Now that summer is here, children do their best to slip into "brain drain" mode.  You know the condition...anything that even remotely resembles learning is looked at as a really bad joke.  Children tend to want to watch movies, play video games, etc. until their eyes fall out of their sockets.  But how do you keep their minds active and stimulated while school's out?

By finding great educational games that are just so much fun, children will never even realize that they're learning valuable skills in the process.  I recently had the chance to review one such game from Learning Resources called Crocodile Hop.  Keep reading to learn more about this wonderful preschool game!

Crocodile Hop is a fun and educational children's game which integrates active play with basic math skills, such as shape recognition, color recognition and number sense.  It includes a bright and colorful vinyl mat which measures 30" wide by 100" long, 40 game markers and two inflatable cubes that serve as the game's dice.

What's great about this game is that there are so many variations that can be played, all of which enhance some critical math-based skill.  For instance, there are four activities listed in the instructional guide which are more of a question and answer type game (perfect for teachers and their students), whereby the parent can successfully quiz their child using the vinyl mat and dice as manipulatives.  These activities include "Name that Color or Name that Shape", "Make Your Mark", "Spot the Shape" and "Walk Across the Creek".

Of course, the beauty of this game is that it can also easily be played by just a small group of children too.  There are three different versions of the independent play game which require at least 2-4 children or 2-4 teams of children.  The object of all of these games is to successfully land first on the grassy area on the other side of the mat.

In the "Crossing the Creek with Colors" and "Crossing the Creek with Shapes" games, when you happen to roll a crocodile, you get "snapped" and lose a turn.  In the "Wild Crocodile" game, rolling a croc is advantageous and actually serves as a wild crocodile, helping you to reach the other side of the mat faster.

Riley really enjoyed playing several versions of the Crocodile Hop game.  Although her colors, shapes and number skills are pretty top-notch for her age, her listening and following directions skills need a LOT of work!  :)  I love that now we have a fun and educational way to practice those much-needed skills.  She would get so excited when it was time to roll the inflatable dice and couldn't wait until it was her turn to do so.

Also, her face would light up when she was challenged to find a specific color, shape or number on the mat.  You could just see the little gears in her head turning!

Crocodile Hop from Learning Resources is a fun and interactive way to reinforce your children's knowledge of their colors, shapes and numbers.  With this game, problem solving skills are developed, as well as color, shape and number recognition.  Your kids will be exercising both their minds and their bodies while they play the Crocodile Hop game...what a sneaky way to keep your children's minds sharp and active this summer!

Disclosure:  I received the Crocodile Hop game from Learning Resources in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my own personal experiences with this item and is completely honest and objective.