Competition: 'Red Dog, Blue Dog' – Orchard Toys

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I’ve recently been sent the game ‘Red Dog, Blue Dog’ by Orchard Toys to review with The Boy. The game is a first colour match lotto aimed at 2-4 players and children from 2-5 years and priced at £9.25.

When he first saw the box, The Boy was extremely excited and eager to ‘ope’-n it up, he then spent ten – fifteen minutes examining the four different lotto boards, identifying the pictures on them, and then popping out the lotto cards from the punched-out templates. He took a shine straight away to the card with the blue spider on it, and spent much of the remaining morning carrying it around clutched in his hand!

We’ve brought the game away with us on our mini-holiday as I decided that far from the madding crowd would be a good place to help us concentrate and test the game out. The players comprised of mummy, daddy and The Boy, with Oliver Monkey refereeing to ensure fair play.

We haven’t played the game strictly according to the rules as the game is aimed at 2-5 years and The Boy is only 21 months; he doesn’t completely understand the concept of taking turns. However, this shows the adaptability of the game.

We started by sorting the cards into colours, he was able to help us do this quite easily and it was quite reassuring that he could do this as he hasn’t always put the right name to a colour, but in doing this he showed us that he was aware that they were separate and that he could sort. I chose to do this because there are six different coloured objects on each board, but there are not six colours of each object (as there are only four boards).

Next we took it in turns to choose an object from the board for him to find; I am extremely pleased that whether we were asking him to find a blue spider or a red spider, he was able to identify the colours. So even though he can’t remember the names at the time, he does know what the colours are. Playing this game will help consolidate his knowledge of colours. He thoroughly enjoyed finding the game, and I could see his eyes flitting between the cards as he was trying to identify the card he needed.

My husband and I were discussing other uses of the game afterwards, and I suggested that we could use the cards to play ‘Pairs’ or as a colour sorting game. As both a parent, qualified nursery nurse and primary school teacher, I think that this is an extremely adaptable and suitable game for toddlers and infants. A feature that I like on the box is the Orchard Toys’ Educational Guide, which suggests:

  • Links with Early Learning Goals
  • Develop personal and social skills
  • Encourage observation.

I would agree with those educational outcomes but also feel that it will help to develop children’s pre-mathematical and reading skills (identification of shapes and colours, plus the objects’ names are written on the cards).

Definitely a winner in this household!

 

Tidying up is part of the game!

 

To be in with a chance to win your own copy of 'Red Dog, Blue Dog' either follow Orchard Toys on twitter (@OrchardToys) or 'Like' their Facebook page

Extra entries are available through:

- tweeting the following: I want to win an @OrchardToys 'Red Dog, Blue Dog' with @TheBoyandMe http://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=1197

- following me on twitter (@TheBoyandMe)

- subscribing to my blog.

Don’t forget to tell me what you’ve done, or you’ll only receive one entry!

Competition ends Thursday 31st March 2011 at 8pm.

Open to UK residents only.

Winners will need to reply to my notification e-mail by 8pm on Saturday 2nd April 2011, or I will draw another winner.

The winner of the competition is Jenny Paulin. Congratulations Jenny, a new baby last night and now an Orchard Toys game for new baby's older brother to play with!


—

While I received this game free of charge to provide an honest review, I have not been offered any other reward for my opinion.

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Comments

  1. says

    We have this game too! Miss C is the same age as Boy and she loves the colours and trying to match and say the colours. I can play the game with Wee Z though and it's good fun.

    • TheBoyAndMe says

      He is surprisingly me daily with all the things he is learning and saying, a game like this is a good learning platform and is good fun!

  2. says

    We love Orchard Toys!

    I have requested a follow. I already follow Orchard Toys and 'like' their facebook page. I have also tweeted the competition.

  4. says

    [I have done all of the above]
    I follow Orchard Toys on Twitter.
    I follow you on Twitter.
    I have subscribed to your blog.
    I have tweeted the competition.

  6. Jodie Smith says

    hi
    I follow Orchard Toys
    I follow you
    I'm subscribed to your blog
    I have tweeted

  8. Jenny Paulin says

    Hello! It's only me!!
    I will RT and follow orchard toys
    B loves playing matching / snap games so he would def like this :)

  9. Ashleigh says

    i love orchard toys so much! I already follow them on twitter and i already follow theboyandme too. I have also tweeted (@ashlallan).
    I am already subscribed to your blog

  10. Miss B says

    I've followed / liked Orchard Toys on Twitter / Facebook.
    I've requested to follow you on Twitter (@mrsmildredroper).
    I've subscribed to your blog.
    Finally, I've tweeted the competition

    Phew! I need a cup of tea and lie down now ;)

  12. Tracy Nixon says

    I have requested a follow. I already follow Orchard Toys and ‘like’ their facebook page. I have also tweeted the competition.

  13. Coralie Pearson says

    Have followed and liked Orchard Toys on Twitter and Facebook
    Have tweeted and requested to follow you on Twitter @ambernora1

  16. says

    I already follow and like @Orchardtoys, as well as @theboyandme. I subscribe and have tweeted. Did i miss anything? Can't you just stop the competition now and give the prize to me????

    @domesticgoddesq

  30. Claire Butler says

    Ive subscribed to your blog

    Following orchard toys on twitter and have tweeted
    following on facebook

    and ive asked to follow yourself on twitter

    @BBDIVA1977

  32. wendy @kikicomp says

    I already follow Orchard Toys and ‘like’ their facebook page. I have also tweeted the competition and have subscribed to the blog

  33. Jane Willis says

    I have done all of the tasks:

    I follow your blog
    I follow youand @orchardtoys on Twitter
    I have tweeted
    I follow Orchard toys on Facebook

    My Twitter ID is @janesgrapevine

  34. emma Cella says

    I have done all of the tasks:

    I follow your blog
    I follow you and @orchardtoys on Twitter
    I have tweeted
    I follow Orchard toys on Facebook

    My Twitter @emmacella

  41. Erica Price says

    I follow your blog
    I follow you and @orchardtoys on Twitter
    I have tweeted
    I follow Orchard toys on Facebook

    My Twitter @ericahughes

  42. Marzena says

    I follow Orchard Toys on twitter as @marzutek
    and I like their Facebook page as Marzena Sz

  49. Chmaine Apaloo-Lee says

    I have entered in all the ways specified above

    I follow Orchard Toys and theboyandme on twitter. (chmaine87)
    Also tweeted @ Orchard toys
    I have subscribed to your blog.
    I have liked the Orchard toys facebook page

  50. jeanette downing says

    followed Orchard Toys on twitter
    liked Orchard Toys fb page
    following you on twitter

  53. Vicky Fallows says

    following 'orchard toys and like their facebook page
    also tweeted the comp
    im also following you on twitter
    and subscribed to your blog

  54. Kelly Hooper says

    Following Orchard toys on twitter
    Subscribed to your blog
    Retweeted Comp
    Sent follow request to @TheBoyandME (@lilysmum2008)

  55. Michelle Kinsey says

    Hello :) I've loved reading through your blog, I'm a mummy of a little boy too, and have to agree with everything you say about why you love being a mummy :) x

    I have done all of the above to enter your comp:

    I follow Orchard toys on twitter (@cheznal)
    Sent a 'follow' request to you @TheBoyandMe on twitter
    I have retweeted your comp
    I've 'Liked' Orchard Toys on facebook
    I've subscribed to your blog – and read parts of it – excellent….
    I've left this comment

    Michelle x

  58. Stuart Osborne says

    Sent request to follow The boy and me on twitter (so am hoping that counts as following!) @ossiesheep

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