Parents and educators will enjoy giving our large alphabet 3d wooden puzzle to their toddlers. This is a unique toddler toy manufactured by ImagiPLAY.

Kids love dinosaurs and having dinosaur toys in their collection of wood puzzles will open up teaching opportunities about this fascinating creature. This toy measures 13” x 5” and has twenty-six pieces, one for each letter of the alphabet. 

Made from splinter-proof wood and painted with non-toxic paints this is a safe toy for your children.

Did you know that scientists believe this powerful predator could eat up to 500 pounds (230 kilograms) of meat in one bite. Fossils of T. rex prey, including Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, suggest T. rex crushed and broke bones as it ate, and broken bones have been found in its dung.

Tyrannosaurus rex, according to what I have read, lived in forested river valleys in North America during the late Cretaceous period. It became extinct about 65 million years ago in the Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction.

More than 90 percent of all organisms that have ever lived on Earth are extinct. As new species evolve to fit ever changing ecological niches, older species fade away. But the rate of extinction is far from constant. At least a handful of times in the last 500 million years, 50 to more than 90 percent of all species on Earth have disappeared in a geological blink of the eye.

Read more on this wonderful website:

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/mass-extinction/

Your child can have more fun by building his own T. rex.  This site gives you all you need including cut outs and supply lists. By collecting things from around the house you will have the supplies you need to make a fun dinosaur craft project.  Go to this website to get your craft project: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Trexcutout.shtml


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Counting – Not a Simple Matter

posted by gbowen
September 6, 2010

Counting numbers and objects isn’t a simple skill for a child to learn.  Counting involves enumerating units so that they arrive at a total number units.  It also involves giving stable, consistent meaning to each conventional counting word.

Insight into a preschoolers’ logical thinking has been a topic of research. Children’s cognitive tasks your child will encounter in his play involve counting and adding simple sums.

When counting several objects sitting on the floor a child may skip one of the objects; this is normal. The teacher or parent can help by touching the items as the child is counting to make sure he includes every object.

Sometimes a child will fail to match their numerical recitation to the objects they are counting such as when playing board games. They will begin moving their playing piece down the board at a different rate then they are counting.

Another common mistake a child will make when learning to count is using his words in a non-standard order such as “one, two, three, six, eight, ten”.  When they use one non-standard sequence one time and a completely different one the next time, they are not really counting.

To help child learn that numbers are in a certain order and adding a sum of objects must be counted in the correct order, wooden puzzles for kids are useful for teaching this skill.  Number puzzles that must be assembled in numeric order will show them how to acquire this skill.

For  instance, look at this 3d wooden puzzle.  It is a number puzzle that can only be assembled in order of 1-10. Each bunny has its own number and can be played with as a separate toy. But to assemble the puzzle it must be done in numeric order.

Educational toys such as wooden puzzles will help impress on a child that numbers have an order that must be followed in order to count correctly and can help them learn to include each and every piece.

Most 2 year olds start to count a group of objects and will miss some of the objects right away. By four years of age most children will be able to count about five objects accurately before they begin making errors.  Twenty objects will be counted correctly by the age of 5 only if the objects are not in disarray.

Therefore it is important to have several puzzles of varying difficulty levels as they are learning to recognize their numbers and counting objects.  Until a child grasps the idea that 1 is included in 2, 2 included in 3 and so on they will not be likely to be careful about counting each separate object only one time.

The bunny counting puzzle shown above measures 14″ x 4″ – large size that kids can easily handle. It is one inch thick and stands up by itself.  Give this toy to a child 3 years and up. See our other counting and alphabet puzzles on our website by clicking on the link in this article.


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There are many animals on the endangered species list and humpback whales, marine turtles and panda bears are just three on this list.  The Chinese word for Panda is “Xiongmao” or Giant Cat Bear.

There is much discussion as to whether panda bears are bears, raccoons or their very own species.  Panda’s share some of the same features of bears and some of the raccoon.

Up until now, zoologists have been largely unsuccessful in breeding panda bears in captivity and there are very few of these cute, adorable bears left in the wild. The Chinese government has taken steps to protect these endangered animals.

The Panda Bears habitat, extremely limited diet and poor reproductive and infant survival combine to threaten their survival. This is why breeding in captivity is so important.

Pandas are only found in a relatively small area in Asia. They date back two to three million years ago. Ancient Chinese history and writings abound with mention of the Panda. They were kept by emperors and their hides were highly valued. They carried a mystique and were believed to be able to ward off evil spirits and natural disasters.

There are many interesting websites available that contain information and facts to help teach your children about Panda Bears and other endangered species.  Also, having a panda bear toy will help make your lessons more memorable.

 On our website you can see four different 3d wooden puzzles of animals that are on the endangered species list.  Our natural wood puzzles are animal-inspired and are 1-1/2” thick.  They are puzzles to paint and include a water color paint kit.

