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 https://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.

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.
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!
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.
Followed, subscribed, tweeted – lol
Love Orchard Toys
oh and followed Orchard Toys (and liked)
[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.
Follow you on twitter, follow Orchard on facebook and twitter have tweeted and already subscribed to your blog!
hi
I follow Orchard Toys
I follow you
I'm subscribed to your blog
I have tweeted
Done all 3 :o) tweeting as @samanthagavin xx
Hello! It's only me!!
I will RT and follow orchard toys
B loves playing matching / snap games so he would def like this 🙂
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
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 😉
have liked on facebook and follow your blog!
I have requested a follow. I already follow Orchard Toys and ‘like’ their facebook page. I have also tweeted the competition.
Have followed and liked Orchard Toys on Twitter and Facebook
Have tweeted and requested to follow you on Twitter @ambernora1
I have liked on Facebook. Great game by the sound of it.
followed on twitter & tweeted, liked on facebook too
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
Have liked Orchard Toys and tweeted competition (@pepicola3)
following orchard toys on twitter & Like on FB
tweeted comp
already following on Twitter
already subscribed to blog
x
oh its me @jessies_online by the way!
x
am following on twitter and asked to follow you, also like on facebook. xxx
@imafunnytwit by the way xxx
I am following Orchard Toys on Twitter as @netcurtains
I have tweeted about this competition as @netcurtains as requested
I have sent a request to follow you on Twiitter where I tweet as @netcurtains
I subscribe to your blog now to mums-the-word@live.com
I've tweeted, followed and subscribed @humanb3an 🙂
Following and tweeted as @PaulHaylock
Sorry – that should have read @PaulaHaylock xx
Following you on twitter as @PaulaHaylock
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
Hello! I follow them on twitter and facebook.
I have tweeted as @jumblyMummy
I already follow Orchard Toys and ‘like’ their facebook page. I have also tweeted the competition and have subscribed to the blog
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
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
I am following on twitter and have tweeted @NLK06
Thanks
Following both on Twitter and tweeted – @LilLeese1
I like on FB and follow on Twitter @anna8301
I subscribed to your blog via email @anna8301
Have tweeted @anna8301
I follow you on Twitter @anna8301
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I follow you and @orchardtoys on Twitter
I have tweeted
I follow Orchard toys on Facebook
My Twitter @ericahughes
I follow Orchard Toys on twitter as @marzutek
and I like their Facebook page as Marzena Sz
I tweeted as @marzutek
I follow you as @marzutek ( I have sent my request)
I subscribed to your blog
Following on twtter and have tweeted – @auraobie
Have followed and liked Orchard Toys on Twitter and Facebook
Have tweeted @_cathyj_
I follow your blog and on twitter @babynotincluded and have tweeted the comp
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
followed Orchard Toys on twitter
liked Orchard Toys fb page
following you on twitter
have subscribed, followed and retweeted @essexgirlSE
forgot to say, already liked on FB
following 'orchard toys and like their facebook page
also tweeted the comp
im also following you on twitter
and subscribed to your blog
Following Orchard toys on twitter
Subscribed to your blog
Retweeted Comp
Sent follow request to @TheBoyandME (@lilysmum2008)
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
Thank you Michelle 🙂
Following and tweeted @beclee09
Followed Orchard Toys on twitter @ossiesheep
Sent request to follow The boy and me on twitter (so am hoping that counts as following!) @ossiesheep
Following orchard toys @mselts
Already following the boy and me @mselts
I follow you on twitter @BreastestNews
I have tweeted I want to win an @OrchardToys ‘Red Dog, Blue Dog’ with @TheBoyandMe http://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=1197
And I follow @OrchardToys
Fingres crossed 🙂
I follow Orchard Toys
I follow you
I’m subscribed to your blog
I have tweeted