Review: Tiny Hoomans Tic Tac Toe Portable Play Set (A Bao-Ful of Giggles)

We’re always on the lookout for simple, fun games that the kids can enjoy together — especially now that the younger one has turned four. It’s such a sweet stage where they’re starting to play more cooperatively (most of the time!) and can finally enjoy the same activities.

We recently got our hands on an absolutely adorable Tic Tac Toe portable play set from Tiny Hoomans, and it’s quickly become a firm favourite at home. Think classic Tic Tac Toe — but cuter and more portable. It’s just the right kind of game for sibling bonding, quiet afternoons or keeping little hands busy when we’re out and about.

What is it?

Tiny Hoomans has a charming collection of portable Tic Tac Toe games, each themed around cute characters. From smiling toasts to sleeping stars, these sets are designed to be lightweight and easy to bring along — perfect for screen-free fun whether you’re at home, dining out or travelling.

You can explore their full range here: Tiny Hoomans Portable Tic Tac Toe collection.

The set we picked is called A Bao‑Ful of Dumplings. The pouch is styled like a little lunch bag and doubles as the playing board. Inside are two sets of game pieces: one shaped like a bao, the other like a smiling curry puff. Everything fits inside, making it compact, quiet, and super kid‑friendly. We chose this design because “bao” is actually our boy’s nickname — so it felt like this set was made just for him.

You can check it out here: A Bao-Ful of Dumplings – Tiny Hoomans.

How we use it

I first pulled this out on a day when both kids were home on MC and bored out of their minds. They’d used up their allocated screen time, and the afternoon was starting to stretch… The elder one had built a rather amazing fort with Ikea kids’ chairs and blankets, and the younger one kept trying to destroy it. Tensions were rising. A sibling squabble seemed inevitable.

Then I thought of this Tic Tac Toe set and dangled the pouch in front of them.

“Oooo? What is that?” they asked.

What followed was about 30 minutes of peace. The elder one already knew how to play this game from school, so she taught the younger one. He understood some parts of the game but mostly just had fun putting the pieces on the grid. They played round after round, negotiating turns and laughing over who won and who lost.

We’ve since kept it in easy reach for quiet home play, and it’s also become one of our favourite things to bring to restaurants. That said, the little game pieces do have a tendency to fall off the table — our kids have dropped them more than once! It hasn’t bothered us, but if picking things up off the restaurant floor isn’t your idea of fun, you might prefer keeping this one as an at-home activity.

What I like about it

The design is a joy. From the smiling faces to the built-in playing board (which is also the pouch!), everything is well thought out. It’s nifty and packs up in seconds.

It’s also quiet — no noisy pieces, no beeping sounds — making it ideal for keeping the peace at home, especially when one kid is napping or not feeling well.

I also appreciate that it’s doesn’t take up space and promotes screen-free play in a really natural way. At the same time, I noticed that it taught the elder one how to strategise to win, and the younger one how to take turns, and how to lose with grace (admittedly, he got upset one game when he realised he lost!).