Hoberman Sphere Toys. Looking for games that will encourage your kids to use their imagination more, and at the same time also teach them important geometry concepts? Do check out these toys from Hoberman.
Hoberman manufactures lots of puzzles/games that look like a geodosic dome. Geodosic domes are sphere shaped buildings using a series of triangles to build the sphere.
These may look like simple toys but have the potential to keep your children (as well as adults) engaged, and also raise their interests in engineering, mathematics, the physical sciences, etc.
How can you use it constructively?
The main concept that one learns from a Hoberman sphere is three-dimensional Geometry.
It is shaped like a sphere and you can discuss concepts such as volume, surface area, and symmetry with your kids.
The Hoberman sphere puzzle toys use smaller sized triangles that can be hinged, allowing the sphere to grow or shrink in size.
You can use the Hoberman sphere to do breathing exercise and calm down.
You expand the sphere while breathing in (as if your lungs were expanding) and contract the sphere while you exhale.
Best Hoberman Sphere Toy
You get toys that are made of various brightly colored pieces of interlocking plastic, some of these even glow in the dark. Most of these toys are suitable for children aged 4 years and up.
Some of these can even be used as a great tabletop decoration (or you can just make them sit on a computer), ready for play and for stress relief!
Original Hoberman Large Expanding Sphere Toy: Hoberman Large Expanding Sphere Toy expands from 9 and a half to 30 inches. It comes with a 21 cool-things-to-do game sheet. The sphere can be hung from the ceiling and the kit, provides fun for not just kids but adults too.
Hoberman Expanding Mini Sphere Toy: This is a mini version suitable for smaller hands. It expands into a lattice-like globe 12 inches in diameter.
Hoberman Glow-in-the-Dark Spheres: These spheres come in multiple sizes, including a mini and one that expands up to 30 inches. The glowing parts raises the curiosity of kids even more, and reminds them of fireflies flying around. When mounted on the ceiling, the glowing parts make this toy look like an expanding universe. The larger one comes with an instruction sheet, educational sheet and a pulley.
Here’s an interesting video that shows how a child can use the Hoberman sphere to do breathing exercise.
Funtoyworld is a family-managed website with me (Ben), and my wife doing most of the work. We are proud parents of two wonderful kids and love reviewing toys. We have a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offer several practical suggestions backed by extensive research. Our own experience with raising two children prompted us to share our knowledge. Read more.
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