Hape is the brand I think of when I want a classic wooden toy that’s durable and fun. Their stuff is simple, sturdy, and doesn’t need a single battery to be fun (which my ears appreciate).
This page has every Hape toy I recommend across the site, all 6 of them, sorted by the 11 play categories I use for our toy rotation.
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Why We Like Hape
- Real sound, no batteries. The xylophone, the ukulele, and even the microphone work with nothing but kid power.
- Quality wooden toys. The wood doesn’t splinter or warp over time. They look good even after years of use.
- Built for little hands. Hape uses non-toxic, child-safe finishes and rounded edges.
Hape Toys by Age
| Age | What to look for | More toys for this age |
|---|---|---|
| 1+ | Pound and Tap Bench, echo microphone | Toys for 12 to 17 months |
| 2+ | All in 1 art easel, Fix-It Tool Box | Toys for 2 year olds |
| 3+ | Hair salon set | Toys for 3 year olds |
| 4+ | The easel | Toys for 4 year olds |
| 6+ | Ukulele | Toys for 6 year olds |
Hape Musical Toys
Music is Hape’s sweet spot, their toys are of high quality, but aren’t overly complicated for little musicians. Our musical toys guide has lots more.
Hape Pound and Tap Bench (ages 1+)
This is two toys in one. Kids pound the balls through the bench and they land on the xylophone keys, which makes a new note every time.
Then you can slide the xylophone out and play it on its own and great fine motor practice for aiming and grip.
Hape Pound & Tap Bench
A 2-in-1 toy that kids can tap balls directly onto the xylophone for new sounds, or pull out the xylophone and play some tunes of their own.
- Pound the balls and they will drop on the xylophone, tinkling out a pleasant scale of notes
- Pull out the xylophone and play a tune directly on the keys
- Hape finishes are all non-toxic, child safe, and of the highest quality
Hape Mighty Echo Microphone (ages 1+)
No batteries, no sounds. Kids sing or talk into the center, and the shape of the mic makes their voice echo. It’s a great add-on to an instrument set, and it gets kids using their voices, which is huge for little ones who are still building words.
Hape Mighty Echo Microphone
An echo microphone doesn't need batteries or produce sounds. Just sing into the center and hear your voice amplified. It's a great addition to a musical instrument set.
- Echo-effect: Clever acoustic design creates a microphone-style voice effect using natural echo, with no batteries needed.
- Pretend-Play Button: The red microphone button is a decorative feature designed for imaginative play and has no functional effect.
- Creative Learning and development: The music toy stimulates speech and singing ability in toddlers. This toy promotes development of musical skills and creative expression
- Age Recommendation: the Hape mighty Echo microphone is perfect for kids 12 months and up
Kid’s Ukulele
The wooden ukulele is made of wood and it’s tunable, so it’s a real instrument, not just a toy guitar. It’s tricky for kids to get the idea of chords before about 6, but younger kids still love to strum and pretend to be rock stars.
Pair it with the microphone and you have a band. And if you want a baby-friendly music toy, Hape also partnered with Baby Einstein on the Magic Touch Piano, which is on our music list.
Hape Kid's Wooden Ukulele
This ukelele is made from wood and has a nice accoustic sound. It's a bit tricky for kids to get the idea of chords before the age of 6, but they still like to strum and pretend to be rockstars!
- SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: Develops coordination, motor skills and auditory and creative skills
- ENCOURAGES MUSICALITY: Teaches young kids about basic rhythm, strumming, and other musical techniques
- FULLY FUNCTIONAL: Sturdy and perfectly sized for young hands yet fully playable and tunable
Baby Einstein and Hape Piano (ages 6mo+)
Two great brands come together for this mini piano: Hape and Baby Einstein. Typically Hape toys don’t require batteries, but this one is a great exception as it teaches littles how to play the piano and follow along with songs.
Baby Einstein and Hape Magic Touch Piano
This piano leaves kids to create on their own (open-ended play), listen to music (sensory), or follow along with songs and patterns (close-ended).
