COLOR MATCH: Have kids name the colors on the animals and the truck. Challenge them to put the gray elephant on something gray on the rug, the brown lion on something brown, and so on.

COUNT IT OUT: Have kids count the legs on one of the animals. Next, have them count the legs on two animals, then three. Point out various details on the rug, such as trees, huts, clouds, etc., and ask kids to count them aloud as they point to them.

ANIMAL ID: Help kids identify the animal play figures (elephant, giraffe, lion). Have them find and match the animals to the elephants, giraffes, and lions on the rug. Talk about where each lives on the savanna and why it suits them. Have kids find and name other animals on the rug (zebras, hippos, crocodiles, gazelles).

MAP IT OUT: Have kids use the truck to drive a route around the savanna based on your instructions. For instance, you could say, "Start at the big lodge, then follow the dirt road past the giraffe. Wave to the lions and zebras, and then cross a bridge to get to the small huts . . ."

FOLLOW THE LEADER: Move an animal around the savanna from one location to another. Have kids watch you and then follow the same route from memory with another animal. Take turns being the leader and the follower as you change the route around the rug.

SAFARI STORIES: Encourage kids to make up a story using the rug, the animals, and the truck. Perhaps a park ranger lives in the lodge and decides to take the giraffe for a ride to visit the zebras. When they pass the elephants, one wants to come along for the ride.

ADD YOUR OWN TOYS: Round the Savanna Safari Rug is designed to play perfectly with toys you already have! Use additional animals, wooden trains, cars, chunky puzzle pieces, and play people to fill the scene and play make-believe. You can use blocks to construct (and demolish!) a building, add fish to the river, or use pebbles to build up the rocks or line the roads. Get creative and have fun!