Skillmatics Reusable Search & Find Book – Water Spotter Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Shel
What a fantastic concept for an activity book that combines counting, image recognition and cognitive development.
It’s great to have in general and will make the perfect gift for anyone looking to buy a child a gift that encourages cognitive development, for them to play independently, along with lots of interactive fun whilst learning at the same time.
First impression of the Skillmatics Reusable Search & Find Book was very positive. Straight away, you are drawn in by the bright, bold colours of both the book cover and the packaging. It’s evident that the concept has been designed to be fun, interactive and educational. Unlike a standard paper colouring book and pencils, this grabbed the attention of my granddaughter as soon as she saw it and couldn’t wait to open it.
One of the top features of this activity book is the simplicity of how easy it is to set up and use. Just fill the pen with water and you’re ready to start. With no paints, pencils or crayons, there’s no risk of mess, stains or marks on clothes, tables or furniture.
It is perfect for taking on trips and holidays thanks to its compact size as it fits nicely into a bag and it’s not heavy.
From the very start, my granddaughter became very engaged and engrossed. The search-and-find activities encourage concentration and observation whilst providing endless entertainment.
As the water pen is applied to the colouring book, it brings an extra level of excitement as the colours slowly appear on the page. Hidden details are slowly revealed bringing the pictures to life. Problem-solving is cleverly incorporated into the concept, as children are encouraged not only to find all the hidden objects but also to complete each challenge. Once the paint dries, the colours disappear as if the book has never been coloured in, making it ready to use again and again. This also encourages memory recall as it tests the child’s memory to see if they can remember where they found the objects before. They can set their own personal goals by finding them quicker than before, this encourages determination in a fun and playful way.
The grandchildren within my family have very restricted screen-time on their tablets and phones and whilst my granddaughter is too young to have either, she is allowed to watch the odd thing on her parent’s phone. For me, I prefer non-screen time and love personal interaction, it encourages interaction, bonding and making memories along with fun, laughter and confidence building. I was very impressed to see how less interested she became in the tablets and phones and became far more focused on the activities and fun this book offers. With the combination of concentration and observation, the concept of the book also encourages independent playtime and entertainment without the need of screens. This is both uplifting and refreshing in an age where more and more children seem glued to an iPhone or iPad.
With the amount of fun, excitement, activity, educational benefits and reusability this book gives, this is excellent value for money and by far the best colouring book I’ve come across.
Exceptional quality. Unlike standard paper-thin colouring books, the pages feel very strong and the binding is sturdy too which prevents the pages from tearing. The water pen is the perfect size for little ones’ hands to hold and use. Nothing about this feels flimsy or cheap.
This is another strong point of the book, unlike standard colouring books that are often discarded once completed, the longevity of this book comes not only from its quality but also from its reusability. It’s a book that can be handed down to children within the family or friends as children get too old for it.
The has been very well thought out as everything about this book from the colours and illustrations to the layout and search-and-find concept, they have all been designed for children to understand very easily whilst having lots of fun.
Cognitive skills: Completing search-and-find activities promotes problem-solving and observation skills.
Focus and attention: Sustained play helps develop concentration and persistence.
Spatial reasoning: Helps children understand shapes, positions and how objects fit together within a space.
Creativity: Imaginative play nurtures flexible thinking and storytelling.
Mathematical thinking: Finding objects encourages counting, number recognition and sequencing skills.
No Batteries needed
1 x colouring book
1 x water pen
From 4 – 8 years
I found this at a price of just £9.99 excluding delivery.
There are three designs to choose from, I had the Unicorns and Princesses. You can purchase the Skillmatics Water Spotter direct from Amazon by clicking on the following link; https://amzn.eu/d/02IxM78G
Rating: 5/5
It’s a must-have! The Skillmatics Reusable Search & Find Book is highly recommended for all the reasons outlined in this review. It delivers a wonderful combination of fun, learning and independent play, making it an excellent addition to any child’s activity collection.