Has anyone actually used littlepassports.com

[midnightwriter]

I've seen it referenced here, but I couldn't find any reviews that weren't advertisement.

I have a feeling that my kids would adore the idea of it, but I am not sure about the content / quality of items included. I'd like to use it as a fun spring board into our own explorations, but still, if the materials are mostly worksheets, that wouldn't work with our learning style.

Are the on-line games mostly memory / recall of facts games, or are they actually fun to play? And how well done?

[jenners26]

I get it for my 7yo. He loves it! He's not a reader, so he needs help with the worksheet and the online games, but he still really enjoys it. Each month he gets a letter, 2 little "souvenirs" from the country that they visited, a sticker for his passport, and pin sticker to put on his big map, a photo, and a luggage tag with your code for the online games. It's nothing fancy, but he loves to get mail, and loves adding his new treasures to his suitcase. (Your first kit is a suitcase, a passport, a big map, a photo, etc).

I think it would be a fun way to begin learning about different countries. I usually check out a few books from the library on whatever country Sam and Sophia go to for the month, and we usually make a recipe or two of food from the country as well!

Hope that helps!

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by jenners26

I get it for my 7yo. He loves it! He's not a reader, so he needs help with the worksheet and the online games, but he still really enjoys it. Each month he gets a letter, 2 little "souvenirs" from the country that they visited, a sticker for his passport, and pin sticker to put on his big map, a photo, and a luggage tag with your code for the online games. It's nothing fancy, but he loves to get mail, and loves adding his new treasures to his suitcase. (Your first kit is a suitcase, a passport, a big map, a photo, etc).

I think it would be a fun way to begin learning about different countries. I usually check out a few books from the library on whatever country Sam and Sophia go to for the month, and we usually make a recipe or two of food from the country as well!

Hope that helps!

Thanks! Could I ask you a couple of questions?

How are the on-line games? How many, and what type? Are they mostly geared towards memorizing facts?

What is the quality of the map included, and its size?

Thanks again.

[jenners26]

The map is pretty decent sized. It hangs on his wall...I'm terrible at this, but I'd guess it's maybe 2 feet by 3 feet-ish?? There are usually 3 online games. Things like puzzles of the map of the world, scrambled words, I think there was a soccer-themed game when they went to Brazil. They're cute...7yo thinks they're a lot of fun.

[Forsanda]

My 8yr old DD gets this, but doesn't play online at all at the moment. She is just fascinated with getting the mail. LOL. I am toying with the idea of renewing our subscription. They have 12 new countries. Eventually, I hope she will get into the online games and it would spark her interest to learn more about each country.

I love the idea of making a dish from said country. I'll have to try that! Thanks!

[onyxravnos]

i've been toying with getting this too.. i could jsut do it myself but im lazy

[Jennifer3141]

My kids are 6 and 5 and flipping LOVE this!

They love the tiny suitcases. I thought they were going to pass out when they got "real diamonds!" from Brazil.

We don't play the online games much but once a month or so, we have geography day using LP and just go nuts.

I hated Japan because I hate origami. That's pretty much my worst complaint.

The information is light in these. We use it to jump off into online or book research. I consider it more toy-ish than school-ish but it does get the kids enthusiastic about geopgraphy.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by onyxravnos

i've been toying with getting this too.. i could jsut do it myself but im lazy

Yeah, for my kids--it will be much cooler to have it come in the mail and to be something that mom didn't do. Mom versions of things are the norm around here! Also, I could send it to them I guess, but that would seem so pointless.

I am ordering this--so glad to finally hear from people who have used it.

Amy

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by onyxravnos

i've been toying with getting this too.. i could jsut do it myself but im lazy

Yeah, I can't decide whether I should do it myself, or subscribe. The game that they have won't be of interest for my kids, but I know they would love the letters, and will be interested to explore the countries further via a documentary or just googling and so on. I wish the package was less work-sheety, but on the other hand, not sure I am motivated enough to create a package (x12) myself

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by Jennifer3141

My kids are 6 and 5 and flipping LOVE this!

They love the tiny suitcases. I thought they were going to pass out when they got "real diamonds!" from Brazil.

We don't play the online games much but once a month or so, we have geography day using LP and just go nuts.

I hated Japan because I hate origami. That's pretty much my worst complaint.

The information is light in these. We use it to jump off into online or book research. I consider it more toy-ish than school-ish but it does get the kids enthusiastic about geopgraphy.

So you got them a suitcase each? Can it be done with one?

[Jennifer3141]

I think it'll work better if you get each child their own set. There are stickers every month. There's a present every month.

The paper would be reproducable but the cool stuff isn't.

[Jennifer3141]

We got "Egypt" today. It was perfect for us since we're doing that in HO right now.

I'm not going to give away what the present is but I do know from our using them from Amazon that the present is over $11, retail to me.

My kids almost passed out from delight when they saw what it was.

But I really appreciated the care and cost of the packs today. They were WELL worth it.

[lorrielink]

ok, that is one of the coolest things I've ever seen! I have a precocious almost 4 yr old and a slightly immature 11 yr old (still loves seseame street) and I think I'm going to get them this. Thanks so much for sharing about this. Does anyone know of other great monthly 'get in the mail' kinds of things for the kids?

[AngelBee]

Link please?

[Jennifer3141]

Lorrie, that's a good question!! I wish someone would come out with something like LP for science or history!!!

Angel, wake up darling! It's in the thread title!!
(I feel like giving my fellow classical mom friend a big hug and some coffee. )