HABA Good Time

CanCan, 05 August 2008,
Categories: Giveaways, Green, Reviews, Toys, Travel with children
Tags: giveaway, Haba, review

I have always loved simple, beautifully designed toys made from natural materials. One of my absolute favorite toy companies is Germany-based HABA.
Haba uses materials like beech wood, maple wood, and lacquers with a water base to create adorable, long-lasting toys that are fit to be heirlooms. Beech and maple woods have a long tradition in the production of toys because the wood is a naturally germ-free material. Haba toys comply with European and American safety standards.

I first learned about Haba when I noticed that they make the most adorable play food in the whole wide world. Later, as I investigated safe toy options during the whirlwind of plastic toy recalls, I became familiar with Haba’s line of baby toys. And guess what? Haba also makes original, fun, and clever games. There is a whole series of Mini Games, which I knew would be a great entertainment solution for travel. I love Haba, but their travel games make me love them EVEN MORE.

The Haba Mini Games are so precious; I want to collect them all. We have the Haba Dwarfs Mini Game. It is very petite: a mere 2.75 inches long. It has a handy key chain attached to the tin container.

In side the tin are seven wooden dwarfs and a small die:

My preschool-aged son LOVES the Haba Dwarfs Mini Game.It is easy to play, and a game can be completed very quickly: Each player takes a turn alternately rolling the die. If a player rolls a color, they get a dwarf of that color. If none are available, steal one from someone else! Roll Snow White and you get to take all the dwarfs of one color from the center pile; roll the Wicked Witch and all players must return a color of your choosing to the center pile! The game ends when there are no dwarfs left in the center.

Designed for ages 4 and older, the Haba Dwarfs Mini Game helps children develop socially and emotionally, as well as encouraging language, sensory, and fine-motor development.

Jojo asks to play this game again and again! I don’t mind, because I actually like it. Playing with our Haba games has become part of our night-time routine. After I put baby Deeds to bed, Jojo and I play board games.

Another Haba game we have and love is the Haba Mini Orchard Game.This game is larger than the Mini-Tin Games, but still pretty compact at only 5 1/2 inches long:

(say cheese!)

Jojo loves this game too: he calls it “the raven game” (I was thrilled that he learned the word “raven” from playing this game). Recommended for ages 3 and up, Mini Orchard aids in cognitive, fine-motor, and sensory development. I like Mini Orchard because no one player “wins” or “loses” the game: everyone is on the same team, competing against the raven. If the picture of the raven is rolled 9 times on the die within the game, the game is over and the raven has won. If the players are able to pick all of the fruit before the raven eats it, every body wins! This is especially good in the preschool years; Jojo loves to play games, but he isn’t very keen on losing.

We have played Mini Orchard many many times now, within our family and with our neighbors who don’t know English. Mini Orchard really has a lot of play value: even the adults in the family can enjoy it (unlike some games geared toward children).

According to Dr. Toy (I have her book! I’m a fan), “games help children cooperate and learn with their friends. With (…) guidance, games can teach how to compete positively and how to deal well with losing.” How wonderful to be learning these lessons in a very FUN way!

I secretly hope that Haba will adopt me so that I can live in their warehouse and play with their enchanting creations at all hours of the day and night. I am completely enamored with Haba!

I’m so excited that Haba is giving away a Mini Orchard Game to one lucky Mom Most Traveled reader!
To enter, tell me one other Haba product that you like from the Oompa Store that I have not mentioned on this post.
One winner will be chosen by Random Number Generator at www.random.org

This giveaway will close on Thursday, August 14th, 12 midnight.

Don’t miss these giveaways, too:

-Win a Wrap-N-Mat! (ends midnight, Monday, August 11)

-Win a Squirt spoon by Boon (ends midnight, Wednesday, August 13)

-Win a Water Conservation Kit ($22 value) (ends midnight, Monday, August 18)

Wordless Wednesday: No Indoor Bathtub Here! (or: The Great Outdoors) »

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