Play & Progress​

Play is more than just fun; it is a critical part of a child’s development. Through play, young children explore the world, develop essential skills, and build a foundation for lifelong learning. Educational toys take this one step further by integrating learning objectives into play, making the process both enjoyable and beneficial. Let’s explore how some of our favourite Hape toys can turn playtime into a journey of discovery and development.

The Bunny Stacker is a delightful toy that engages infants aged 10 months and up. This stacking toy features a sturdy beech wood base, three colourful stacking rings made of different materials, and a fluffy bunny head topper. Each ring has unique features, such as a light blue ring with super-soft corduroy and a fluffy pom-pom tail that makes clicking sounds, a flower ring with 6 coloured petals, and a pink fabric ring that doubles as a rattle.

Why It’s Great for Learning:

• Motor Skills Development: Stacking and unstacking the rings help fine-tune motor skills and hand-eye coordination during the important early years.
• Sensory Exploration: The varied textures and sounds provide rich sensory experiences.
• Colour Recognition: The vibrant colours of the rings aid in teaching colour identification.
• Problem-Solving: Figuring out the order and way to stack the rings fosters problem-solving skills.

Encourage your child to stack the rings, count them, and name their colours. This playful interaction not only entertains but also helps to add that educational element.

For children aged 3 and up, the Vehicle Service & Repair Workbench offers a hands-on, interactive playset that mimics a real repair shop. Complete with a vehicle lift, repair tools and car parts, this playset encourages realistic role-playing, sparking creativity and enhancing fine motor skills.

Why It’s Great for Learning: 

• Problem-Solving Skills: Using tools to fix the car parts helps children develop logical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Motor Skills Development: Tasks like turning a screwdriver or using a wrench refine their fine motor skills through hand movements and hand-eye coordination as they use the tools correctly.
• Organisational Skills: The tools’ storage space helps teach children about organisation and how to keep their areas tidy.
• Imaginative Play: Role-playing as mechanics can help inspire children whilst also working on their social skills as they act out the problems and fix them with friends.

Create hypothetical problems with the vehicle or pretend to be a customer in need of repairs. These scenarios help improve problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way.

The Critter House Shape Sorter is perfect for toddlers aged 24 months and up. This charming toy combines shape sorting with imaginative play. Children match animal and character blocks to their corresponding openings, stimulating cognitive growth and spatial awareness.

Why It’s Great for Learning:

• Shape Recognition: Sorting the blocks into their correct openings enhances early geometry skills.
• Cognitive Development: The precise placement of shapes supports hand-eye coordination and logical thinking.
• Imaginative Play: The house can double as a dolls house, allowing animal characters to live and play inside, helping inspire toddler’s creativity and imagination.
• Problem-Solving: Retrieving the shapes by opening and closing the door introduces basic problem-solving tasks.

Start by exploring the different shapes and openings, discussing their characteristics and encouraging your child to feel the textures. This hands-on approach makes learning about shapes fun and memorable.