego is that it allows them to bring the creation around, and to display it. The pieces snap snugly, without being overly tight. We tried other brand, but it collapse or break on the way.
3. Blessed are the considerate people who design Lego. Firstly, duplo and lego are compatible! Initially we purchase little duplo set since the kids will outgrow it so fast. But after we found that they are truly compatible, out we go to buy more duplo :). Mommy to mommy advice : duplo or lego plastic boxes are equipped with little holes at the base. To drain the water during wash.

[-]
They are e.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e.
Does the quality justify the price? That's subjective. For our household, we'll wait for discount.

[Fun] Apples to Apples Kids 7+

Not in line with natural weather, my household also operates based on season. So far, we've met sporty season (jogging regularly, natural walk,...), Avatar season, Indiana Jones season, ...

Sometimes, we even acknowledge that fact. 'Did we buy this before or after the Avatar season?'

Anyway, now it is board game season.

One of our fresh purchase is Apples to Apples Kids 7+.

(Image : http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Apples-Kids-Plus-Comparisons/dp/B00112EJEY/ref=dp_cp_ob_t_image_1

[What is it about]
There are two stacks of cards, red and green.
Red cards are 'things to compare' (E.g: kitten, throwing stones, ...), and green cards states the comparison criteria (E.g: yummy, cute, ...)
Basic idea is to submit suitable red card to the judge whatever thing fit the criteria best.

[+]
1. Simple, even my 3 year-old can participate.
2. Act as vocab builder. Each card has description of the word.
3. Training reading skill as cards do not contain picture.
4. Honing up creativity too... since we're definitely required to link things and criteria that sometimes does not even have natural nor obvious relation. Some may say term it as thinking-out-of-the-box.
5. Teaching kids to see things, to compare within given context.
6. Whoohoo... you'll like it... it's fast... One round is about 15 to 30 minutes only (depends on how much discussion you are encouraging kids).

[-]
1. As mentioned above, picture on the card would've been great help for kids, and also will make it more attractive. But, I also think that with pictures, minds will be directed. Limiting the possibilities, the perspectives.
2. Requires at least 3 to 4 players (I think official rule quoted 4, but we've been playing with at least 3). Making it more difficult in arranging the playing time compared to those can take-off with 2 players.

Oh yeah... we take board games as great opportunity to train kids to win humbly and to lose gracefully.