Blocks And 3d Puzzles

Children are always seeking out new ways to play creatively. But, there is also ways you can help them.

Here is a unique way to use your old typewriter; and if you do not have one maybe I will sell you mine!

Children often have a parent who works in an office and you can have fun teaching them about how an office is set up just like the one you work in.  You can set up a mini office with the help of toy blocks by Smart Monkey Toys. These giant building blocks come in sets of Rainbow colors and can be ordered in any quantity you need from All I Can Imagine.

Set up the typewriter or maybe even an old keyboard on a child size table or a table made from the toy blocks.  Make another work table and provide your children paper, pencils, telephone, address book and other child-safe office supplies.  Set up another office and each of you will have fun interacting.

Children enjoy being creative and it will help them to make sense of the actual world we adults live in and they will especially love having you play with them.  When you provide role playing activities in a real life setting you will gain greater insight into your child’s life and help him develop necessary social skills.

Like all great apes, gorillas have arms that are longer than their legs and tend to walk on all four limbs at certain times – a movement that is called knuckle walking. Adult males are known as ‘silverbacks’ due to the distinctive silver-colored hair on their backs.

Depending on the sub-species, the Gorillas’ appearance may vary.  The Western sub-species tend to be brownish gray in color, while the eastern and mountain gorillas tend to have a more blackish coat. Mountain gorillas also have longer and thicker fur which is adapted to their colder mountainous habitat. The three lowland sub-species of gorillas sport short, fine hair. Eastern lowland gorillas are the largest of the four subspecies.

Gorilla’s eat healthy foods such as leaves, shoots, roots, vines and fruits and are a popular zoo attraction at feeding time.  I grew up in Chicago and one of my favorite houses was the ape house.  It always fascinated me to watch the large Gorilla’s eating and interacting with one another.

When you take your children to see the Gorillas keep in mind that they are shy animals that are most active during the day. At dusk, each gorilla constructs a ‘nest’ of leaves and plant material in which it will sleep. Mothers usually share their nests with nursing infants.

Gorilla’s are an endangered species and if you home school you can teach your children about Gorilla’s during their science or geography lesson. Here is a craft idea you might like to try. http://www.first-school.ws/activities/alpha/g/gorilla.htm.

For other future lessons see our line of brightly painted 3d wooden puzzles.

Cardboard toy blocks are made in the USA by Smart Monkey Toys. This toy company only uses recycled corrugated cardboard.

Their trade name for these toy blocks is ImagiBRICKS and all these giant building blocks are made of at least 50% recycled cardboard. The actual amount varies with each run, but is never less than 50%. The trees used for the remainder are all farmed.

The wonderful thing about corrugated cardboard is that it is strong, yet very lightweight, making it a wonderful choice for preschool play. The cardboard is printed with water-based, non-toxic colorful inks. And an additional clear ink coating to each block to make it water-resistant. The cardboard building blocks are also recyclable. Every component of the block sets are made right here in America. They are produced in Wisconsin, where there is a large paper industry.

Smart Monkey Toy’s warehouse is near the plant where the blocks are produced. By keeping everything close, this toy company cuts down on the fuel needed to transport materials and providing much needed jobs to American workers.

The paper industry in our country has been struggling with many companies buying their cardboard from China. China has to import their raw materials from the U.S. or Canada to make their cardboard. The lumber is transported from North American to China, made into cardboard and then transported back to North America. The cost of this inefficient process is lost jobs, and much greater use of valuable fuel.

Back in the 1950’s my dad built me some wooden shelves so I could play shopping.  My playmates and I would often shop in our grocery store and to this day I like to go food shopping.

Creative play is an important learning tool for children and they need all the open-ended play time they can get.  Setting up a grocery store that is not as permanent as the one I had in my basement can be built with ImagiBRICKS toy blocks. These giant cardboard building blocks can be purchased online and come in red, orange, purple, green and timber-look. 

The kids in your neighborhood will help you collect empty cereal boxes, cans, pasta boxes, asprin boxes, diaper boxes, etc.  Design your store with the toy blocks then place your products on your shelves. 

Get together and price all your cans and boxes and make some carts out of old boxes.  Kids will have a ball shopping in their very own store and this pretend game will help provide them opportunities to learn organizational skills, mathematical skills and important problem solving skills.

Children can take turns collecting the play money and giving change. After they have finished shopping each child can load his purchases in a wagon and go to her own “house”; which could also be built with the building block toys.

