Blocks And 3d Puzzles

You will find many wooden kids toys on the market today, especially if you shop online. Children’s wooden toys are made with quality craftsmanship in small family businesses as well as mass produced by large companies.

A natural made material, wood can be recycled and often wood blocks and indoor play sets are made from recycled materials. Wooden toys are more durable and children have always been more attracted to a wooden toy. When you teach your children to properly care for their children’s wooden toys they could possibly last their entire childhood and even be kept and passed down to their children.

When you see a room full of toys and children you may easily notice they gravitate to the toddler learning toys that are made of wood.  Wood toys make us feel nostalgic. Wood is comforting and is one of the reasons they are worthy enough to be passed on from one generation to the next.

A Day at the Zoo Wooden Play Set

Wood toys remain a sensible choice for toddler toys and will keep your children busy playing for hours on end.  Play is an essential part of all kid’s learning and emotional development. A wood toy is most often a toy that comes with no rules.  Whether a truck, a doll house, a miniature farm animal set, or a play set such A Day at the Zoo children will be encouraged to learn by touching and exploring.

Parents and educators can utilize a child’s play time as an educational lesson as they ask open ended question pertaining to their play activities.  The individual play pieces can be used in other make up games or incorporated in other games.

When you visit our website All I Can Imagine you may notice some changes.  Many of the wooden toys have been discontinued and are no longer available.  ImagiPLAY has been purchased by BeginAgain Toys, an eco-toy company based in Fort Collins, Colorado.  This company is going to be offering many of the ImagiPLAY toys you are used to seeing online and they also plan on updating several of the current designs for release in 2012.

Updates will be provided on our website and this BLOG as they come available.

Christmas will be here before you know it; shop early!

Wooden Pond Lacing Toy

Do you remember having lacing cards as a child? I do. And I remember enjoying them quite a lot. They may have had something to do with my acquired love to sew later on in high school and into my adult life.

However, our line of wooden kids toys created by ImagiPLAY has gone two steps further than the lacing cards we had as children. Not only are these two sets, OceanScapes and PondScapes made of wood they are even packaged in their own wood storage box. Our lacing toys are children’s wooden toys that are a unique and creative take on the standard lacing cards on the market today.  Our Pond has an 8″ X 10″ colorful
background that kids will love.

Preschoolers develop fine motor and problem solving skills making this toy a wonderful toddler learning toy for ages 3 and up. Your kids will be involved in creative, fun play time while designing their own pondscape.

This wooden toy pond includes 15 critters to lace to the wood background and comes with cotton laces. Each of the critters therefore, becomes its own separate toy (for ages 3 and up). The critters may be played with along with other activities or laced onto the colorful background.

For parents who home school these two toddler learning toys will help in your lesson plans and then you could allow quiet play time with the set afterwards.

What is a pond?

A pond is a small area of still, fresh water. It is different from a river or a stream because it does not have moving water and it differs from a lake because it has a small area and is no more than around 1.8m deep. Some ponds are formed naturally, filled either by an underwater spring, or by rainwater – sometimes known as ‘dewponds’; other ponds are man-made.

Pond Animals

More than 1,000 species of animals live in ponds – although you are unlikely to find all of them in any single pond. Almost every group of living creatures is represented, except starfish which live only in the sea. In a large pond you may find mammals such as water voles and water shrews – and birds like ducks, herons and kingfishers.

Even the smallest pond will have a population of amphibians (frogs, toads and newts), small fish e.g. sticklebacks, and a huge variety of invertebrates (minibeasts). Some of these are herbivores such as water fleas and snails, whereas others are aggressive carnivores, hunting down their prey, the unfortunate herbivores! One of the largest invertebrate predators in a pond is the great diving beetle – no tadpole is safe when one of these hunters is around!

There is more interesting facts about ponds on this website (where I found the above information): http://www.ypte.org.uk/environmental/ponds/84

Both our PondScapes and OceanScapes lacing cards are normally priced at $19.99 and are now on sale for $18.00. These wooden kids toys will make a very nice Christmas gift!

Visit our website at http://www.blocksand3dpuzzles.com to see all our toddler toys.

