Thursday, May 1, 2014

Bringing Pretend Play to Life with the HABA Doorway Puppet Theater {Review & Giveaway}

HABA logo
Since before they could even talk, both Big Sister E and Little Sister B loved pretend play. I can't begin to count the number of hours that we've spent imagining stories and adventures of all kinds, from simple shopping and cooking of play food to in-depth trips to the moon with all of our stuffed friends.

But beyond that, there has always been something extra special about pretend play and its benefits. It doesn't matter if your child would prefer to pull on a ball gown and role play as a princess or zoom their toy car through a city built out of blocks, this form of imaginative, make believe, fantasy play is educational and expressive in a multitude of ways.

So, when it comes to pretend play accessories, I continuously look for items that are not only fun and entertaining, but made to last a lifetime. Things that will inspire their imagination, hold up to endless hours of playtime by my girls (as well as any of their friends that come over as well), and provide the opportunity to experiment with different events, experiences and possibilities in their lives.

With that in mind, one of our favorite brands that can always be counted on for the widest selection of heirloom-quality European crafted toys is none other than HABA.

HABA toys

Unmatched in their selection of unique, high quality toys, games, gifts and furniture, HABA offers the whimsical and innovative toys for babies, toddlers and big kids that reflect their European values of staying playful and environmentally-friendly.

This innovative company was founded in Germany back in 1938 and has been bringing amazing, award-winning products to children ever since. And, while there has never been any doubt that HABA's products are a delight to behold, the moment that I saw their new Doorway Theater, I was, without a doubt, in love.

HABA giveaway

The perfect combination of convenience, ingenuity and beauty, HABA's Doorway Theater can easily double as artwork along with being a toy. Even better, due to the quick setup and removal, portability and adjustable hanging rod, this is one item that can be moved throughout the house or taken on travels without any problem.

In fact, as soon as I had removed the colorful polyester fabric and included tension rod from the box...

HABA puppet show
Extremely adorable Princess Glove Puppet sold separately.

...it only took a matter of a minute or two before I had adjusted the rod to the width of our space and had the entire thing in place.

HABA puppet theater

Perfection!

While we couldn't be happier to have the Doorway Theater to fill up this somewhat-odd, empty space from our living room into our play room, I adore the way that this toy can be adjusted to fit just about any size doorway.

The fabric of the theater itself measures 67" tall and 31" across, but the tension rod can be shortened or extended (exactly as you would with a shower or curtain rod) to fit in a wide variety of larger and smaller openings. Simply twist it one way or the other and you're got a completely customizable puppet show!

At the same time, this clever design includes three hidden pockets (i.e. channels) throughout the fabric that each house a single piece of wood to give the entire thing weight and help keep it taut when young puppeteers are moving around behind it.

HABA doorway theater assembly
The wood does NOT actually stick out of the channel in this manner, it was just positioned as such for the photo.

All that's left is to put on show after show!

HABA included plenty of adorably cute details throughout this Doorway Theater, giving this toy even more eye-catching uniqueness everywhere you look.

The red curtains can easily be tied back to frame the "stage," there is a peek-a-boo porthole up above for a puppet to make a surprise appearance and the clear oval pocket below (which opens and closes at the top with Velcro) is just right to place a sign displaying the name of the act.

HABA doorway theater details

Again and again, the girls have been thrilled to put on their shows and, whether there is an audience or not, they spend time coming up with tale after tale!

HABA Doorway Puppet Theater

From top to bottom, I love the quality and care that HABA has put into their Doorway Theater. The vibrant colors, the careful stitching, the adjustable size, the foolproof installation, the overall whimsical look... it truly encourages storytelling, social and emotional skills, social play and more — the opportunities for play are endless!

You can find this creativity-inducing item (along with other of HABA's beautifully crafted play things) at specialty stores near you or right online at HABAusa.com. The Doorway Theater retails for $47.49 and is perfectly complemented by HABA's newly-expanded selection of hand puppets, including the princess that joined our home, a prince, Little Red Riding Hood, wolf, crocodile, Puss in Boots and more!

HABA puppets

Have you visited HABAusa.com lately? You'll definitely want to head over to see more about these and all of their award-winning items that will be a perfect gift or educate and inspire your own children for years to come!

Also be sure to connect with HABA on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube so that you'll never miss the latest and greatest from the company that knows anything and everything about incredible toys.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will soon see just what dramatics the perfect pretend play item can bring to their home as well, because...

One lucky person will win a HABA Doorway Theater!

HABA doorway theater


A big thank you to HABA for providing a Doorway Theater and Princess Puppet for me to review as well as a Doorway Theater for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

128 comments:

Leah B said...

The aircraft swing for baby looks pretty adorable!

wigget said...

love the Terra Kids - Experimental Box Knack of Knots

john said...

the LUCY DOLL is very cute.

