I cannot even begin to convey how big a fan I am of Orchard Toys. The British brand produces some of the best games and toys around on the market, and that's both mummy-voice and teacher-voice speaking there.
We were recently sent Nursery Rhyme: Four in a Box jigsaws to review, which came at the right time because The Boy has become very interested in puzzles lately.
The images used on the puzzles are: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star; Humpty Dumpty; Jack and Jill; and Hey, Diddle, Diddle. Which is, quite frankly, ever so convenient as these are his favourite rhymes at the moment! If you are unsure of the words (I'm certainly not, that much I can assure you) then they are written on the back.
What I really liked about this jigsaw set is the differentiated puzzles that come with it. There are four puzzles: a four-piece, six-piece, eight-piece and a twelve-piece. The set is billed as being for 3 years+, however The Boy is 2 years and manages quite well with the two larger piece jigsaws (i.e. the 4 and 6 piece).
As for the other two puzzles, the 8-piece and 12-piece, when the pieces are laid out loosely in the correct order then he is able to do the puzzle. The bright, attractive and uncluttered images make it easier for the children to visualise the adjoining pieces. Additionally, it is very easy to complete the puzzles due to the fact that each one is colour-coded around the edges; The Boy was able to see very easily which piece goes with which.
The puzzle has been designed to: encourage observation and fine motor skills, develop social communication, and communication and language and literacy skills.
Competition
Now the lovely folk over at Orchard Toys have offered one of these up as a prize for one lucky reader. In order to be in with a chance of winning simply do three compulsary things:
- Visit the Orchard Toys website, have a browse and then come back and tell me which is your favourite product
- 'Like' Orchard Toys on Facebook
- Tweet the following message: I've entered to win an @OrchardToys game with @TheBoyandMe's blog https://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=3353
One comment only please!
T&C
Competition closes on Wednesday 27th July 2011 at 8pm. Winner will be chosen at random and notified that night, they need to reply by Friday 29th July or I will redraw another winner. Orchard Toys will despatch the prize directly. No alternative is available. UK entrants only. Facebook are not affiliated with this competition and have no responsibility for it.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED
The winner of the competition is Would Like to be a Yummy Mummy. Congratulations!
Thanks to all who entered, keep checking for new competitions all the time.

I can't wait to introduce puzzles to Esther and William. It is their birthday on 24th July and I would like to get them this as their nursery and playroom have a jungle theme. It looks simple to do with little hands and a nice colourful introduction to jigsaws and puzzling. Great website, no one wonder you and The Boy are such fans. Twinkle Twinkle is our favourite nursery rhyme at the moment x
My favourite product is their farmyard puzzle
http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/farmyard/
Chosen because it is in fact my little girls favourite! It is really simple and has really helped her get the idea of doing puzzles herself. She is so pleased when she gets the pieces together, and of course she loves the animals! Orchard toys are fantastic and so much harder wearing than a lot of other makes. You know if you buy one of their products it's going to get well used, well loved and passed on to the next person to play with!
Thanks so much, would love to be entered my daughter would adore this nursery rhyme puzzle! It would make a great 2nd birthday present for her,
I have like on facebook too,
Emily xx
Already like on FB as Rhoda Kellar.
I love the look of the Teddy Bears' Picnic! Orchard Toys are always so gorgeous, good quality and I love the images. Nursery Rhyme looks fab! Would love to win one.
My little girl has recently become obsessed by puzzles. She has a box full of
Oops! I don't know what happened there, sorry.
My little girl has recently become obsessed by puzzles. She has a box full of wooden peg puzzles but is ready for her first jigsaw and this looks like a fantastic set – Twinkle Twinkle is her favourite nursery rhyme so she'd love that one.
All the Orchard games look great and I can't wait until she is old enough to play them. Pick and Mix People is my favourite and is going on my christmas list.
I love the Animals Safari game – we have always had an array of pets in the household and love animals. Have liked on FB
Hi and thanks for another great comp!
I love the Shopping List Game, simply because it can be played again and again and children never get sick of it, you can have several players, and it develops hand-eye coordination, literacy skills, mathematical skills, social skills and everyday skills! You can talk to you child about where the shopping items have come from, how they are made, where you would find them in the supermarket, etc and you could group them into different sets!!!
