Little Friends - Companions for the whole of childhood
Sweet as can be, brightly coloured and bendable – the Little Friends are companions for a whole childhood, because the little dolls made from sturdy plastic will join in every bit of mischief: going on a big dive in the bath, scaring monsters from under the bed or having a picnic beneath the kitchen table.
The Little Friends are always part of the fun, especially when it comes to what children love most: play, play, play. Classic dollhouse role‑play, experiences at kindergarten or with the family… with the little dolls, children can reenact their everyday lives. They accompany little explorers as they grow up and help them process experiences and develop socially. Our Little Friends themed worlds cover every play setting that young doll players are fascinated by – and with a touch of imagination they come to life like a mirror image.
The Little Friends are like all children – with their own interests, moods and needs. But they all have one thing in common: they’re always up for a bit of fun!
Thoughtful design
The characters of the Little Friends are cheeky, curious and spirited. They reference our well-known cloth dolls and convince with their cute, child-friendly appearance, which makes them immediately likeable. The Little Friends designer from the very beginning is Ines Frömelt. She explains the idea behind it:
„We want to offer children a real alternative to dolls that are detached from reality, exaggeratedly stylish, or that look too grown-up. Children need imaginative toys – above all, toys that stimulate their own imagination and give them the freedom to realize their ideas.“
That's why the Little Friends look like children of the same age, following the motto: „Children for children“. They are made from a bendable wire frame covered with durable plastic. This allows children to bend the Little Friends into different poses.
„Children should be able to see themselves in our Little Friends“, emphasizes product manager Vanessa Ruck-Naß. And so that every child can truly identify with „their“ Little Friend, our range has grown in recent years to include a wide variety of very different designs and characters.
Another special feature: Because they are so light, small and handy, they fit into even the smallest (pants) pocket and can therefore be with you anytime, anywhere! „My favorite dolls are sweet Mali and the clever Lisbeth. And because I'm a real dog fan, the little puppies are of course among my absolute favorites. But right after that comes the little piggy!“, chuckles product manager Ruck-Naß.
Speaking of: Of course animals are another important component to authentically reenact a child's world of experience. Therefore, more and more animal playmates are gradually enriching the colorful world of the Little Friends.
„My favorite animals at the moment are the elephant group and the giraffe. I'm especially enthusiastic about their clear shapes and the expressive, striking colors“, says Ines Frömelt, delighted about the new additions to the Little Friends animal world.
Children constantly observe the behavior of the adults around them and love to imitate what they have seen in role play. „That way they often hold up a mirror to us grown-ups!“, laughs Dr. Jan-David Freund. The psychologist and product manager for the HABA Learning Program knows: „Most of the time children name their Little Friends individually and begin to ascribe certain characteristics to them.“
For example, if sweet Mali is afraid of big dogs, it's only natural that she only dares to sneak cautiously past the neighbor's garden fence when accompanied by her human best friend. „So my two sons, aged 1 and 5, for example, immediately included the cow from the Little Friends animal world in their play. She radiates such a friendly calm. Patiently she goes along with everything – whether she has to serve as a riding animal or as the base of an animal pyramid, or clumsily tumbles against the tower of building blocks. That's why she is clearly also one of my Little Friends favorites“, continues Dr. Jan-David Freund. With their great design, high-quality material and low weight, the Little Friends simply win the hearts of young and old in no time.
Play out everyday life
The Little Friends are set in our world and experience everyday things — exactly what your children dream up for the dolls or want to (re)enact.
Our exciting and varied theme worlds make it easy for children to immerse themselves in imaginative stories and experience whatever they like together with their Little Friends. How about an exciting safari or a visit to the farm, for example? The horses there are thrilled about a show jumping competition at the riding stable. Is an animal sick? No problem! At the animal clinic it will be well cared for. While it is being treated, time can be wonderfully spent playing in the treehouse or in the Little Friends' garden.
Those who prefer to travel can go on great adventures with the playsets Holiday Trip and Camping Trip. The Little Friends can relax on the deckchairs and sit comfortably by the campfire. Our stories about the exciting experiences of the Little Friends address everyday situations in a child-appropriate way, are perfect for reading aloud or discovering on one's own, and above all do one thing: put you in a really good mood!
By the way: Playing with dolls is important for children's social development. Especially varied role plays, stepping into different identities, in short „pretending to be ...“, give children important impulses for their emotional development. Along the way and playfully, their social behavior develops further and their empathy is trained.
Playing safely, even digitally
The content on the Little Friends page is child-friendly and safe. The range of offerings is diverse and appeals to the different interests and needs of children.
Do it yourself
Here you'll repeatedly find new craft ideas matched to the stories. These ideas range from child-friendly, simple crafting instructions to recipes and suggestions for you on how to make something nice with or for your children.
Profiles
Here children get to know the Little Friends. Like in a friendship book, Lilli, Mali, Matze and the others reveal what they like to play, their favorite color and what they like to eat best. This brings the dolls to life and offers children initial impulses which they can then adopt, incorporate into their play or change.
You can find all products of the Little Friends series at a glance on haba.de at Little Friends.
