Dec 13, 2013

Wood-n’t You Know! HABA Creates Gorgeous Toys For Chubby Toddler Fingers Eager To Touch, Explore, Play

In the beginning, babies are focused on eating, sleeping and perhaps a round a peek-a-boo. But once they reach the toddler phase, curiosity pushes those chubby fingers to explore, touch and ponder. HABA, European toymakers of the finest craftsmanship, suggests adding sturdy wooden toys into a tot’s daily schedule. Stacking Lighthouse or Wigglefants are two of the newest (and cutest) in HABA’s 2014 toy box.

Visitors to their American International Toy Fair Booth 431 will undoubtedly oooh and ahhh at the high quality, beautiful colors and variety of play products. It’s no wonder. Many of HABA’s toys have been awarded the “Spiel Gut” good toy designation, which demands good quality, workmanship, durability, safety and the ecologically sensible use of materials.

When HABA decides to roll out new toys like Children Of The World Wooden Puzzle or My First Noah’s Ark, they rely on old-fashioned inquisitive play, which the company knows a lot about since it’s been making cherished toys for over 75 years. There are no chargers, plugs or cords. Because what was captivating to kids 50 years ago still rings true for today’s toddlers. The wise words from a 1964 Creative Playthings catalogue eloquently advised parents that “play, an essential of childhood, is wholly a creative activity requiring the careful selection of materials and tools; good toys are its tools.”

Wooden toys made delightful “tools” then and now. HABA happily introduces several in 2014:

Stacking Game Wigglefants • $28 • Ages 12 months+

Interlocking wooden pieces can be stacked up, down or all around in this puzzling game of putting one piece next to another. Toddlers can view the enclosed 5 colorful sturdy board cards of a finished look and then try to copy exactly how those wigglefants got there. With red next to green and on top of blue, kids and parents will have memorable moments make the pieces click into place. Or kids can create their own design. There’s no right or wrong, just entertaining fun for curious little minds.

Stacking Game Lighthouse • $20 • Ages 12 months+

German craftsmen have designed a beautiful lighthouse that’s actually seven connecting wooden blocks. Ingeniously designed, rounded pieces easily connect to a corresponding wooden block. Knock ’em down and start again or show off the finished stack on the bedroom shelf — until the next playdate with mom, dad or big brother.



My First Noah’s Ark • $70 • Ages 12 months+

Lions, giraffes and chickens, oh my! The biblical tale comes alive with this charming wood ark with a red roof, two tiers and a plank. March the animals two by two into the ark. Noah and his wife will supervise the animals once kids get everyone — two legged and four legged — on board.

Children of the World Wooden Puzzle • $35 • Ages 12 months+

As children explore their world beyond the home, they will discover faces, hair and clothing that may not match their own. The chunky pieces in this enchanting puzzle allow children to mix and match three puzzle pieces to make a whole child and then an animal friend. Puzzle includes six different people and six animals. Decisions are delightfully pondered … warm clothes or a sleeveless top? footwear? skin tone? With this open-ended play, toddlers create a personal view of their world.

HABA’s popular My First Play World has a new theme — the zoo. Two new items to capture little imaginations are a matching game and a sturdy baby book.

Matching Game Who Lives Where? • $40 • Ages 12 months+

If you were a monkey, would you live high in a tree or down on the ground? This matching game gets kids thinking about habitats of some of their favorite animals — lion, zebra and elephant. Game comes with six illustrated “houses” that puzzle, stack and nest. Also includes six wooden animals made in Germany.

Baby Book Zoo Friends • $11 • Newborn+

Start the day with a story or send them off to sweet dreams with their zoo friends. Sturdy wooden book has no words, just lovely illustrations that change as the “pages” are turned. Describe what you see and turn it into an adventure as baby looks for the lion, giraffe and elephant.

Find these beautifully crafted play things at specialty stores near home. Or browse and shop online at many ecommerce sites. Also click on HABA’s own English-language site at www.HABAusa.com.

ABOUT HABA USA

HABA products can be found nationwide at over 1,000 U.S. specialty retail stores and in specialty catalogs and websites. Many of its products have been recognized with German and American awards including Parents’ Choice Foundation, National Parenting Center, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio and Dr. Toy. HABA received Best Toys of the Year recognition from the TODAY Show Toy Test and has been featured in national magazines such as American Baby, Pregnancy & Newborn, Fit Pregnancy, Parents and Working Mother. For more details, visit HABA’s informational website atwww.HABAusa.com.