These fun toys are for ages three up and include a water color paint kit and paint brush.  You may order polar bears, marine turtles, humpback whales and, of course, panda bears.


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As long as I can remember I have had dogs and cats for pets while I was growing up.  As an adult I have always had two or three cats living with me.

For families with infants and/or toddlers bringing the right kind of pet into you home is a decision that takes some thought and investigation.  Thinking of safety for your children as well as the pet is of utmost importance.

Puppies and kittens may not always be the best mix for your infant or toddler as they are learning how to interact with others just as your children are. In addition, young pups and kittens have baby teeth and razor sharp claws and can accidentally cause harm to an infant or toddler.  

A better choice might be a puppy or kitten older than 4 months. Still, you will always want to supervise small children when they are with their pet. There is no way to predict how a dog or cat will react to an infant or toddler who is pulling yanking out the dog’s hair or pulling the cat’s tail.

Children will always need guidance to learn how to pet the family dog or cat and play nice. Your family pet may be the best playmate for your child, but supervision is required to ensure there is no rough playing, which can cause harm if the playing gets out of hand.

Children may try to jump on the dog’s back or grab the cat by the tail. Actions like these require a quick “No” and an explanation as to why that behavior is unaccedptable. Try focusing your child’s attention on an activity that is calmer, such as playing fetch or teaching tricks.

Whether or not you decide a dog or cat is the right pet for your family a kitten 3d wooden puzzle will delight you children.  Our bright red cat has five kittens, each a separate toy that your children will have fun playing with.  There is also a dog family puzzle  if you prefer dogs.


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Moose Safari

posted by gbowen
June 16, 2010

According to Ask.com Wild moose typically inhabit mixed deciduous in the temperate or subarctic parts in the northern Hemisphere. Moose are found in large areas of North America, including almost all of Canada, most of central and western Alaska, most of New England, the Rocky Mountains, North-east Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula (Michigan), Isle Royale (Lake Superior).

Small populations have also been found in the mountainous areas of Colorado. Moose were introduced to Newfoundland in 1904 and are now a prevalent species there, more so than the introduction in Anticosti Island.

The same Moose species (Alces alces), can be found across Europe and parts of Russia and China, but is known by the name Elk.

If you want to see Moose “up close and personal”, go to Baxter State Park in Maine.  This park also provides over 200,000 acres of land where wildlife are not hunted, therefore wildlife of all kinds thrive here.

They say they are the only “Moose Safari” that GUARANTEES MOOSE SIGHTINGS OR YOUR MONEY BACK!  Get a “Sneak Peak” at their website link:  http://www.mainelyphotos.com/sneak%20peek.htm

Studying Moose and other wildlife animals will be more fun for children who own wild life 3d wooden puzzles such as Moose and Calf, Wolf and Calf, or Bear and Calf all available from our website.

MOOSE CRAFTS FOR KIDS – I loved the crafts I saw at this website:  http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/moosecrafts.html


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This ancient tree is between 800 to 1000 years old and has a waistline of 33 feet. What makes this magnificent tree so popular is the belief that it was Robin Hood’s shelter where he and his merry men slept.

Transcending times and cultures, the oak has symbolized strength and endurance. For this reason it stands tall as the national tree of England, Estonia, France, Germany, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the United States, Basque Country, Wales and Serbia.

The smoke from oak wood chips is used for smoking fish, meat, cheese and other foods. It is also used for tanning leather, as the bark is rich in tannin. Some of the best professional drums are made from Japanese oak by manufacturer Yamaha Drums. These drums give off a brighter and louder tone compared to regular drums, owing to the rough, hard surface of the oak.

SEE OUR MAJESTIC OAK TREE!  All I Can Imagine, our website, has unique wooden kids toys including safe 3d wooden puzzles. Our puzzles are manufactured from hard, splinter-proof rubberwood trees and painted with lead-free paints.

Read more interesting facts about the majestic oak tree from the website where I found these facts: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-oak-trees.html


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Penguin Playtime Similar to Kids Playtime

posted by gbowen
May 12, 2010

Playful Penguin Pastimes -

Between staying warm, raising chicks, finding food and avoiding predators, a penguin’s life may not sound like much fun.  But penguins have some playful pastimes — many of which are surprisingly similar to human hobbies!

Tobogganing:  Penguins lie on their belly and toboggan through the ice and snow.  This helps them move quickly.

Surfing:  Penguins are often seen surfing through the waves onto land. It is also fun to dive into the water!

If you are a penguin your dinner will consist of seafood.  A penguin’s main diet is fish, though they’ll also eat squid, small shrimplike animals called “krill” and crustaceans.

If you look closely at a penguin’s bill you’ll notice a hook at the end, perfect for grabbing dinner.  They also have backward facing bristles on their tongues that help slippery seafood from getting away.