Apple Tree Wooden Bead Maze toy

You will be reading today about a favorite kid’s toy that has been a classic for over twenty years. Today’s Friday Feature products are the wire bead maze toys. They have been acclaimed to be one of the most fun educational toys in today’s market.

Also known as a rollercoaster toy, these wooden kid’s toys provide your young children a three-dimensional manipulative experience in the perceptual, motor, and language areas and is one of the most sought after toy for both kids and parents alike. Giving your young toddler a simple bead maze toy offers him or her more than just hours of delightful entertainment, it will help improve your children’s motor skills as well as cognition, detection and language.

From small wire toys to medium sized cubes (with a variety of other toys included) to large, complex bead maze toy tables, many types of bead mazes exist today. Engaging children of all ages maze toys have retained their popularity. With Christmas coming up these toddler learning toys are sure to be found on many parents and educators shopping lists.

And, as with any child’s toy parents will want to select a wire maze toy which is appropriate for the age of their children. One manufacturer of this popular wooden toy is ImagiPLAY. This company, located in Colorado, provides safe educational children’s toys painted with non-toxic paints.

If you are seeking your child’s first maze toy ImagiPLAY’s products are a good place to start as they carry a line of smaller sized bead mazes that are approximately 4 inches.  Their brightly colored selections include: green frog, brown bear, white kitty with black spots, a flower and an apple tree have been sized to fit in a stroller or your child’s car seat for great fun-as-you-go. This is a riveting toy and will keep children happy and occupied while you are busy driving.

Rollercoaster bead maze toys provide children the opportunity to slide colorful beads along wires that arch and loop interestingly around one another. Even older children and an adult can get interested in playing. This is a riveting toy that not only delights children but captivates their attention as soon as they are exposed to any sized maze toy that is age appropriate.

You will enjoy watching your child fall in love with his wire maze toy; watch him or her follow the colorful beads up and then down, and around the many gently and curves that spiral every which way. As your child moves the wood beads he can begin to count and spin each bead.  He can learn the difference between the colors and you could make a game of having him or her count the red beads, then the yellow beads and so on.

This is a great toddler toy for free play, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and more. This is why you will often find a maze toy of one size or another in waiting rooms such as your dentist’s office, pediatrician’s office, racquet club, spa, or your accountant’s office.

Parents and educators will feel a sense of security as they leave children alone with one of these delightful toddler toys because there are no loose parts to swallow. The smaller models can easily and safely travel with you when you go on both short or long trips and then they can be taken inside so your children may continue to be entertained throughout the day, afternoon and into the evening.

Children love figuring out the path of the beads from beginning to end.  This wire bead maze toy offers a level of early learning complexity to play. Another important benefit is the strengthening of hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills obtained in the play process.

This concludes the first Friday Feature Article. Our series will continue through November with a new toy category each Friday.  Read our Press Release.

For over a decade, ImagiPLAY has created high-quality educational toys that inspire children’s imaginations and the desire to explore. With the abundance of toys available for children today, ImagiPLAY sets itself apart from the rest through its motto: “Toys with Integrity.” By producing quality products that connect with nature, have eco-friendly sources, and hold educational value, ImagiPLAY works to benefit the earth we share and the people that inhabit it.

Founder and President Barbera Aimes offers children’s toys that represent her true passion: our planet. After studying languages and music in Japan and across the US, this nurturing earth mother explored ways in which she could communicate her desire to make the world a gentler, move loving place. In her mid thirties, she found that the natural beauty of Boulder, Colorado was the ideal place to call home, establish her business, and create a positive change amongst the people around her. “All my life I’ve wanted to leave this earth with some kind of beneficial legacy,” Barbera explains, “If there is one thing I can leave on this earth, it would be to help children appreciate our world.” Through the language of play, Barbera and ImagiPLAY have inspired children across the globe to discover the world on their own terms and communicate with the environment. With ImagiPLAY’s child safe and earth safe toys, games and collectibles, children enrich their ability to count, learn the alphabet, and identify different animals while gaining a true sense of the world’s beauty and diversity of species.

