Review and Giveaway: ImagiPLAY

Thank you to ImagiPLAY for participating in the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event on Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!

Tonight officially marks the conclusion of the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event. I know, so sad. But I'm ending it with a bang! After all, no birthday celebration is complete without a super fun toy or two.

If you prefer toys that will inspire and encourage healthy development for children of all ages, you'll love ImagiPLAY.

ImagiPLAY is a mom-founded business that has been creating high-quality, educational, imaginative toys for over a decade. ImagiPLAY lives by the motto" "Toys with Integrity". Their goal is to produce quality products that connect with nature, have eco-friendly sources and hold educational value. ImagiPLAY toys not only encourage an ongoing dialogue with the environment, but enrich children's ability to count, learn the alphabet, and identify different animals while gaining a sense of the world's beauty and diversity of species. ImagiPLAY products have won numerous accolades and awards from such reputable media as Parenting Magazine, Creative Child Magazine, Dr. Toy and Parents' Choice Foundation. When you purchase an ImagiPLAY toy, you can be proud of your investment.

The folks at ImagiPLAY sent us the Safari Stacking Blocks (ARV $24.99) to review. A twist on the classic unit block set, each block is designed to resemble a colorful safari animal. The 10-piece set can be used for stacking or as a playset for imaginative play and storytelling. It also comes with a wooden tray for easy storage.

I must admit when the blocks first arrived, I was a bit disappointed by how small the blocks were. I was expecting larger blocks, similar to our chunky Mega Bloks. But as I watched Nate play, I realized the size was perfect for polishing his fine motor skills. Because some of the edges are oddly shaped (U-shaped giraffe, ridges on the alligator, curved frogs), they require a bit more carefulness and attention to detail than traditional building blocks. Nate would initially get frustrated when they would fall to pieces but now he enjoys stacking them, knocking them over and trying again.

I love that they are safe and made of rubberwood so I don't have to worry about splinters. They are colorful and fun and can really serve a multitude of play purposes. I've even caught Nate putting them in the back of his dump truck for a ride and taking them for a walk in his sandbox. I really appreciate that when we are finished playing, we can organize and store them in the wooden tray. They are a little weighty so word of warning: you may want to wear a helmet if you have a minor-league pitcher on your hands!

Overall, we love our Safari Stacking Blocks and I think they would make a great toy for any toddler aged two and up.

BUY IT: Visit www.imagiplay.com to purchase the Safari Stacking Blocks or other ImagiPLAY toys and games online.

WIN IT: I have another set of Safari Stacking Blocks to give away to one lucky reader!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Look around ImagiPLAY and tell me another toy that catches your eye. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile or if you are not a blogger!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry)

2.) Follow me and ImagiPLAY on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the following tweet or come up with one of your own:

Win a set of @ImagiPLAY Safari Stacking Blocks from @kris10chumley! Ends 9/22 http://bit.ly/abrQnM

Just leave a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) "Like" Goodie Goodie Gumdrops on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Become a fan of ImagiPLAY on Facebook. (1 entry)

5.) Add my button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on September 22, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a set of Safari Stacking Blocks from Tammi at ImagiPLAY to facilitate my candid review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The opinions expressed in this review are purely my own. Your experience may differ.