God Changes Me

God Changes Me is a children's book about the doctrines of sanctification and the Holy Spirit. We need to be rescued from ourselves and from sin. The Bible tells us that change is possible only when a stronger power transforms us from the inside out. The Holy Spirit makes that change within us. Heart change leads to behavior change. In this book children will see examples such as temptation to disobey parents, the struggle to share, and the many big emotions that we all feel. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing is the perfect hymn to go along with this book. 

The hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" beautifully complements the book's message by emphasizing the need for divine assistance in our spiritual journey. It highlights the themes of grace and transformation, underscoring how God's love and guidance can lead to personal growth and change. By pairing the hymn with the book, children can better understand the concept of seeking God's help to overcome challenges and embrace a life of faith.

Teaching the doctrines of sanctification and the Holy Spirit to children is crucial because it lays the foundation for their spiritual growth and moral development. Understanding these concepts helps children recognize their own capacity for change and the role of divine assistance in shaping their character. By learning these doctrines early, children are better equipped to navigate life's challenges with faith and resilience.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come Thou fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Here by Thy great help I've come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

(Precious blood)

Oh, that day when freed from sinning

I shall see Thy lovely face

Clothed then in blood washed linen

How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace

Come my Lord, no longer tarry

Take my ransomed soul away

Send Thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless days

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let Thy goodness like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart, oh take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart

Oh take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Songwriter: Robert Robinson 

Grace Habib has produced incredible artwork that perfectly compliments Wetherell's books. Besides being colorful and engaging, her artwork is also age-appropriate. Upon reaching the final page, little ones will be delighted with what they discover. Rhyme and the rhythmic style of the text appeal to young children. Rhythmic patterns such as those found in this book can help young children learn to repeat and memorize what they hear. At the end of the book, there is a Note to Parents. 

Check out Crossway's website to see at of Kristen Wetherell's books.

Maze-O-Rama

Maze-O-Rama Delta Flow by Fun Squared Games is a lightweight, handheld marble maze game. The goal is to get all the rose gold colored marbles into the center triangle. The marbles move very fast through the maze making it a bit difficult to get all of the rose colored marbles in the center. The maze game is portable and can be played over countless times over. One of the most appealing features is that it's screen-free play. The game is for ages 5 and up and for one player.

Screen-free play encourages creativity and imagination, allowing players to engage in problem-solving without digital distractions. It also promotes cognitive development and fine motor skills as players physically manipulate the marbles through the maze. Additionally, screen-free activities can reduce eye strain and improve focus by providing a break from electronic devices.

It challenges players to develop their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as they guide the marbles through the intricate pathways. The fast-paced movement of the marbles requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking to successfully navigate the maze. Additionally, players must remain patient and focused to achieve the goal, making it a fun yet mentally engaging activity.

To increase the game's difficulty, consider adding timed challenges where players must complete the maze within a set time limit. For an added challenge, players could also try guiding the marbles through the maze using only one hand.

Maze-O-Rama is a fast-moving marble maze game. Individuals of all ages will have fun challenging themselves as they move the marbles through the maze.

 

Prime Suspect: At the Campground

Prime Suspect: At the Campground is by Fun Squared Games is a fun logic game that challenges your deduction skills. The game is intended for ages 8 and up and can be played by one person. The game comes with a set of nine double-sided suspect tiles. On the front of the tile is the suspect's picture and on the reverse side are the suspect's characteristics. The player follows the clues to the correct 3x3 grid using the directional clues on their suspect cards. The correct answer is on the flip side of the case cards.

To solve the grid, start by examining the directional clues on each suspect card carefully. Identify any obvious positions for certain suspects and place those tiles first to establish a baseline. Next, use a process of elimination to narrow down the possibilities for the remaining tiles, ensuring that each clue aligns with the position of the placed tiles. Finally, double-check your arrangement before turning the case card over to reveal the prime suspect. The prime suspect is the person in the middle of the grid.

For particularly challenging clues, consider the relationships between multiple clues, as they often intersect and can provide additional context for placement decision-making. It can also be helpful to temporarily place tiles in potential positions and adjust them as you gather more information.

While logic is essential in solving the grid, intuition also plays a crucial role. Sometimes, a hunch about a suspect's position can guide you to a quicker solution, especially when clues seem confusing. Trusting your instincts can help you see patterns that aren't immediately obvious, leading to satisfying "aha!" moments.

Balancing logic and intuition in puzzles like Prime Suspect: At the Campground is essential for an effective strategy. Logic provides a structured approach, allowing players to methodically eliminate impossible options and narrow down possibilities. Meanwhile, intuition can offer unexpected insights, guiding players to explore possibilities that might not be immediately apparent through logic alone. Together, these elements create a dynamic problem-solving experience, where measured analysis and instinctive leaps work in harmony to uncover solutions.

My daughter enjoyed playing Prime Suspect: At the Campground. The game is similar to other Prime Suspect games from Fun Squared Games. She particularly loved the challenge of piecing together the clues and the satisfaction of figuring out the correct arrangement. The interactive nature of placing tiles and uncovering the prime suspect kept her engaged and excited. Additionally, she enjoyed the mix of logic and intuition required to solve the puzzle, making each game feel like a unique mystery to unravel. I would highly recommend this game.

Deluxe Prime Suspect

Deluxe Prime Suspect by Fun Squared Games is a fun logic game that challenges your deduction skills. The game is intended for ages 8 and up and can be played by 1-4 players. The game comes with four sets of nine double-sided suspect tiles. On the front of the tile is the suspect's picture and on the reverse side are the suspect's characteristics. Also included are forty-five case cards composed of three levels: beginner, intermediate, and expert. Each player gets a set of suspect tiles. Everyone playing picks a card of the same difficulty level. Players race to place the nine tiles on the correct 3x3 grid using the directional clues on their suspect cards. When a player is confident that they have solved all the clues correctly, they yell, "SOLVED!" If solved correctly, the tile in the middle of the grid will be the Prime Suspect. The correct answer is on the flip side of the case card. If the player is correct, they will score points based on the skill level. The beginner level earns one point, the intermediate level earns two points, and the expert level earns three points. If the player does not correctly solve the case all the other players will receive points for the case.

To solve the grid effectively, start by examining the directional clues on each suspect card carefully. Identify any obvious positions for certain suspects and place those tiles first to establish a baseline. Next, use a process of elimination to narrow down the possibilities for the remaining tiles, ensuring that each clue aligns with the position of the placed tiles. Finally, double-check your arrangement before declaring "SOLVED!" to minimize errors and maximize your chances of scoring points.

When faced with particularly challenging clues, try breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts to better understand their implications. Consider the relationships between multiple clues, as they often intersect and can provide additional context for placement decisions. It can also be helpful to temporarily place tiles in potential positions and adjust as you gather more information, allowing for a dynamic approach to solving the puzzle.

To efficiently manage time while solving the puzzles, set a mental timer for each phase of the process, ensuring you don't spend too long on any single clue. Stay focused and avoid overthinking by making quick initial decisions, then refine your placements as more clues become clear. Additionally, practice regularly to improve speed and familiarity with common patterns, which can help you solve puzzles more quickly in future games.

My daughter and I had so much fun playing Deluxe Prime Suspect together. My daughter is able to solve cases quickly. I, on the other hand, had a hard time solving some of the cases. Playing together allows us to learn from each other. It gives me the opportunity to see her problem-solving skills in action. Plus, it's a great way to unwind and enjoy quality time together. I would definitely recommend Deluxe Prime Suspect to others.