Let it snow!  It’s fun to go out side and play but when you have to stay in parents can organize some fun inside activities that do not involve electronics or expensive props.

Kids love zoo toys and animals so why not play a game about elephants. Pretend play is a fun activity for everyone and opens up creative play to help children develop self esteem.

To go for an “elephant walk” get the children in one long line. Everyone is to stretch one hand each back through their legs and, with the other hand, take the outstretched hand of the person in front. The children will be lined up, attached like elephants holding trunks and tails. Move to slow music.

Elephant Soccer- Children get into a circle with legs wide apart. Hold their arms down in front of them with hands clasped together for trunks. Roll a ball across the circle trying to get it between someone’s legs. Use only your trunks to keep the ball from going through your legs.

Besides active animal games provide your children with zoo related children’s learning toys such as a Zoo playset by ImagiPLAY.  This wooden kids toy comes complete with a bright Zoo entrance with two large parrots and eleven hand painted zoo animals this play set will open up many teaching opportunities for indoor play.

When I resolve to come to You

Amid the chunks and cracks

Of all my mundane days-

When I resolve to listen

Really listen to Your gentle voice

Suddenly I know anew

That You are life

And life is joy!

Like a singing brook

Joy splashes over

All the common “dailies”

Until each empty space

Of my hungry heart

Is touched with new-born ecstasy.

Both parents and grandparents are still buying ImagiBRICKS for their children and grandchildren. Customers are telling us they are happy that these durable cardboard blocks are still available.

You will only find ImagiBRICKS building blocks toys for sale online as they are not usually sold in your neighborhood toy stores.  Parents with limited space can select from 16 piece sets as well as 24 piece sets and our most popular size, the 40 piece blocks toy sets.

These lightweight cardboard blocks are so big they help kids build up their self confidence as they create tall towers, buildings, forts and every other imaginable structure.  Because there is no wrong way to build a child can create to his hearts content and children of varying ages can “work” together for a common goal.

When children build something “all their own”, it makes them happy and gives them a sense of well-being and builds their self-confidence.  Parents and educators who provide their children with large building blocks toys notice that children gravitate to a pile of blocks and immediately begin interacting with one another.

Movement of the large muscles of the body refers to gross motor control and begins developing from birth.  Your babies first learned motor control begins with the control of his own head and torso.

Your child will then go on to master sitting, crawling, standing and eventually walking, running and jumping as well as the range of activities.  Meanwhile your child will be learning balance and the ability to maintain equilibrium, body awareness (for improved posture and control), major muscle co-ordination and spatial orientation.

You can help your children improve and master spatial orientation – the awareness of his body position in space and in relation to other objects (or people), by providing him with giant cardboard building blocks.  Even when your child is too young to begin building structures with toy blocks they are a useful educational toy for other purposes.

By placing the toy blocks around in a maze-like configuration your child will love mastering walking (or running) around the blocks.  To begin building your child’s major muscles and co-ordination, have him/her help you construct towers; this will also help with your child’s balance.

Your older children may want to build structures with the cardboard blocks so have enough on hand for both activities. Sixteen piece set of ImagiBRICKS is pictured above.  We also carry sets of 24, 40 and bulk quantity cardboard blocks.

While your radio is softly playing in the background take a moment and listen to how your kids are playing. You will find opportunities to gently guide your children as they are playing with their toddler learning toys.

Children who have open-ended learning toys will have opportunities for creative learning fun and as you listen to them “plan” and “work” together you will notice that their social skills are developing.  When you take a moment to “tune into” their play you will be able to provide guidance in their social development when and where needed.

While children are playing with such toys as cardboard blocks and building towers and other structures you will notice which children take leadership in the planning.  You will begin to notice if there is a child being bossy or how he accepts suggestions as another child offers his own ideas.

Toy cardboard blocks, such as a set of CityBlocks by Smart Monkey Toys, is a fun toddler learning toy and provides your children an opportunity for creative play and work that builds important social skills they will need all through their lives.

Children playing together are not only creating reality in play, they are also adapting to new realities, work, and therefore it is important to allow children many opportunities for unstructured playtime every day.

Lord

May I settle it once and for all

That I am dealing directly with You.

You need never apologize

For any plan You ordain for me

Since nothing but good

Can come from Your hand.

You are sufficient

For every changing circumstance

In my God-planned life-

For every unchanging circumstance as well.