Valentine's Day Gift Guide - HABA’s Hearts Memory Game

Spread the love this Valentine’s Day with HABA’s Hearts Memory Game.  Game pieces are made from sturdy cardboard and come in a lovely heart-shaped tin. For ages 4+. MSRP: $14.99. Available online at www.HABAusa.com

My Thoughts

 HABA’s Hearts Memory Game is a fun way to spread the love this Valentine's Day. This re-imagined version of the classic memory game is the perfect V-day gift.  There are a variety of heart-shaped game pieces in the box. Each one has a different pattern. The object of the game is to get the most matches. It's a little more challenging than some other versions of the game because the patterns can be similar. The different designs will really help grow your child's cognitive abilities. 

The set comes in an adorable metal tin that will keep the cards safe so you won't loose any pieces. The cards themselves are made from heavy cardboard that won't bend or rip easily. It's a high quality game and a great alternative to candy if you want to give a child a special Valentine's Day treat.

Fun in the Sun with the Sailboat Sand Toy Set

         

 Have fun in the sun with Spielstabil’s 6-Piece Sand Toy Set!  Includes bucket, shovel, sieve, watering can, 2 sailboat sand molds, and sturdy, plastic, handle-bag. MSRP $39.99. Ages 2+. Available at www.HABAusa.com

My Thoughts

There are some toys that never go out of style, and buckets and shovels are one of them. I live at the Jersey Shore, so I spend a lot of time at the beach. Every year I wind up buying a new set of buckets because they are usually so flimsy, but finally I found a quality set that can stand up to whatever my children can throw at them.

The  Spielstabil’s 6-Piece  Sand Toy Set comes with six pieces as well as a nice carry bag to store all of them.  The set includes a study shovel, a whale and snail sand mold, a sand sifter, a bucket, and a watering can.  This one set provided hours of fun for both my kids. They had a great time at the beach. Their favorite piece was definitely the watering can.  They ran back and forth from the ocean a dozen times to fill it up and pour the water.

All the pieces in the set are very well made with PVC-free plastic. They are a lot sturdier than most beach toys. The handles are thicker so they don't break off, and I have no fear of the buckets splitting like so many others I've purchased over the years.  This is a beach set that will definitely make it until next summer, and I know my children are going to get a lot of use of it. 

Little Dino Lovers Get In on the Jurassic World Craze!

 

Prehistoric playthings and delicious dino-treats to help prehistoric preschoolers dig into this summer’s hottest trend.

 

After more than $1BILLION in worldwide box office sales for Jurassic Park, the world is waiting with bated breath for the blockbuster sequel, Jurassic World, to roar into theaters this summer! And you can bring the biggest hit of the summer home with these adorable dinosaur-themed toys, games, and treats. 

 Whip up a batch of Triassic-era treats with HABA’s Chocolate Lollipop Dino Molds! Makeable in minutes, the set includes child-safe recipes for family fun in the kitchen. MSRP $11.99.

  Roar at the shore with the Dino Sand Gloves perfect for sand play at the beach, lake, or park. Simply slide a hand into the kid-sized glove and dig in or bury the dino for prehistoric preschool excavations! MSRP $14.99. Ages 3+.

  

My Thoughts

These two toys are tons of fun for anyone who loves  dinosaurs.  My son adored the sand gloves. They are great at the beach or just to play pretend. The glove slips right over your hand and works like a shovel. It does an awesome job when you're trying to reach the water at the beach, but it's also fun to play with in sandboxes.

The Lollipop Molds were even better. They come with everything you need to make yummy dinosaur shaped pops, including the sticks. We melted down some chocolate and made our own pops and they came out great. The silicone material makes them easy to pop out of the mold.

For even more fun, try making some crayons with your molds. Simply gather up your broken crayons, remove the paper, and cut them into tiny pieces. Stick them in the microwave for about five minutes and you've re-purposed your crayons into some really cool dinosaur shapes. These worked even better than the chocolate in the dinosaur molds and my kids just loved them.

