This Giveaway has ended. Thanks to all that entered!
Ella has loved stacking blocks since she was a baby. At a year she was stacking 5-8 blocks and by 2 she could stack them higher than she stood. I was pretty amazed when I read on Baby Center that at 25 months it was a milestone to stack 6 blocks. But Ella is very OCD and stacking and sorting have always been a big thing with her. Stacking develops fine motor skills (small, precise thumb, finger, hand, and wrist movements) and it also teaches basic math skills. Developing fine motor skills helps your child with logical thinking and other physical activities like dressing themselves. Since Ella has mastered stacking regular blocks and can build mini “castles,” I was thrilled when we got to review CitiBlocs from GlammaTOYS to give her a new challenge.

GlammaToys is an amazing family owned toy store that carries over 400 Eco-friendly toys for all ages. You’ll find companies like Plan Toys, Green Toys, CitiBlocs, idbids, MiYim, Melissa and Doug and more. They are very picky about the products that they carry and you won’t find toy guns or cheap plastic knock offs. But you will find tons of award winning educational toys that will inspire every child.
I was really excited when we got our CitiBlocs in the mail and I instantly opened them up to play! CitiBlocs are nothing more than 4 1/2 inch pine wooden blocks that you and your child can build masterpieces with. They all are the same color and shape and with some creativity you can build some amazing designs. The blocks are only a inch thick, so stacking and balancing them takes some skills and patience. Ella has embraced this challenge.

We first started off with a simple building. We stacked 2 horizontally and then 2 vertically to build a simple building. This was a great way to teach her the difference between horizontal and vertical. By the time we stacked the 100th block, she understood what they meant. Then Ella enjoyed knocking it over to try again. We got more creative with the next design and stood 2 blocks up and then balanced a block flat on top of them. Then we tried to see how high we could get without them falling. Of course Ella didn’t make it very far before they fell, but she was persistent to keep trying to balance them.

The kit comes with pages of ideas to build masterpieces! Ella hasn’t had the chance to build something more advanced yet, but has enjoyed watching and helping me. I have to say, I’ve had as much fun playing with these as she did. I could sit for hours building! I have left the CitiBlocs out on her play table and she has experimented with just stacking them, balancing them and building small towers on her own. I have a feeling by the end of the month she will be ready to build a castle. That’s of course her favorite building! I love that this toy really challenges kids to use their fine motor skills and creative minds. The possibilities are endless with what you can create.

You can purchase a set of 200 CitiBlocs at GlammaTOYS for $49.95. Smaller and larger sizes are available.

The Giveaway: GlammaTOYS would like to offer 1 lucky reader a set of 200 CitiBlocs!!
Rules: You have until 11:59 p.m. EST October 21, 2009 to enter. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced after they respond to the winning email. The winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email, or a new winner will be chosen. You must leave your email address! This contest is open to the US.

2. Become a fan of Mkokopelli on FB, Mkokopelli on Twitter, or Follow my blog
3. Subscribe to my blog by email (on the right sidebar) You must verify and be active at the time of the giveaway- those who are unverified will become disqualified

5. Enter another giveaway I have going on and tell me which one or leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (1 extra entry total)
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8. Grab my Homeschool your Preschooler button and post on your blog or FB page


9. Enter GlammaTOYS Trivia Contest for a chance to win $1,000 shopping spree:
“Test your knowledge of Toy Trivia and become eligible to win a $1,000 Shopping Spree at GlammaTOYS! Correctly answer five questions about our favorite subject: TOYS, and you’ll automatically be entered into our $1,000 Shopping Spree contest. You may enter once per day – the more times you enter, the greater your chance of winning!”