Peter Handstein, Founder of Hape, and His Commitment to Learning Through Play
Everyone has different happy childhood experiences. Who could deny that having fun through play is one of the most joyful parts of being a child?
Peter Handstein is the founder of Hape, a wooden toy brand established in Germany in 1986 whose main production base is now in China. He brings children joy through world-class toys, laying a foundation for learning that combines play with the interests and passions they develop as they grow. Let’s travel back in time to discover Peter’s childhood experiences and what his early life was like before he became a champion of children’s learning…
Peter was born in 1960 into a low-income family in a small village. His toys back then were pebbles, stones, soil, sand and sticks. But that did not limit his play! According to a story published by Hape, when Peter was 4 years old, he built a beautiful sandcastle in his backyard. After taking a break for lunch, he returned to find that his sandcastle had been destroyed. Peter was angry and deeply upset. “The boy next door must have done it!” he thought, before bursting into tears. His grandmother, Marie, comforted him: "Don’t worry. The next sandcastle you build will be better than the last. In this world, there are people who destroy things, and there are always people who build things again. You must choose which one you want to be."
Those simple words changed Peter’s life forever. Grandmother Marie’s prediction that the “sandcastles” Peter would build would be bigger and better than his first backyard sandcastle came true.
"When something is destroyed, it can become the driving force for creating an endless number of new things." This was the principle Peter learned as a child, thanks to his grandmother’s inspiration. Playing with simple natural materials gave Peter many positive insights and a deep understanding of how play could help children learn and develop skills. This aligns with guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that simple toys and playing together with parents best support children’s development (AAP: The Best Toys Go Back to the Basics). Read more: Playing with Your Children Helps Build Strong Family Relationships
Peter was raised with honesty, kindness and a love of nature. In 1986, he founded an organization dedicated to creating children’s products under the name Hape®. It soon became a globally recognized toy brand, welcomed into millions of families around the world.
Today, Peter continues to combine his grandmother’s ideas with natural play and share this philosophy with others, helping every child grow up happy, healthy and with a positive outlook
. This is Hape’s commitment 
#Founder Facts
In 2010, Peter Handstein was recognized as one of the most socially responsible entrepreneurs.
A business committee honored him with an award as "one of the 10 most socially responsible entrepreneurs" in Beilun District, Ningbo, China.
As the only foreign recipient of this award, Peter was particularly proud that the committee recognized his commitment to helping the community.
Peter believes it is important to help improve the lives of people in need. His understanding of Chinese culture through the philosophy of yin and yang has shown him that whatever you give also comes back to you, creating balance in society. (Watch the full interview at Interview with Peter Handstein, Founder and CEO of Hape, and read about Hape’s Care for the Environment.)
If you are looking for an excellent developmental toy, Hape is a good choice, offering a wide range of wooden toys that support children’s development at every age. Explore all Hape toys at the store.
Thoughtfully designed with children’s learning in mind, the toys help develop important skills such as seeing, listening, observation, fine motor skills, problem-solving, imagination and creativity. They also encourage integrated academic learning through STEAM.
With sturdy designs and durable materials, the toys focus on supporting children’s development while prioritizing their safety. They use non-toxic paints and FSC-certified wood, are long-lasting and are environmentally friendly.
Hape is therefore a global wooden toy brand that has won toy awards from numerous organizations and has production systems based on international standards such as ICTI, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001.
What matters most is sharing good times as a family, because wherever there is love, there is a complete home.
Hape Thailand
Love Play Learn
🌐: Browse all products /hape-brand-page
Follow the latest news and special promotions FB : Hape Thailand