I was a Primary School teacher before becoming a full time mum and had several sets in my classroom. I also have a set at home now for my own children!!!
I have shared on FB (liking both pages) Tracy Nixon MSE
I have tweeted too @TracyNixon
I already like their page and have tweeted as @ashlallan. i like the Pick and Mix People!
i love the teddy bears picnic orchad toys are great hard to choose love them all
Sorry to butt in to all these lovely comments, but if you love Teddy Bears' Picnic we, at Orchard Toys, are currently running a colouring competition for little ones and there are two Teddy Bears' Picnic jigsaws to be won! Find out all about it at http://www.orchardtoys.com/news/win-a-teddy-bears-picnic-jigsaw-puzzle-in-our-summer-colouring-competition/
i like them on facebook
my 3yr old loves puzzles and chatting about everything so i love the puzzles with scenes. The find the Rhyme puzzle is great as we can talk about the nursery rhymes and sing them as we complete the puzzle.
have tweeted @claireishoop
I like the shopping list game as this is right up my daughters street – she loves playing shop! I have liked on facebook and tweeted! twetted as @Lianneholmes
I like Orchard Toys on facebook and just off to tweet now (@JennyEavesMSE).
I love the farm animals jigsaws: http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/farm-four-in-a-box/
my favourite has to be the Quack Quack game, lots of fun!
i like you on facebook
My little girl would love the Under the Sea jigsaw puzzle as she's mad about all things sea related at the moment! Liked and tweeted also x (@french_caroline)
I like the shopping list game
My daughter would love the Insey Winsey Spider game as this is her favourite song!
my fave item would be the world map puzzle and poster – as I am trying to teach my daughter where Australia is in relation to England… I think she thinks you can just drive there still lol
Favourite product: Ten Green Bottles
Tweeted too @littleboo_21
My favourite product is the "Les Courses Γ Faire" book – I'd love my kids to be able to speak fluently by the time they have the choice of studying it at school, and this book gives them a great start!
Liked on Facebook – Joey Grey
Tweeted – @joeycomps
love the 'giant farm' puzzle! my son loves these puzzles.
like on facebook – emma walters
tweeted – @emmav6
Wow! I absolutely love the Under 5 Double Sided Dinosaur puzzle – my little one would love it, Diplodocus!!
My favourite is : Games & Activities : There was an Old Lady….
I think my 2yr old grandaughter, would have a good laugh at this.
My daughter is expecting twins in August, so I would keep it for them.
I love the Animals Safari game
My favourite is Pick and Mix people – so much fun!
I love the Tiberius range of books, especially Tiberius to the Rescue
I like Three Little Pigs game @anna8301
My favourite Orchard Toys product is the "Shopping List" game!
I already like them on Facebook and have tweeted too (@rachiegr)
i love the fairy tales jigsaw puzzle as my god-daughters love puzzles and r all girly girly. liked on fbook as kelly roxanne smith and tweeted @kellyroxanne82
thanks
My fave product is the shopping list one:
http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/shopping-list/
I can see it won an award, no wonder why, it looks great.
I like the FB page et tweeted. Thanks!
@Dorothee77
I don't 'like' them I LOVE them – but have already done the 'like' thingy – and your post missus incidentally :o)
My gave is "What a Performance" & that's why chose to review – it's a great game for whole family & good to teach multiple play
Have tweeted & re-tweeted :o)
we love orchard toys in our house too π Its difficult to choose my favourite item but I'll choose greedy gorillas
Have liked orchard toys on facebook and about to tweet too @jenniwren12
π
I have Liked on fb…………….I actually LOVE Orchard Toys the shopping list game – is great fun! π
farmyard puzzle ,and everything else they have have tweeted and followed
i would give the jigsaw to my nephew if i won as he loves doing puzzles x
i like orchard toys on facebook and twitter π
i forgot to mention i like the john crane sorting and teaching clock x
My favourite product is the Pick and Mix People, I had something similar to this when I was a child (a long time ago!)
I already like Orchard Toys on Facebook – Kirsty Fox
I have tweeted – @bloomingfox
My favourite product is also my son's favourite – Shopping List game!
