Inchimals

by Fat Brain

• ?Can you explore Measurement? Easy. Find the block that matches your shoe, or your granola bar, or stack them all together and measure you!
• ?Can you learn Addition? Sure. Ladybug + Tree Frog. Stack the Ladybug and Tree Frog vertically and match to another block length. Why it's Mouse, of course! A fun, visual way to learn the meaning of 1 + 2 = 3.
• ?Subtraction? Stack two blocks horizontally, the Mouse and Ladybug for instance. Ask your child to find the difference between the two animals using another block. It's the Tree Frog! 3 - 1 = 2 becomes visual!
• ?Pre-Algebra? Proceeding with play and the fun puzzles within the write-on wipe-off puzzle book, children learn to balance equations of pre-Algebra!

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 15.5 x 8.6 x 2.6 inches ; 4.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00392NSI2
• Item model number: FA038-1
• Manufacturer recommended age: 3 years and up
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,540 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #11 in Toys & Games > Learning & Education > Mathematics & Counting
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

Product Description

What can you learn from a rabbit that is exactly four inches tall - and his perfectly precise pals? If you are a child, plenty! Inchimals are incredibly effective math blocks that teach measurement, number concept, addition, subtraction, and pre-algebra! Ideal for many ages of children. Beautifully crafted, thoughtfully designed, Inchimals are 12 wooden animal blocks measuring 1" (the tiny ladybug) to 12" (the towering giraffe). With exact inch segments, written numerals, representative dots, and cute animals too - this learning toy is a sure winner. Recognized by early childhood educators and parents of children with special needs, Inchimals is a multi-purpose toy that encourages creativity, interaction, logic and mathematics mastery.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More impressive than I thought it would be! Five stars! December 27, 2010

By Nefri

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I hesitantly bought this toy for my son for Xmas, trying to find something for him to learn math with. He is a bright 3.5 year old. I figured I would be working with him using these wooden rulers, which are of a much higher quality than I was expecting. So on Xmas he opens the toy, and plays with them himself, measuring daddy's foot, his own foot, etc. I show him the included book about how the rulers represent numbers, and how these numbers can be added together... just a cursory review. Well, about an hour later I was in the kitchen, and he comes running in and says, "Mommy! Guess what? Eight plus four is twelve!". Needless to say, I was pretty amazed... so I would have to say this is a pretty amazing toy --- you WILL have to work with the child, its not necessarily something that will fascinate them for long hours of play like legos or something... but it sure does hit the nail on the head when it comes to learning math. And its fun, too. I can't tell you how impressed I am. Plus, these rulers are build to last... so long as you don't throw them in the bath or something. I highly recommend this set.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the 20 something dollars! April 7, 2011

By D. Blum

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 4.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

I found this toy described in a home schooling magazine and sought out a more reasonable price here at Amazon. (Which I found when I purchased the Inchimals last week... $22).

My almost 5 year old LOVES this product. We have been extremely casual about pre-school this year, and he begs to "do school" with the Inchimals. He has been measuring toys and household items. He has also been learning to recognize the numbers he hadn't mastered yet.

They are great in that they are specific lengths and can be laid out (or stood up like stairs) to show the relationship in size. He can see that 7 is bigger than 6. He can count the marked out inches along the side or dots on the end. As we have only had this product a few days now, I can see how in the future we can use them as a tool for learning addition and subtraction. This is the best math manipulative!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars math manipulative in spirit of Montessori February 21, 2012

By Krista

Amazon Verified Purchase

Durability: 3.0 out of 5 stars    Educational: 5.0 out of 5 stars    Fun: 5.0 out of 5 stars   

Pros:
-Great idea for a toy that teaches math! The idea is in the spirit on Montessori counting rods (check those out too!). There are 12 rods/blocks ranging from 1-12 inches tall; each features a different animal. My son loves to add up two animals to get the third one. At age 3, he uses included notebook with tasks independently (by himself) and even scribbles appropriate numbers in the notebook. This is one of the toys that he picks up and works with by himself:).
Cons:
-Upon opening the box there was a strong smell like that of some markers, or glue?. Blocks did not smell, just the box, maybe it was the marker that was included in the box. The blocks are made in China.
-Blocks came with some small defects in paint and the edges chip off paint very fast. The paint cover is glossy like that on Thomas and Friends wooden locomotives, but chips much easier.
-On one side of the block, there are little stripes marking the inches like on the ruler, but without numbers. My son counts the stripes and there is always one two many (he does not know that you don't count the first one). It would be better if one-inch intervals were indicated with alternating colors as in Montessori counting rods.
Otherwise, perfect toy and learning material.