Producing toys using only materials and processes that show respect for the planet and all the people and creatures upon it has remained ImagiPLAY’s promise and challenge. All of ImagiPLAY’s toys are made from eco-friendly materials, with plantation-grown rubberwood being a favorite. Rubber trees produce a sap that is used to make latex products. At the end of their latex-producing years (generally 25-30 years) the trees are harvested and new ones planted. But these wonderful trees have one more gift to give us - their beautiful, splinter-free hardwood, from which ImagiPLAY makes many of its award winning, heirloom quality toys.

ImagiPLAY’s factories are placed close to the neighborhoods where its craftsmen live so that the majority of them can walk or ride their bikes to work each day, enabling its craftsmen to maintain quality relationships with their own children while they make toys for others.

ImagiPLAY products have been recognized by the media, children’s advocacy groups, and parents’ organizations for their outstanding quality, design and ability to inspire imagination. It has received awards from Parenting Magazine, Creative Child Magazine, Dr. Toy, Parents’ Choice Foundation and many other well-respected groups. But most importantly, ImagiPLAY’s products have helped thousands of children worldwide to discover themselves and their world as they navigate the waters of the human Age of Exploration.

Aimes’ lifelong commitment to her values finally allowed her to discover something she is proud to leave as her legacy to this earth and a worthwhile contribution to its people. And having a kid-focused business keeps her young, young-at-heart, and joyful.

ImagiPLAY’s children’s wooden toys, toddler learning toys (including wood blocks) may be viewed at All I Can Imagine.

This term, “Nature Deficit Disorder” may be a new disorder you have not heard of.  If your child does not get outside enough and is not exposed to nature preserves and forests or parks he may be at risk.

Electronic games, computer games and other toys children have nowadays (that were not even invented while I was a child) can easily take up too much of your children’s time.  When was the last time you and your family went out to a nature preserve and spent the day exploring different trees and critters?

Kids and nature just naturally go together but if your children play too many computer games they may never find the excitement of seeing a frog or a worm or a pretty red cardinal.  Studies suggest that interacting with nature can help children develop their five senses and diminish emotional problems as well as attention deficit disorders.

Getting out in nature is also a great way for family bonding. There will be less time spent saying “no” and you can just have fun together with no strict planned agenda.  This is better for everyone’s emotional being (even stressed out moms). 

You could also plan a day out that would be consistent with some school subject or lesson your child is involved in.  Or, your child may have shown some interest in something he saw in a book and you can find a museum or park where you can let him see something firsthand.

If you live in Atlanta:  Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center in Alpharetta has a 46 acre nature preserve and 2 miles of hiking trails.  In Palmetto, Cochran Mill Nature Center has a log cabin and 50 wooden acres.  Gainesville’s Elachee Nature Science Center is at the entrance to 1,400 acres of woods and is the first designated nature center in Georgia.

Dental care is not something to be afraid of; but do not expect your child to believe that when he is sitting in the dentist’s chair and hears a high pitched whine he won’t become frightened. It helps considerably to ease your child’s fear of dentists when you start early on in his life and he gets a chance to become friends with his dentist.

Did you know the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says your child should see a pediatric dentist before age one?  Ask for recommendations on pediatric dentists from friends who have already begun taking the youngsters to a dentist or do your own research in your own neighborhood. It may sound old fashioned, but look in your local yellow pages phone book.  

 As soon as your child’s teeth start to come you will want to wipe down his gums and teeth after feeding him; use a soft, wet cloth.

When to start brushing.  Have a brush on hand for when your child’s top and bottom teeth begin to appear for this is when brushing should begin.  Clean his teeth while he is lying down.  And, if you are using toothpaste, make sure you keep it pea size.

When your child is old enough to stand by himself you will need to do the brushing yourself for two minutes.  As your child develops his motor skills, usually around age 6, he will be able to take over his own brushing, but make sure he brushes for two minutes.  Nowadays you can find kid’s toothbrushes that have lights that glow or music that plays for the proper brushing time.  Or you could put on a CD that plays for two minutes.

