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Mindware - Q-bitz

Mindprint Rating

Tags

Mathematics ^21st Century Skills All Ages Game

Skills

Flexible Thinking Working Memory Attention Abstract Reasoning Visual Discrimination Processing Speed Visual Motor Speed Spatial Perception

Mindprint Expert Review

Pros

  • The instructions offer three ways to play in addition to the 80 different patterns to copy, so this game never feels repetitive .
  • Although not designed as such, a child can easily play alone with a timer and have fun.
  • Younger children can easily compete against older children and be successful since there is no reading or general knowledge required.

Considerations

  • Students with weak fine or visual motor weaknesses might have difficulty working quickly to put all 16 dice in the tray.
  • The combination of visual working memory and pattern recognition may be hard for students with weaker visual skills, so these children may only want to play a few cards in a sitting.

Mindprint Expert Review

Q-bitz is a great game for adults and children of all ages to exercise a variety of visual skills. Players compete to be the first to replicate the visual design seen on the card. Up to four players have the same 16 dice, and each die has a different pattern on each side. Students must organize the dice in the tray to mirror the pattern on the selected Q-bitz card before their opponent(s). The directions offer potential modifications, such as showing everyone the card and then removing it and each player tries to replicate the pattern the best he can from memory. Playing this game, students will work on their visual speed, pattern recognition and focus. There is no reading involved, so even young child can play. Adults may want to modify the rules or play more cautiously with students who have weaker visual skills or grow anxious when speed matters. Students with weaker fine motor skills can easily play, but they may have some difficulty placing some of the dice correctly if they do not start from the middle of the board and work their way to the outside spaces.

Fun

Engaging for the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
  • Visually appealing to children in the target age range
  • Adults would enjoy playing with a child
  • For electronic games, gives positive or encouraging feedback
  • Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
  • Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

Easy to Use

Understandable for children in the Mindprint recommended age range

  • Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
  • Student should be able to use independently after first use
  • Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
  • Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
  • Does not require excessive set-up time after first time use
  • Can be fun as a single player game
  • Multi-player game which fosters collaboration or cooperation
  • Well-made for the cost
  • For electronic games, can play without sound
  • For electronic games, allows user to save work
  • For electronic games, voice/sounds are appealing and pronounces words properly
  • Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
  • Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
  • Overall - Easy to use

Cognitive Concerns

May not be advisable for students with the following cognitive needs

  • Fine Motor Skills
    • Requires challenging finger movements, motor precision or physical manipulation
    • Has small parts that may be difficult to manipulate (e.g. battleship pegs)

Manufacturer Description

The Q-bitz game is a great way to say goodbye to boredom and challenge your mind all at once. Practice your symmetry, visual dexterity, quick thinking, and competitive nature. Q-bitz stimulates the brain to use spatial reasoning and memory skill making it perfect for both the classroom and at home. With Q-bitz, it's not the same game over and over again. You get 80 different puzzle cards that you can compete to complete in 3 different ways. That's over 200 different ways to play. Combine that with different friends and you have a new experience every time. Each game contains three rounds, each round with a different card. Players puzzle over how to recreate the patterns on the game cards using their set of 16 cubes. The first player to match the pattern wins the card. The player with the most cards, wins the game. Q-bitz has received accolades including Parent's Choice Gold Award, National Parenting Publications Awards' Nappa Gold. Tillywig Toy Award's Bain Child Award Winner, and the Major Fun Award. You're sure to have a good time challenging your visual agility with Q-bitz. Package contains (1) Q-bitz Game by Mindware. Includes 80 Q-bitz cards, 4 wooden trays, and 4 different colored sets of 16 cubes. Game design by Peggy Brown. Suitable for 2 to 4 players ages 6 years and older.