Sylvia said...

I like the Baroque Architectural Blocks

d schmidt said...

I really like the Animal Upon Animal Game

mel said...

my daughter would love to have Antiquity Architectural Blocks Set

A.H. said...

The Dolls Buggy would be nice to have. My daughter loves pretending to be a mommy.

MistressMarci said...

I love the play tents, especially the American Indian one.

aperry said...

I like the Doc HABA set

Mammamayor said...

The Gita dolls ,Natalie natbelinsky@verizon.net

Ledford Land said...

My daughter would like the Nelly doll

Jessica Ledford
cherriesjessilee at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love, love, love Haba toys for my daughter. The quality is always fantastic, and I love the whimsical cuteness of it all so this giveaway is really exciting! I especially love the Sevilla Building Blocks and the Elise Doll, and the Fabric Doll House. My daughter would adore those. Thank you for the chance to win!

Anonymous said...

annie doll
adinatm(at)aol.com

Kimberly said...

I like the Pushing Car Walker Wagon

Unknown said...

I'd love to give a Starter Set with Water Seesaw to all the little ones I know.

Bethany C. said...

I like their Walter The Dragon Disguise.

Aly said...

I think my son would like the My Very First Games - Sailor Ahoy! game.

Barbara Montag said...

The kids would also like the Castle Set in Bag.
thank you

Barbara Montag said...

Google+ & GFC
Barbara Montag
Blog Lovin barbaramontag

nickieisis3 said...

I like the Pushing Car Walker Wagon

Traci said...

MOOVER Dump Truck Red

Heather B said...

The Sand Play Backpack Set looks like fun

kellyr78 said...

I would like the HABA’s Pyramid Block Set for my kids.
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

Unknown said...

I think they would like the animal upon animal game

Unknown said...

I would like the first blocks for our grandchildren.

Unknown said...

I like the Animal Upon Animal Game

Unknown said...

I like the Animal Upon Animal Game

Linda said...

we like to play games I think the Bella Little Flower game would be fun.
mintstatesportswear(at)juno(dot)com

Dave said...

Off-road Vehicle Assembly Kit

emchelly77 said...

i love the tepee it would be so cool in the kids room! i can see them dressing up in their pocohontas outfits!

nicolesender said...

i like the Beetle Anton Soft Rattle!

Missy said...

I love the pushing car! My niece is just starting to walk!

Growl Tiger said...

I also really like the Hound Leo Play set

Unknown said...

My son would love the Animal upon Animal game!

Unknown said...

I would like the Doc HABA set

Francine Anchondo said...

Antiquity Architectural Blocks Set

April said...

my kids would like the Castle Set in Bag

ssgsweeps @ gmail .com

Toystory said...

Play Tent Magic Forest- although all the play tents would go over great right now. johannah brookwell

Unknown said...

I love the hanging knight's play tent.

hoeyhooper said...

I think my grand daughter would like the animal upon animal game

Unknown said...

Love love love the fabric doll house!

mogrill said...

Everything is so cute, but my daughter would LOVE the Lucy Doll.

Unknown said...

My son loves his Walker Wagon. He pushes his teddy bear around in it.

Tara said...

Terra Kids - Camping Light

Growl Tiger said...

I'd love to give my son the Roll 'n roll 'n roll Ball Track

Candace said...

I also love the marble tracks.

Anonymous said...

I would like the Arranging Game Florina for my niece

Unknown said...

my daughter would love the castle block set

Rochel S said...

1001 Nights Magnetic Arranging Game looks fun!

Treesa said...

We would like to have the The Dolls Buggy

cc_girly(at)yahoo(dot)com

Tamar said...

I like the A Dream of Flowers - Area Rug.

Anonymous said...

I like the castle set in a bag. This site has great toys and games.

Jennifer T. said...

My kids would love the 1001 Nights Magnetic Arranging Game.

Ty Beth said...

I love the nelly doll. She's adorable

Unknown said...

I love the nelly doll!

Jessica said...

I would love the MOOVER Doll Pram Natural for my daughter.

jlee said...

I'd also love the animal threading beads!

Ruthies blog said...

The princess ten is pretty awesome.

mecarolks said...

I like the Pushing Car Walker Wagon.

Unknown said...

my gkid Loves the nelly doll...

polly said...

I would love their Aircraft Swing for my little grandson

Unknown said...

I think my little guy would like the clown blocks!

DebbieKL said...

The Block and Tackle looks fun!

Unknown said...

Play Tent Magic Forest

Miranda said...

First Blocks

matope said...

my son would love the bathtub ball run!

Unknown said...

I would like to give my girl the BARN AND FRIENDS from HABA

Cassie Eastman said...