What about flossing? You will have to do this at first, but your child can learn over time; just make sure it is being done.  This is a very important of his routine that needs to be established for good dental care and healthy gums.

To begin your child’s life cavity-free you will learn that many dentists are recommending sealants on your children’s first teeth and on his permanent teeth when they start to come in.  It is said that sealants can prevent 90 percent of all cavities.

Keeping your children’s teeth and gums healthy from an early age on is a good idea and will most likely save you extra expense and trips to the dentist later on.  Watch what you give your child to eat, too much candy and sugar filled juices throughout the day may help cause cavities because you won’t be brushing his teeth until later that day.

It is 90 plus degrees and too hot to go outside; but, still I began thinking about Christmas shopping as I picked up a few items yesterday afternoon while I was at my favorite dollar store.

Christmas shopping can be fun, profitable, and best of all, stress-free. Stay with me here; picture this. You have just discovered you have some “unscheduled time”, time to yourself and no one needs anything and you do not have to go anywhere – it can happen!

Because there is no rush and no time constraints, boot up your computer and have some fun shopping for some new children’s wooden toys either for your kids, grandkids, or extended family and friends kids.

Parents who shop early as in July, August or September have more time to explore toddler learning toys on various websites and locate wood blocks, indoor playsets and other wooden kid’s toys which you will most likely not find in retail stores.

Take your time; it is fun to meander around different online toy stores and your feet won’t begin to hurt! Think about the excitement on Christmas morning when your toddlers open up that special gift, that unique toddler toy no one else on your block has yet to provide their kids.

Maybe you will select an African Safari indoor playset, or a dinosaur puzzle playset

Each dinosaur is an individual toy.

 found at All I Can Imagine. Or you might begin getting your child (or add to a previous) set of ImagiBRICKS, giant cardboard building blocks.

Because you have chosen to shop early you will not have to worry about delivery issues that often occur in December when you wait to shop. Shopping will also be fun because you will enjoy browsing around different stores and not have to think: “I’ve got to find a nice toy today, I waited until the last minute, again, with no idea of what I want to get.

Take your time shopping for your toddler’s toys; it is only July and it is too hot to go outside. If you find a toy that is on sale so much the better.  Shopping on line is profitable even if you do not find a toy that is on sale because you saved on gas, buying a drink when driving from store to store and you were able to eat from you own refrigerator.

Yes, Christmas shopping can be fun, profitable, and best of all, stress-free and you will feel proud of yourself for being so smart to shop early!

As a concerned parent you will want to understand the importance of using quality materials as often as possible. While quality is more important than quantity, sometimes it does costs more. However, sometimes you can compromise quality, but there are other times in homeschooling where you can’t. Therefore, it’s important that you understand the times when quality is crucial and when it isn’t.

When cost is an issue you will find you have many resources to help cut the cost and still get quality materials. By making heavy use of the library, used book sales, borrowing, and common materials on hand, one can do an adequate job with minimum cost.

Packaged curricula and video courses come higher, up to several hundred dollars per child per year (this is still much cheaper than a private school), but do your research using the Internet and/or talking to other parents and homeschooling groups to help you locate quality yet less expensive materials.

Parents who have to purchase used materials or look for things online will spend more time and energy finding those items, but they might have a greater sense of accomplishment and be teaching their children how to manage their money well.

 Educator’s Family Services puts on conferences and book fairs several times yearly at various locations. State homeschool support groups often sponsor book and curriculum fairs yearly in conjunction with conferences and workshops. These are open to the public (there is a cost) and are wonderful sources of teaching materials. Some local support groups operate libraries, too.

 Of course, extras such as dance, art, martial arts, voice or instrument, public speaking, sports, horseback riding, or summer camp can add much more to the bill, but most parents would choose at least some of these for their children even if they were in a conventional school.

Often the cost of homeschooling can depend on a parent’s goals. If their goal is for their child to attend an Ivy League school when they graduate, then they will need to spend a lot more than someone who either doesn’t want to attend college or is able to earn their degree from a less prestigious university.

 When you have decided on your books and other teaching materials remember to help keep learning fun for your toddlers by incorporating a few quality children’s wooden toys to encourage creative and fun play.