Fun on the Road with HABA’s Doll Shona

Traveling is better with a buddy! HABA’s Doll Shona includes an adorable 8” plush doll and her furnished travel playset, which doubles as a carry case, complete with handle, for pretend-play fun anytime, anywhere. MSRP $44.99. Ages birth +. Available at www.HABAusa.com

My Thoughts

The Doll Shona by Haba is the perfect toy to take on road trips. Shona is an adorable rag doll with red hair in pigtails. She comes with two different dresses, and has cloth eyes so there are no choking hazards, making it a great choice for little girls of all ages. The doll is very well made with lots of detail and no loose stitches. 

What makes Shona really cool is that she comes with her own carry case. When you open up the case, it's like Shona's own personal bedroom. There is a closet to store her clothes, a dresser, and the bottom likes like a field for her to play with. When you're not using Shona, the carry case is the perfect place to store her so she never gets lost.  The case even has a spot for girls to write in their names so everyone knows just who the suitcase belongs to. There's also plenty of room inside the box if they want to add a few more toys.

My daughter adores this toy, but I do have one little quibble. The suitcase, which is made from cardboard, started to fall apart  after only one day of use.  The top of the case was peeling up and the side tore a little. This was easily repaired with tape, but given the price tag of this toy, I found this a little disappointing.  Overall though, it's a fun toy, especially for road trips and certainly encourages imaginative play.

HABA Pudgie Puppy Review

**Product was received in exchange for an honest review**

HABA 

When it's time for parents (and grandparents) to make a list and check it twice, don't forget to add something from HABA for the youngest members in the family. Start your holiday shopping early with these suggestions -- just arrived from Germany -- from the European toymakers at HABA. Dolls, games and play sets lovingly crafted and affordably priced make cherished presents that will be enjoyed now and in years to come. Best of all they will never need a charger, a USB cable or Wi-Fi hot spot. Many of our selections are green, and HABA is one of the greenest companies around (see attached document about its practices at its German factory).

German toymaker HABA is known for handsome, high-quality baby and children's toys, as well their children's games and dolls. The company's products are always seen in national parenting and lifestyle magazines plus they’ve won nearly every prestigious German and American toy award.

So as you make your holiday shopping list for the special children in your life -- and check it twice -- take your pick of sweet dolls, soft nursery accessories, water toys and board games especially designed for 2-year-olds among the 1,500 (!) HABA products stocked this season at specialty stores around town and online at www.HABAusa.com.

Make a special note that Jewish friends will be lighting the first candle on the menorah before Thanksgiving! Hanukkah begins at sundown on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. The Festival of Lights lasts eight nights.

To get your wish list started, here are a great list of brand-new items -- chosen by HABA experts as notably special and play-worthy -- for all of the good little boys and girls in your world.

Our Thoughts

We received the Pudgie Puppy from HABA. Mackenzie is still young enough that she doesn't play with toys but she sure can see the puppy when her brothers, daddy or I hold him up for her!  It has a squeaky inside that Mackenzie ABSOLUTELY loves! She smiles every time we let her "play" with him!  As she gets older I'm sure that he's going to be something that we have to take with us on trips. She seems to like that his "fur" on his head and ears are soft and not course. In general the materials used are very soft and inviting. The puppy also has a weighted bottom and is easy to stand up on hard surfaces.

The big thing that I like with this puppy is that it's made from natural textiles. It's made so that it follows the Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS) so that it's safe for your baby and the environment. The inside of the puppy is stuffed with a polyester filling (natural fillings don't wash as well and can mold when washed) which is washable!  I know for me, this puppy being washable is a huge plus because my kids get EVERYTHING dirty at some point.

HABA has great items for every age and they make quality products. I will be ordering some items from them for Christmas for the kids for sure! 

Check out their website! There are SO many awesome toys and books! 

**Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are my own and have been in no way influenced.**