Hape Battery Powered Engine Train Set and Pepe Pull Along Toy Review *

We were recently sent two wooden toys made by Hape Wooden Toys to be reviewed, the first was a Battery Powered Train Engine Set (Model HAP-E3721) while the second was a Pepe Pull Along Wooden Puppy. The train set was recomended for kids aged 3+ while the pull along toys was recommended for a child from the ages of 12 months and above. We had fun playing with these toys and have shared our blogger review here on both the items. Hope you enjoy viewing the photos and reading our comments about it.

We passed these to Stanley who is just about 18 months month and it was perfect for him.  He seemed very attracted to the toy and started expressing himself by talking and saying train and choo choo.  We found that they toy encouraged play between mum and child, and it also helps with hand-eye coordination, creativity and fine motor skills as we noticed Stanley was picking the train pieces and moving the trees and pushing the train on the track by himself when the motor was not running.  It also helps that the on / off button is placed on the top of the engine (which is great for a little fingers to turn it on and off by themselves).

The carriages’s wooden pieces had a magnetic top which was wonderful as this meant Stanley could move the carriages using the crane, so they was a lot of learning through play just and movement going on. For a young child, this is just perfect as it lets their imagination run wild.

Pepe Pull Along Toy 

We were also sent Pepe Pull Along Wooden Puppy which is made from natural wood design with bright simple colours. We totally loved that the toy puppy was not rigid and that its tails, legs (which are on wheels) and head could move. The pull along toy also came with a string which is connected to the nose of Pepe. With a dimension of 22L X 9.2W X 16.2H cm its a great size for todllers who are learning to walk and stand up and problem solving especially when Pepe flipped upside down and little Stanley was trying to figure out how to get Pepe upright again. We found that the toy encouraged imginative play as Stanley took Pepe for a walk around his home which was super fun to see.

Verdict

We totally enjoyed playing with both the wooden toys from Hape.  The company which is originally from Germany now has all its items being produced in China, we found the toys very durable with more natural based materials such as wood and bamboo being used.  There was also minimal packaging which we thought was a bonus. We also found the toys were able to promote:

• Imagination & Creativity
• Social Skills
• Self Discovery
• Problem Solving
• Physical Skills
• Fine Motor Skills

How much are they and where can I purchase these toys from?

About Hape Toys

Hape’s story begins with Peter Handstein’s story. Peter grew up in a rural town in central Germany, where he was raised with a deeprooted respect for family, honesty, compassion, and a love of nature. Hape is a reflection of Peter’s lifelong values. Peter began his career as a salesman for an educational toy company servicing German kindergartens. Visiting hundreds of schools and talking with hundreds of educators gave him a unique understanding of the power of play. In 1986, Peter formed Hape Kindergarten Supply with his sister, Sabine, and their close friend, Renate Gies. This significantly increased Hape’s size. However, the partners knew that in order to be recognized outside of Germany, they would have to grow internationally. With his trademark vision and determination, Peter embarked on the next phase of Hape’s growth, strategically expanding the company country by country. In 1995, due to expansion of the business, he expanded to Ningbo, China, where he created an innovative factory embracing ecological, technological, and efficiency practices. Intrigued by the bamboo plants surrounding his new home, Peter encouraged his designers to experiment with this highly renewable resource. This led to an alliance with UNESCO and the first full line of bamboo toys in 2005. The Hape bamboo collection now holds its place along with Hape Eco-toys and Hape line to make up the total Hape brand.

Today, Hape Toys is a multifaceted, multinational company selling toys in over 50 countries. But Peter’s ideals extend far beyond creating safe, innovative products. A lifetime commitment to learning and education, led him to work with local communities educating their children by building schools and enhancing their lives by teaching them to use available resources. Social responsibility, education, ecology, and innovation are ingrained in Peter’s heritage, and are reflected in every aspect of the Hape business, past, present, and future.

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* We were sent these toys in return for a review. All opinions are our own.