Learning Resources iTrax Critical Thinking Game Review

Reviewed by Joanna Woodburn

As a Specialist Teacher, Learning Resources is one of my go to places for educational toys designed to make learning fun and offering the skill building children benefit from to support them in school and to develop a lifelong love of learning. Learning Resources is renowned for designing fun, multi sensory games which are learning based. The extremely clever ITrax Critical Thinking game ticks all boxes and will appeal to teachers and parents alike as well as to all generations. It is a great game of strategy, tactical tracking, speed based and most importantly, super fun!

ITrax is designed for ages six and over and is a 3D strategic, visual tracking game, which is super easy and fast to learn. The aim of the game is to find the route on the game card which connects two cubes and to duplicate it exactly, using the correct sticks and cubes. According to the rules of the game, the first person to collect seven cards wins. Although as we found, with a little bit of creativity and personalisation the game can be used in so many different ways and for developing executive function skills such as strategy, planning ahead and problem solving it is a winner.

The game can be played with up to four players but can also be played as a solo challenge – timed or untimed. The set has a good number of double sided playing cards, with three levels of difficulty – each level thoughtfully named with importance given to boosting children’s confidence. There are so many different ways of playing ITrax and the different levels are well designed to level the playing field, engage and challenge when children of different ages are playing against each other – boosting interest and engagement.

As a family, we all discovered ITrax made us think in different ways to what we were used to. It demanded some perseverance, particularly as we found our eyes had the tendency to play tricks on us. With similarities to some online games, it was so refreshing to be having fun together playing in 3D, rather than the online 2D format we have all become accustomed to of late. We could easily and discretely differentiate the play with the different levels of cards and with simple, adaptable rules and fast pace, it quickly became a family favourite.

In my teaching, I find the ITrax Critical Thinking game is ideal for developing the visual tracking, processing and scanning skills which are crucial for success in many functional tasks in the classroom and beyond. The game is now a favourite activity in both my 1-1 and group sessions across many different year groups. The game demands perception and a keen eye and it is so great to see how these skills can develop with practice! How great that these skills can be practised through games and having fun at home!

Looking for Christmas ideas? Rest assured that every child likes games! Christmas is a time for the family, how wonderful to put the tablets and laptops away and play a fun, fast paced, challenge game. The ITrax Critical Thinking is a game all the family can enjoy and most highly recommended this Christmas!

Rating: 5/5

RRP: £19.50

This product can be purchased from Learning Resources here.