Penguins don’t live near freshwater — at least none that isn’t frozen.  Instead they drink salt water.  They have a special gland in their bodies that takes the salt out of the water they drink and pushes it out of grooves in their bill.  A handy in-house filtration system!

Read more at: http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/facts9.htm

Why not take a minute or two and look through our website’s selections of toddler learning toys which include alphabet and number puzzles.  Our Counting penguins 3d wooden puzzles have just arrived in our latest shipment and are once again available for your children.  These wood puzzles are for ages 3 and up and are painted with lead-free, non toxic paint.


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What Animal Sheds its Skin Four or Five Times?

posted by gbowen
May 10, 2010

Have you wandered through our selection of wood puzzles lately?  Several of our toddler learning toys have been out of stock but we are happy to announce that most all of our 3d wooden puzzles have just arrived in our lastest shipment.

Included in this shipment of our 3d wooden puzzles were our brightly colored butterfly alphabet puzzles and our counting penguins.  Both of these wood puzzles are excellent tools for parents and preschool teachers to help teach children their abc’s or counting numbers 1-10.

Butterfly Facts for Kids

Butterflies belong to the insect order Lepidoptera, which is Greek for “scaly wing.” Butterfly wings are made of tiny scales that create beautiful colors and striking patterns. The dark colors help the butterfly keep warm by absorbing heat from sunlight.

Because they are cold-blooded, butterflies cannot produce their own body heat. There are about 20,000 species of butterflies and they can be found in every part of the world, except in Antarctica.

During their lifetimes butterflies change form three times – from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly. This is called metamorphosis. When the caterpillar hatches from the egg, all it wants to do is eat. It gains so much weight that it has to shed its skin four or five times. The last shed produces a hard case called a chrysalis or pupa.

Some species wrap themselves in silk before they change to a chrysalis for extra protection. Though it’s not visible, a dramatic change takes place inside the chrysalis. The caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Some species make the change in few days; others may take years!

Read more about butterflies on the website where I located the above information:  www.theworldalmanacforkids.com


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Hey Dad’s – Do You Know What Day May 9th Is?

posted by gbowen
April 20, 2010

Dad’s, if you have young children and want to surprise your wife with a homemade craft you can find ideas online.  Here is one craft idea to make with your child’s help that will be one of your wife’s keepsakes.

Use clean baby food jars. Spray-paint the lids with nontoxic paint. Use one of your favorite drawings or cut out a section from it to fit on the jar. Brush the outside of the jar with Modge Podge (all-in-one glue, sealer and finish ) and place the drawing on it. Brush Modge Podge over the drawing. You can then sprinkle the outside of the jar with glitter. When dry, fill the jar with candy and give Mom the beautiful treasure!

This craft idea came from:  http://www.alphabet-soup.net/mot/mothercraft.html

Remember to visit our website, All I Can Imagine for children’s wooden toys ideas. Our line of safe 3d wooden puzzles include a large alphabet dinosaur measuring 13” x 5” and is a perfect gift idea for kids age 3 and up.  Each puzzle piece is a separate letter of the alphabet.


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This bag-like creature does not have any bones and it can squeeze itself into the tiniest of openings.  If you guessed the octopus you would be correct.

The world of the octopus - There are about 200 species of octopuses in the world. The biggest is the Pacific Giant Octopus, which weighs over 100 kgs and has a tentacle span of more than seven meters. The smallest is the Atlantic Pygmy Octopus. This one is just two centimeters long.

But unlike their slow-moving cousins, the slowpoke snails, octopuses can move very fast indeed. That’s because their tentacles are covered with small suction pads, with which they cling well to clammy rocks and slippery ocean floors. These suction pads are also super-sensitive to touch and taste. An octopus’ sense of taste is 10 to 100 times more sensitive than that of a human!

Its eyes, too, are highly developed. Thus it can see clearly in dark or murky water. That equips the clever octopus to hunt at night. This clever creature lures its pray by wriggling the tip of a tentacle so that it looks like a worm.

When it is threatened, the octopus secretes an inky substance. This is meant to confuse predators, which gives it time to escape.

Most poisons produced by the octopuses are too weak to harm humans. Only the Blue-Ringed Octopus is an exception – it produces enough poison to kill a human being.  You may read more about this sea life creature at: http://www.pitara.com/discover/earth/online.asp?story=111.

If you have a three year old who might enjoy having his own octopus ImagiPLAY has a line of wooden puzzles to teach the alphabet or counting.  Count Octopus is one of their brightly colored 3d wooden puzzles to help your child learn counting numbers 1-9. Each puzzle piece has a unique number painted on it and each puzzle piece is a different color.

Great for teaching counting as well as colors our 3d wooden puzzles can be found on our website, All I Can Imagine.


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