Wooden toys have always gone down well in our house. I like them because they tend to fair better than their plastic counterparts and they seem to capture the kids’ imaginations. The kids like them because they’re fun to play with. Emma’s a bit old for all that stuff now, but Greg is still the right age to get the most out of them.
We were recently lucky enough to be sent the Crane and Cargo wooden train set from Hape. Greg helped me test it out so I could write this honest review.
Greg was instantly delighted when he spotted the box and claimed it was just what he’s always wanted! I took this as a good sign, but we wouldn’t really know until we’d got everything out of the box.
Hape Crane and Cargo Set
The box contains some wooden track, a rail crossing, a crane, a cargo train with carriages, some cargo with magnetic tops for the crane to lift, traffic lights, a road sign, and a truck.
There is a track design that you’re supposed to follow, but Greg likes to freestyle it, so he made a slightly different shape.
He made an incomplete track which he played with for around 20 minutes, before dismantling it and making another track that didn’t join up.
Greg spent a lot of time playing with the crossing, and using the crane to move cargo from the train to the truck. Hetook great pleasure in stopping the train, ten stopping the truck.
Greg really loves this set and has played with it every day since we unpacked it. At night I dismantle his track and put it back in the box, then the next day he rebuilds it at least three times.
So far, the Hape Crane and Cargo set has provided hours of fun, and I’m hoping to buy some extra track so Greg can make a huge track.
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My Thoughts on the Hape Crane and Cargo Set
I think this wooden train set is fab. I’d have happily bought it for my son if I hadn’t been sent it to review and I’ll probably buy a few more bits from the range when his birthday comes around again.
I think the track building helps his puzzle solving skills, and he’s clearly engaging in imaginative play when he’s moving the cargo.
I might be biased because I have a real love of wooden toys, but I think this set it great. It’s fantastic quality, has kept Greg happy for hours and it’s easy to pack away when you’ve finished with it (which is a major plus in the toy-buying stakes).
You might also enjoy this review of the Hape Flexistix Eiffel Tower Kit.