My kids would love the Knight's Hanging Tent too!

Melissa Storms said...

I would love to get the Airy Fairy Baby Swing. How cute is that?
upstatemissy@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I would love to have the Haba Land of Flowers Beanbag. It just makes me smile...
mavrogirl@gmail.com

Unknown said...

My daughter would love the Doctor's Suitcase!

lauren.l.olaughlin said...

I love the Haba Tents and would love to get my son the ship swing!

Finamoon said...

I would love the Assorted Cookies Tin (Wooden).

Mayela lozano said...

I like the Aircraft Swing

Kaddyshack said...

Okay, this is a little weird, but I'd like to give my niece and nephew the measuring cup, along with other make-believe kitchen items. For some strange reason I have fond memories of my fake measuring cup with liquid in it that I had as a child. Apparently it must have fascinated me.

Dawn said...

I like the abc sand molds and the haba 18in doll with blue dress.

Peggy O'Connor said...

I think the American Indian Horse Lanu is adorable and my grand daughter would love it.

Heather said...

The Allegro Stacking ball is great!

momo said...

This would be nice to have for my grandson; Color Tower Stacking Game.

Tabitha said...

i'd get the mustard and ketchup bottles for my daughter. she loves to add new things to her kitchen ;)
kayleefaith1228@aol.com

Sioux City Sue said...

The Ball Track basic set would keep both my husband and child busy for hours building different configurations!

Steph said...

They have so much cool stuff! The kids would love the gardening supplies.

Unknown said...

I would love to give my children the Baroque Architectural Blocks.

Unknown said...

Blossom sky hanging tent

Unknown said...

Wow, another product that I really like is the Aircraft Swing, this is just to cute! Would love it for my grandson.

Halation said...

I like the Doc HABA set

vera said...

I love the Blossom Sky Hanging Tent.

Unknown said...

I love Nelly Doll

Unknown said...

I love the A Great Day in Preschool Book, Puzzle & Game.

sonyamorris (Sonya Morris) said...

My little girl would love the Annie doll.

Andrea said...

I would love to give my daughters the Dolls Buggy!

Brooke said...

I love the A Day with Paul Fabric Picture Book

Tiffany Schmidt said...

Oh my goodness, all the felt food is adorable!

Randi S said...

I love the Blossom Sky Hanging Tent

Teresa Thompson said...

I love the Airy Fairy Baby Swing.

Unknown said...

Henry HABA Strong Hobby Horse

Tylerpants said...

My daughter would love the pretty Princess Rosalina Play Tent.
Lisa L tylerpants(at)gmail.com

trixx said...

I love the Fantasy Land Jigsaw Blocks as well!

Marianna said...

I'd like for us to have the zippy scooters domino game

heather said...

I like the animal threading beads for my daughter.

LesleyfromWI said...

Ilike the Assorted Cookies Tin (Wooden)

kris Mihalov said...

my daughter would love the play tents

Synaptrix777 said...

While it's out of my budget, I would love to get the Ships See Saw Swing.

Unknown said...

I like the push car wagon

Anonymous said...

There is nothing I love more than to do art projects with my daughter, so I really love the helicopter assembly kit!

Sharklady71 said...

My daughter would really like the Nelly doll.

Unknown said...

i like http://www.habausa.com/ball-track-building-set-large-for-haba-balltrack.html

Anonymous said...

Love the airplane swing, this would look adorable in our backyard!

tracey said...

Terra Kids - Multifunctional Backpack

Erica C. said...

The Blossom hanging tent is fun.

SexyBrat said...

I really like the 1001 Nights Magnetic Arranging Game.

Unknown said...

Carter would have a blast with the My First Ball Track

Unknown said...

I like for my grandson, the Fairy Tale Bingo game. Looks fun.

kris Mihalov said...

my daughter will love these dolls! Thanks for the chance to win!

blew415 said...

Antiquity Architectural Blocks Set

Becca Ann said...

I like the abc sand molds

kalliejenn81 said...

1001 Nights Magnetic arranging game!!

Sarah Thornton said...

THe Sand Play backpack. My son loves the beach.

Jennifer Cervantes said...

I like the Pushing Car Walker Wagon.

susansmoaks said...

our daughter would like the activity apple. thanks for the giveaway.

Finding Joy in the Journey said...

Love the big looping track set!

Linda S said...

Doll house

Gina said...

Basketball Hoop Set (Marble)

tina reynolds said...

I think the Castle Set in a bag would be a hit with my three kiddos thanks for the chance to win

toastersareflying said...

I'd love the Discoverer's Meadow Play Rug for my son.

Jenny Q. said...

I like their ice cream set.

HydeKayla said...

My son would like the fantasy blocks!

lastingpurple@hotmail.com

lilyk said...

I love the Sushi Set!