 ImagiPLAY, located in Colorado, is a company that makes quality toddler learning toys including 3d wooden puzzles and wood blocks. One such item that kids will enjoy is their Safari Stacking Blocks.   

Safari blocks are multi-functional toy blocks and children will use these wooden blocks as individual animal toys for all sorts of creative fun play. These wooden children’s toys are stackable for even more fun. Visit All I Can Imagine to explore all our other kids toys!

Look for Quality – Just because a particular curriculum comes with a lot of  books and materials, does not mean that it’s better. You need to place more emphasis on your children’s learning style than how much comes with various curriculums.

If you are thinking that the curriculum of a public school will be superior to what your child would receive at home you may be surprised to learn that some of the books in schools have been found to have complicated illustrations and irrelevant photos that detracted students from learning the subject at hand.

Finding the best home school curriculum that fits the needs of your individual student is extremely important. School books and materials are available in several tried and true complete packages. Some can even be tailored to cover a large set of needs. This will mean a curriculum for home school that takes into account the abilities of a student as well as the specific learning objectives or interests.

If you’re lookig for a more religion/bible based education being provided then a Christian homeschool program may be right for you and your family. Some families are interested in Christian based education and as such, have turned to homeschooling.

 Homeschool Supercenter can help your children get Bible based education that will be consistent with this goal regardless of the denomination of your faith.  Here is the website for Homeschool Supercenter.

  Christian home school curriculum, Sonlight Curriculum provides quality, literature-rich K-12 and related educational products, resources, and programs. Their desire is to instill in children a life-long love of learning, preparing them to engage new ideas in order to make a positive difference in the world. Sonlight selects engaging books and readers that cover topics such as Bible, history, language arts, handwriting, math, science, and more.

 Donna Young’s website is wonderful and she has printable fraction manipulatives. I like that hers have the fraction, percentage, and decimal form on each of the pie slices.

You should also consider the fact that you may be able to make your own learning materials and not have to purchase them. For example, you may be able to make your own manipulatives instead of buying them.

***Selling your used curriculum is a great way to get some money to reinvest into the next school year.

Visit our toys website, All I Can Imagine and see our unique puzzle playsets. Choose from three wonderful topics, sea life, rainforest and dinosaur. These wooden kids toys will make a perfect addition to your toddler learning toys and will help you create interesting and fun lessons for homeschoolers.

You can teach your kids about dinosaurs anytime of the year and you do not have to wait until October. Even though October is the International Dinosaur month your kids will love learning about the fascinating world of dinosaurs anytime of the year.

Delve into the fascinating prehistoric world to learn all about these large, extinct reptiles from the Mesozoic era. You can easily find many references online that will provide your students with interesting facts about the Stegosaurus, T-Rex, and Triceratops. You’ll also find drawing activities and lessons for math and social studies to incorporate dinosaur activities across your curriculum.

 One place to start is at this teacher resourse website.  Here you will find many teacher resources for helping teach your kids about dinosaurs.  Learn how to Dye Dinosaur Eggs – great for grades 1-3. (Click the back button when you are done visiting this website to return to this blog post.)

Or get a Tyrannosaurus Rex Cut-Out (at the above link) and have your students color, cut out, and assemble Tyrannosaurus Rex. Appropriate for grade levels Pre-K – 3.

Visit a museum.  If you live in New York City take you family to the American Museum of Natural History and find out how a 60-foot dinosaur live, breathe, eat, and move. An upcoming, exciting exhibition will feature cutting-edge research about super-sized sauropods-including the giant Mamenchisaurus, one of the largest animals to ever walk the Earth-and offers new insights into how their colossal bodies functioned. Opens April 16, 2011.

 Gather you kids around the computer and click on this link for a preview of this amazing exhibition. 

 Another idea, on a smaller scale, is to provide your children a dinosaur toy.  At All I Can Imagine we provide wooden kids toys by ImagiPLAY.  These unique toddler learning toys will enhance your lesson plans.  See our dinosaur puzzle playset with 13 individual animal figures to help with your children’s lessons.