What do you use from the Critical Thinking Co.?

[Mere]

Just curious, as we are finishing a few of their books and I was thinking of getting something different to change things up a bit.  This year, my almost-10 year old has used Balance Math Level 1, Dr. Funster's Word Benders and Spelling DooRiddles, B1?  Ds1, age 7, has been using Spelling DooRiddles A1.  I think they're fantastic! 

I've been looking at Balance Benders (beginning) and maybe Word Roots. 

I'm also interested in suggestions for a 4-5 year old who wants to do "homework" when his older siblings work on things. 

TIA!

[splendiferous]

My 5YO loves MindBenders and Building Thinking Skills so much. She gets really excited when she sees a MindBenders puzzle in one of her workboxes. HTH

Splendiferous

[Mere]

Thanks so much splendiferous!  It's good to hear your recommendation.

Anyone else???

[AAK]

Both kids have enjoyed "Building Thinking Skills".  My oldest LOVES Balance Benders-- she will do them in her free time for fun.  I also love MindBenders, but I have my kids draw the grid on separate paper so we can reuse those puzzles with the next in line.  The Mindbenders is the only one I do that with.  

I also used the book for building visual skills.  I think it was good at helping my younger with some visual discrimination things.  

The only thing I really hated from them was their complete Language Arts book for grade 2.  It was such a waste of money for us.  I was really disappointed in it. 

We didn't care for Editor in Chief either, but that was because we ordered it a bit prematurely.  DD didn't have the grammar skills in place to be able to find the errors.  It was frustrating.  So, I put it away and will pull it out when our skills are more developed.

Amy

[Mere]

Thanks!  Okay, I ordered some materials last night, including Mind Benders and Balance Benders.  I was on the verge of ordering the "Building Thinking Skills for ds2, but the price put me off.  He is only 4 now so I was looking at the PreK book, but even when he's 5 and doing Kindergarten-level work is "Building ThInking Skills" really that much better than your average, $5 activity book from Target?