As regular readers of this blog will know, I'm a bit of a hardliner when it comes to toys. As in, very few make it through our door! This partly because we have little space for them in our 60 m2-flat, but also because I tend to get on a very high and green horse, getting upset at the plastic nastiness and the excess-driven consumerism and ...
You get my drift, so I'll get down now.
Of course, my toddler doesn't really share my views and loves a toy or fifty. To keep us both happy, I do one of two things:
a) Make toys myself
b) Buy well-made, eco-responsible toys - think quality not quantity
And now, I should add:
c) Get gifted a well-made, eco-responsible toy by the wonderful people at Babipur!
You get my drift, so I'll get down now.
Of course, my toddler doesn't really share my views and loves a toy or fifty. To keep us both happy, I do one of two things:
a) Make toys myself
b) Buy well-made, eco-responsible toys - think quality not quantity
And now, I should add:
c) Get gifted a well-made, eco-responsible toy by the wonderful people at Babipur!
A few words about Babipur, before I get on to the review:
We've been Babipur customers since well before they gave us this wonderful toy, and as such I can recommend them wholeheartedly. They are a family-run company based in Wales, selling ethically sourced and good quality clothes, cloth nappies, toys and accessories for children aged 0 to 6. Their product range is impressive, but what I like most about them is their customer service. Tom and Jolene, who set up the company, as well as the rest of the Babipur staff are helpful, the orders arrive promptly and well-packaged, and they will try to price-match with other suppliers if they can. They run a blog too, which is full of product reviews and currently features a gift list of ethical toys for 1 to 4-year-olds (Oh to get my hands on that DIY truck!).
We've been Babipur customers since well before they gave us this wonderful toy, and as such I can recommend them wholeheartedly. They are a family-run company based in Wales, selling ethically sourced and good quality clothes, cloth nappies, toys and accessories for children aged 0 to 6. Their product range is impressive, but what I like most about them is their customer service. Tom and Jolene, who set up the company, as well as the rest of the Babipur staff are helpful, the orders arrive promptly and well-packaged, and they will try to price-match with other suppliers if they can. They run a blog too, which is full of product reviews and currently features a gift list of ethical toys for 1 to 4-year-olds (Oh to get my hands on that DIY truck!).
Hape Best Bugs Magnetic Maze
Technical Details
Manufacturer: Hape
Materials: wood, water-based paints, PMMA, PA
Dimensions: 24.5 x 24.5 x 2.1 cm
Recommended Age Range: 2 to 12 years
Packaging: Cardboard (no plastic wrapping, hurray!)
RRP: £17.99
Materials: wood, water-based paints, PMMA, PA
Dimensions: 24.5 x 24.5 x 2.1 cm
Recommended Age Range: 2 to 12 years
Packaging: Cardboard (no plastic wrapping, hurray!)
RRP: £17.99
How does it work?
Using the magnetic pen, push the marbles around the maze.* Very good for encouraging hand-eye coordination and concentration. Also a great starting point for learning about colours, shapes and bugs.
*NOTE: The marbles do not come out, so this toy should not present a choking hazard.
Is it fun?
Yes! Even though the Bean is still a little too young to push the marbles around the corners by himself (he understands the concept but lacks the fine motor skills), he loves it anyway. Mad about all things bug-related, he likes to point out the different bugs, referring to it as his "ladybug" when he wants to play with it. Like many toddlers he is also fixated with the idea of ordering things by colour and so takes great delight in telling Mr. P&P or myself to drag the marbles to the correct bug, and shouting "oh no!" dramatically should a marble go wayward. As he gets older and his dexterity improves he should be able to do the dragging and pushing himself!
Is it well-made?
Very well made. The wooden base is thick and sturdy, and the perspex-like cover (which keeps the marbles in!) is securely attached to it. The drawings are lovely and vibrant, and the magnetic pen does not look like it will detach easily (she says with reasonable confidence, given that the Bean was seen dragging it across the floor by said pen...).
Any drawbacks?
At £17.99 this is not a cheap toy, but I do think the price reflects its high quality. I also think the manufacturer's recommended age range (2-12 yrs) is realistic, making this a toy with potentially very good longevity.
From a practical point of view, the Best Bugs Maze is a little heavy (roughly 600 g) for a toddler. Clearly this is because it's made of wood (which I would always choose over plastic in a toy!) but it means we probably couldn't take it with us anywhere unless travelling by car.
From a practical point of view, the Best Bugs Maze is a little heavy (roughly 600 g) for a toddler. Clearly this is because it's made of wood (which I would always choose over plastic in a toy!) but it means we probably couldn't take it with us anywhere unless travelling by car.
So is it a good toy all round?
Definitely! The Hape Best Bugs Magnetic Maze is fun, well-made and original, and should last for years. It'd make a great Christmas or birthday present and is available to buy from Babipur's store.
Please excuse the lack of pants in these pictures. We are potty training. Happy days.
Disclosure: We were given one Hape Best Bugs Magnetic Maze for the purpose of this review. No other payments or rewards were received. Opinions & words are genuine and my own!