I already like Orchard Toys on Facebook and have tweeted.
@ammalinetheduck
http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/bus-stop/
I remember playing this game when I was little can't wait to play it with my son when he gets a bit older! π
My fav is The Magic Cauldron Game. Liked on facebook. Have Tweeted @ MelJanie
My favourite product is "Post the Most".
I 'Like' Orchard Toys on Facebook.
Tweeted! (@pandcands)
My favourite game is Teddy Bear's Picnic
Hi Margaret, thanks for your comments about Teddy Bears' Picnic. We have two up for grabs in our little ones' colouring competition. See http://www.orchardtoys.com/news/win-a-teddy-bears-picnic-jigsaw-puzzle-in-our-summer-colouring-competition/ for details. Good luck !
My favourite product is Shopping List.
I 'Like' Orchard Toys on Facebook.
Tweeted! (@KIKI_725)
My favourite product is the Pick and Mix People game which we already have at home.http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/pick-and-mix-people/
I am following Orchard Toys on Facebook.
I have tweeted the message.
@maisietoo
My little girl absolutely loves pigs ever since she became hooked to peppa pig. Therefore my favourite product would have to be 'The Three Little Pigs' http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/three-little-pigs/
I am following Orchard Toys on facebook and liked the page and tweeted the message
I would love to win the Nursery rhymes jigsaw as I think it would be ideal for my sons current age and interests.
Wow what a brilliant competition. My eldest loves shopping so she would love either the shopping list or Pop to the shops games. We have our fingers and toes crossed for this one x
Have liked Orchard Toys on FB I have tweeted too.
I love the sound of the Pop to the Shops game, any thing that teaches children about money is a good thing.
@daisyangel1
I like the In my House puzzle. Tweeted and liked
I like this best I think, both fun and educational, and suits both my age group needs. http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/run-run-as-fast-as-you-can/
complied with other entry requirements @pooohbear2811
@oldwalshy
now what a choice, british made, is great, lily loves books, and mad about elephants, since her last visit to zoo, so combine and it is Alex and the elephant book, but great gran dad could buy the lot
This is adorable:
http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/bus-stop/
My partner is an ex bus conductor so always tries to get bus themed stuff for our son – this is great!
Shopping list is one of our faves from the website, am already a liker of their page π
And tweet as @missingsleep
Thank you I love Orchard Games π
I like Animal Safari from the site. Liked on Facebook and tweeted the messae @mediacampus
Pick and Mix People is my fave product – have liked on Facebook and tweeted @hlac1
Liked on Facebook (Flumpy Pie)
My son LOVES animals – farmyard animals, jungle animals, anything goes. Orchard Toys have a great selection of animal puzzles and games so it's difficult to choose 1 favourite. If I had to chose one I'd say Animal snap as it occupies my son for ages. He'll sit looking at the animals, he'll play snap, he'll play the memory game, he loves it.
I like this one: http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/round-and-round/
My daughter would love it. Already liked on FB and have tweeted @pepicola3
The flashcards are great, fantastic and simple way to learn.
I have done all 3 things. Favourite product is the Shopping List Game. Tweeted as @mumoffunkids
Our son loves this one: http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/pets/ Then we are looking forward to see what the buzz is about The Shoppinglist! :o)
Have done all three steps. I love Slug in a Jug – brilliant name for a game!
@Isis1981uk on Twitter
My favourite is Red Dog, blue Dog.
have tweeted and liked.
My fav is Teddy Bears' Picnic
Thanks everybody for your lovely comments ! They are really appreciated. Just now we are running a competition too. A colouring competition for little ones. (Teddy Bears' Picnic) Just go to http://www.orchardtoys.com/news/win-a-teddy-bears-picnic-jigsaw-puzzle-in-our-summer-colouring-competition/ for details. Good luck!
I can't wait for my son to be old enough to play the three little pigs game, I loved it when I was little.
tweeted @scampbeast and liked for ages.
Have done the follows etc.
We love the shopping list game. In fact we have it and play it almost daily…. save me with a new Orchard treat please!!
h.gething@blueyonder.co.uk
I've liked and tweeted. I like the giant farm puzzle.
