Lebanon Toy Manufacturers Launch New Active Game

 

LEBANON – More than 20 years ago, Mike Giles was at home on a rainy day with stir-crazy children when he came up with an idea on the fly.

“I took spare materials at the house and created a fun game,” he said. “We started acting out animals and if it landed on the Chika Chaka space, we’d yell out, ‘Chika Chaka Chika Chaka Yo Yo Yo, Chika Chaka Chika Chaka Go, Go, Go.’ We played it all the time. Friends started asking us to bring it to birthday parties and playdates. Everyone from young kids to my 88-year-old dad can play it.”

Just over a year ago, Mike and his wife Melissa decided to take the old game that had been set aside for many years to the Chicago Toy Fair and now that homemade game is gaining traction across Indiana and beyond.

The soft, colorful dice-like cube has a picture of an animal on each side: kangaroo, monkey, bird and others. Play freestyle or the competitive version and keep score. The first player to act out every animal is the winner.

“It doesn’t have small pieces and it’s easy to take on vacation, to play inside or outside, and you can even wash it,” Melissa Giles said. “Kids are so attached to their screens and this might not get them off the screen permanently but maybe that 10-minute break becomes an hour of active, creative play.”

Based on their research, the Lebanon couple says free play, problem solving and creativity all help create the neuro pathways in early development.

“We’re thrilled that something so simple could potentially have an impact,” Melissa said.

Chika Chaka is currently available at the Indianapolis Children’s Museum gift shop, 4 Kids Books and Toys in Zionsville, Kits and Kaboodle in Carmel, Amazon and other venues across the country with many other opportunities on the horizon.

“This is version one,” Mike said. “We have another in the works with transportation. We’ve thought about a pool version with water animals and another with facial expressions. It’d be a great game to play as an icebreaker in the classroom or for developmental therapists.”

So far, the two have received feedback regarding a Thanksgiving afternoon filled with laughter as the entire family played the game, birthday party success and a reserved child opening up to join in on the fun.

“We want to create bonding moments for families, help kids develop and shine,” Melissa said. “It’s engagement. It brings people together and is a lot of fun.”

Visit https://www.chikachakatoy.com/ for more information or to place an order.

The Lebanon Reporter May 22, 2025: https://www.reporter.net/across_indiana/lebanon-toy-manufacturers-launch-new-active-game/article_e9e32406-5748-42c0-8daa-e25416546dfb.html