What I really like about HABA is that the games are fun as well as educational. There is expertise about child development at HABA. For example, read this (German) blog about the importance of puzzles at their website. They have thought about the learning objectives as well as the look. As a result, these games fall into the category: ‘games children want to keep playing‘. Moreover, the game components are made of sturdy and beautiful materials; they can take a beating. Also, you often find several variants for different ages in the game rules. For me, the three main reasons why HABA games belong in every games cupboard at home and at school!
1. HABA thinks in terms of the game concept and child development
That is why there is always a game that fits your learning goals. HABA uses six categories that tie in with teaching and education (see the picture above). Within these six main categories, HABA also divides the games into subcategories. For example, within the Cognitive development category, the publisher distinguishes games that work on (a combination of): recognising, observing and reacting / spatial awareness / concentration and attention / remembering / hearing and listening / logical thinking / making decisions and solving problems.
A publisher that so deliberately names skills seems to me a suitable partner for parents and education.
2. The rules give suggestions on how to make the basic game harder / easier or play in a different way
What to do when children find a game too difficult? Or children who quickly find a game easy and therefore boring? Personally, I am an advocate of being creative with game rules (in consultation, of course):
remove a rule, add something or let children come up with additional rules themselves. This way, young children can already be introduced to a game and learn the basics of game mechanics. Older children, in turn, benefit from being able to rediscover a game and challenge themselves to raise the bar.
HABA takes into account that children of different ages and skill levels play their games. You will find a level division in most of HABA’s game rules (see the picture above of the game Avonturer 1×1). There are always rules for a basic game as well as suggestions on how to make a game harder or easier.
3. Instant feedback from the game
Many of the HABA games incorporate a feedback system into the game. For example in the game 3 x 4 = Slap (or in German: 3 x 4 = Klats). You can make the DIY version of this that you see on Pinterest. But HABA’s version gives you more and that makes it worth the money! In 3 x 4 = Slap, children practise the tables up to ten by pointing to the right petal. There are fly swatters with the game, so you can make it a competition of who hits the right flower the fastest.
Once a child has chosen a petal, you turn the petal over and get instant feedback on the sum. So you immediately see which times sums belong to this number. The colour of the flower heart also indicates which table this sum belongs to.
Count on children checking each other at this game! This way they keep each other on their toes and strengthen their own arithmetic skills.
Serious about games
That HABA is serious about games in the curriculum is evidenced by its involvement at conferences on that topic. For instance, Dr Jan-David Freund is a regular speaker at SPIEL Educators Day, HABA organised a webinar on game-based learning during the lockdown (in which I had the opportunity to participate) and you can find a lot of background information on learning with games and tips for choosing games on both HABA’s German and US websites.
Only positive? Yes, about the games for sure! What I regret is that there is no ‘central’ point in the Netherlands where you can find all of HABA’s games. HABA’s headquarters (part of HABA Familygroup) can be found somewhere in the German state of Bavaria and there is a large US division.
In Nederland vind je HABA-spellen in de betere spellen- en speelgoedwinkels, maar ben je afhankelijk van de keuzes die die winkel voor zijn collectie heeft gemaakt. Via bol (zoals in dit artikel) kom je vaak op een Duitse of Franse versie van een spel terecht. Ook leuk natuurlijk en goed voor je talenkennis 😁
I wrote this article in 2019 and updated it November 2024. You will find affiliate links in the text. When you purchase the game (or anything else) through these links, you support this website and the work of Pen & Pion 🙏🏼🎲🧩