@juliebarrett62
I have liked and tweeted.
My favourite is the 3 Little Bears jigsaw, I'm sure I had one just like it when I was little! http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/teddy-bears-picnic/
@Tpajja
The Magic Cauldron Game looks magic
I love Orchard Toys! At the moment my particular favourite is the Enchanted Forest
liked and tweeted @BBDIVA1977
My favourite has to be "Shopping List" as my lil boy has this and loves playing.
What's the Time Mr Wolf? brings back happy memories when I played this game on the school yard :0)
Liked and following
Thanks
Have liked Orchard Toys on facebook and you of course!
I am following you and Orchard toys on twitter as picklepie35 and have retweeted
I would choose the old macdonald lotto for my twins they love animals and this would suit their age π
My favourite would be the shopping list game, My little girl loves to come shopping with me and hold the list π
I really like the games – especially the 'What's Rubbish?' game : http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/whats-rubbish/
Hours of absorbing, educational fun on a rainy day!
I have liked Orchard Toys on Facebook. I follow you on Twitter as @LoveWinning and have tweeted the competition message π
The shopping list! my son loves this game at baby and toddler group as soon as we get there he takes the assistants hand as says shopping peeese! and thats where he remains for 2 hours of course leaving the table where he is playing it for a biscuit!
I love the look of shopping list .. like mother like daughter I feel shopping is forever going to be a pleasure for her! I think i might be investing for Bday or Christmas!
My daughter has just learnt the joys of puzzles and would love to present her with this beautiful puzzle for her birthday nex month π
I love this book and would like to get the whole series for my children
http://www.orchardtoys.com/products/tiberius-meets-sneaky-cat/
The Game of Ladybirds looks great
I like Shopping List. My friend had this and my little boy thought it was fun.
We 'Like' Orchard Toys on Facebook
& have tweeted. Thanks
So difficult to choose one item, so many lovely things and very kind on the purse too. I like the look of There Was An Old Lady ….
I loveee the game tummy ache, its hilarious!!
Like orchard toys on fb
The Game of Ladybirds looks like a lovely game for younger children π
Like Orchard Toys on Facebook
Have tweeted also @MrsD_Winchester
Shopping List is my favourite! Reminds me of my childhood role play games!
Following @noconawolsk
Liked on facebook also!
My favourite is the Little Triceratops Jigsaw. I already like Orchard Toys on FB. I tweeted – @LilLeese1 x
I love the fairy tales jigsaws for 18 months plus, that would make the perfect Christmas prezzie for my baby girl, its so cute! π
Love Teddy Bears' Picnic puzzle, lovely drawing.
Tweeted @alsmonster, like on facebook
We have a Teddy Bears' Picnic available for your little ones to colour in in our Summer Colouring Competition. Details at http://www.orchardtoys.com/news/win-a-teddy-bears-picnic-jigsaw-puzzle-in-our-summer-colouring-competition/ Thanks for your lovely comments!
I think Penguin Clock Face would be a good companion to learn the little one the time.
Hello, I love teddy bears picnic orchad toys.
I love the Three Little Pigs. It looks ideal for my son. Liked Orchard Toys on facebbok andd tweeted @gershwin77.
The Dolls House Puzzle looks great fun.Have liked Orchard Toys on Facebook
I like the Greedy Gorilla game, or should i say my 6 year old son would like it LOL x
I love the look of the Teddy Bears' Picnic! Orchard Toys are always so gorgeous, good quality and I love the images. Nursery Rhyme looks great and would just suit my grand daughter.
It's been great to read all your lovely comments and to know that there are so many Orchard Toys' fans out there! Thanks very much.
Good luck, and keep watching on Twitter and Facebook as we have lots of lovely bloggers reviewing our products for us and, usually, offering one as a prize!
Hi everyone,
I've liked and tweeted and I must say it was hard to pick a favourite product! But if i absolutly had to pick one it would have to be the shopping game. Both my boys love helping me with the shopping, picking up the groceries, so they'd really love that game and they'd be learning without realising! Bonus xx
I like the Bus stop game as it looks fun and the kids can do some adding and subtraction without really realising!