Timeless Educational Fun from Orchard Toys

A little while ago  I was thrilled to be sent two Orchard Toy products to test and review. I have to take a minute to explain here that it is a toss-up between the kids and Roy and I for who is most excited when a new Orchard Toy product is released. As a parent I love the practicality of the toys (no floppy jigsaw pieces or easy to break parts here), the bright colours and the concepts which merge learning and fun.

The first I received was the newly released Post Box game.

Education and learning merged

I asked my 2yr old’s (quite frankly wonderful) childminder to test this game out with Taylor and her other charges and her feedback is as follows…

What a simple but very enjoyable game, it’s great that you can play 3 different games. Everything seems pretty strong and durable. We played all 3 games and Taylor enjoyed the simple pick up letter and the “post in right colour box” version best as well as then shouting the colours out. X liked having his own post box and trying to find correct letter. X also liked reading who the letters were going to as well. All in all a hit at my setting and I  would definitely recommend to others“.

What else can you say? Clearly another roaring success from Orchard Toys.

The second product we were sent to review (aren’t we lucky!) was the Big Police Car jigsaw.

Orchard Toys

This jigsaw is for children aged 3+ however Taylor, who is 2yrs and 3 months old enjoyed it and put 80% of it together himself (with a little help). He found the sturdy shaped pieces easy to handle and thoroughly enjoyed pointed out images of interest in the finished puzzle. He also enjoyed whizzing around the dining room for twenty minutes pretending to be a “Neee naaaaw police car!” at full volume 🙂

For me this is yet another quality puzzle. Kieran is nearly 7 now (so too grown up for a 3yr old’s jigsaw) yet still enjoyed helping his brother put it together.

I am yet to find an Orchard Toy item that hasn’t had the wow factor and been loved by all in my house. Perfect for your own family and to give as gifts, I choose Orchard Toys every time.

Barbarossa Pirate Ship from LetterboxUK #review

This is quite simply the pirate ship of all pirate ships! When Kieran opened the parel from Letterbox UK, well I think we can safely say he was pleased?

In all honesty, I’m not sure who was more excited, Kieran or me! This is a beautiful natural wood and painted ship which is of obvious quality, sturdy (most important when it sails off the coffee table “by accident”) and has a working canon! For those now panicking, it’d not a very powerful canon, no windows would be broken! Kieran has literally spent hours making lego figures and pirates alike walk the plank, has conquered the seven seas and looted more treasure than one 5yr old boy knows what to do with. Possibly the cutest thing I’ve seen in a while was Kieran taking his friend by the hand when he arrived for a playdate and whispering theatrically”You have to come upstairs… I have a real life pirate ship, a PROPER one!”

Suffice to say, the Barbarossa Pirate Ship is a big hit!

Priced at £43 this is a fantastic home or gift item that will go the distance! Gorgeous to look at, fantastic for getting the imagination going and made to last, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to anyone. The only drawback is that the pirates don’t come with the ship but these are available separately here, or as Kieran has – you can use pirate figures or any figures you already have. We have had a mixture of pirates, superheroes and lego robbers walking the planks or being locked in the hold for their hideous crimes!

The Barbarossa Pirate Ship really should be up at the top of this year’s “Must haves” for Christmas. I’ll be surprised if it isn’t.

For full product information visit the LetterboxUK website, and don’t forget to say hello to them on Twitter to be kept up to date with current special offers and news.

As you were you scurvy sea-dogs!