Hape Art Toys
Art is the ultimate open-ended toy… Although my 6 year old likes to tell me he’s better at art than I am, and I’m still working on the whole “art is subjective” lesson. Our art supplies guide has every art supply you could image, including this easel.
Hape Magnetic All in 1 Art Easel (ages 2+)
This easel does a lot of heavy lifting in a play area. One side is a chalkboard, the other is a magnetic whiteboard, and there’s a paper roll on top for drawing and painting. For supplies, we’re a Crayola family.
When it isn’t art time, it’s a magnet board for letters, gears, and hanging up their latest masterpiece. An easel also gets kids standing and working on a vertical surface, which is good for their shoulders and wrists before they’re writing at a desk.
Hape Magnetic All in 1 Art Easel
This easel does some multi-purpose heavy lifting in your play area. It can be used for drawing and plainting, as a chalkboard, or a magnetic board for letters, gears, hanging pictures, and more.
- ALL-IN-1 ART TOY: Double sided easel with blackboard, magnetic whiteboard and paper roll on top
- IDEAL FOR CRAFTS: Perfect for painting, writing, or drawing
- REFILLABLE DRAWING PAPER: Refillable Paper roll attached at the top for quick and easy reach
- COMES WITH PAINT POTS: Includes 3 paint pots and holders
- HEIGHT ADJUTSABLE: Adjustable height from 37.5 to 43.5 inches
Hape Pretend Play and Nurturing Toys
Hape’s pretend play sets are compact, which I love, because a full kitchen or workbench takes up a lot of floor. More ideas are in our pretend play toys guide.
Hape Super Stylish Hair Salon Set (ages 3+)
This set is complete: a hair dryer that makes a realistic sound, clips, rollers, a straightener, a brush and comb, a mirror, a spray bottle, an apron, a cape, and pretend scissors that won’t cut anyone’s hair (thank goodness).
Kids take turns being the stylist and the client, which teaches them to take care of their own appearance and to be gentle with someone else. That’s why it’s on our nurturing toys list too. Ours is a house of boys, and I promise salon play isn’t just for girls.
Hape Super Stylish Hair Salon Set
Teach little ones to care for their appearance, and the hygeine of others with this fun hair stylist pretend play set. This is a complete set with everything you need from fake scissors (that won't cut hair!) to curlers and clips.
- MADE FOR SMALL HANDS: Accessories are specifically designed with smooth, rounded edges, making them safe and comfortable for little hands to play with.
- REALISTIC FUN: The hairdryer makes realistic sounds, giving young children an even more realistic and engaging hair-cutting experience.
- PLENTY OF PIECES: This styling set includes a hairdryer, hair clips, hair rollers, hair straightener, brush, mirror, comb, pair of scissors, spray bottle, stylist`s apron and a client`s cape.
- REALISTIC FUN: The hairdryer makes realistic sounds, giving young children an even more realistic and engaging hair-cutting experience.
Fix-It Tool Box (ages 1+)
Kids can play carpenter, use their fine motor skills to put the gears and pieces together, and build their own creations. Tool belts are a favorite accessory at our house, and a tool kit like this is the next step. It’s a toddler-sized set, so it fits best from 1 to about 4.
Hape Fix-It Tool Box Toy
This compact toy covers a lot of ground. Kids can play carpenter, use their fine motor skills to assemble gears, and build their own creations.
Looking for more wooden toys? Our Melissa & Doug roundup is the biggest brand page on the site, and our toy guides page has every age and category. For how to use toys like these when you’re not in the room, see our independent play guide.
FAQ
For toddlers, the Pound and Tap Bench and the echo microphone. For preschoolers, the All in 1 art easel and the hair salon set. The wooden ukulele is a nice first real instrument, especially for kids closer to 6.
Most Hape toys on our list start at 1 to 3 years. The ages are minimums. Toddler toys like the pound bench are best up to about 3, while the easel and salon set stay in play for years.
Most don’t. The pound bench, microphone, and ukulele all work without batteries. The echo microphone uses its shape to make your voice echo, and its red button is only decorative.
They can strum it and have a great time pretending to be a rock star. Actual chords are tricky for most kids until around 6.
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