Games and Puzzles

Fun 50-piece jigsaw for children aged 4+.

Lots of facts about dinosaurs printed on the back of the box.

58 x 40 cm

Rummikub is a tile game and claims to be the UK's no.1 family stategy game.  The tiles are numbered 1 to 13 in four colours. Each player starts with fourteen tiles and tries to discard them in sets, three or more of the same number but in different colours, or runs, three or more consecutive numbers in the same colour. The first to clear his tiles is the winner.

Rummikub was invented in Romania 70 years ago by Ephraim Hertzano following the Romanian government's decision to ban card games.  It works on a similar principle to a central European card game called Vatikan, played with two packs of cards, with tiles substituting for cards.  Initially Mr Hertzano made every game himself, carefully cutting and painting each tile by hand in his little workshop.  Word spread about the game and it slowly began to be exported.  In 1977, it became one of the best-selling games in America.  In 1980 it won Game of the Year in Germany and other awards in Holland and Poland in subsequent years. It is now exported to more than 50 countries from a high-tech factory in Israel still run by the Hertzano family.

2 - 4 players.

Age suitability: 7 - Adult

Here is an excellent youtube video explaining how to play:

A simple matching and memory game.  Each player has a board with 6 dinosaur pictures on.  The picture cards are placed faced downwards on the table.  Players take it in turn to pick a card.  If it matches one of the pictures on their card, they keep it.  If not, the card is returned to the table face downwards and it's the next player's turn.

The winner is the one who completes their dinosaur board first.

2 - 4 players

Age suitability: 3 - 7 years

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Orchard Toys is a Norfolk-based company designing and making their games in-house. They have been going for years and have a reputation for producing good, honest games which are both fun and educational.  All the games are fully tested by teachers and of course by children so they are totally safe and dependable.

Most of the games are aimed at the 3-6 year olds.  To an adult the games will inevitably seem somewhat simplistic but they really know that age group so I never have any hesitation about recommending them.  Obviously children develop at different rates so some children may not be able to follow the instructions at first but that doesn't seem to matter as they enjoy playing with the colourful cards.  As the child develops, it isn't long before they fully appreciate the game and they benefit from the educational aspects whilst enjoying themselves.

Set of 10 dice, 2 each of 5 colours.

1.4cm across.

Age suitability: 5 years plus.

A number counting game from Orchard Toys. 

Help the Troll by collecting bugs to put in his yucky stew.

Age suitability: 4 years plus.

Throw the dice and see how many scarves you can put on your giraffes.

Orchard Toys is a Norfolk-based company designing and making their games in-house. They have been going for years and have a reputation for producing good, honest games which are both fun and educational.  All the games are fully tested by teachers and, of course, by children, so they are totally safe and dependable.

Most of the games are aimed at the 3-6 year olds.  To an adult the games will inevitably seem somewhat simplistic but they really know that age group so I never have any hesitation about recommending them.  Obviously children develop at different rates so some children may not be able to follow the instructions at first but that doesn't seem to matter as they enjoy playing with the colourful cards.  As the child develops, it isn't long before they fully appreciate the game and they benefit from the educational aspects whilst still having fun.

100 piece jigsaw puzzle showing a small boat  sailing on the surface of the sea with a whole world of sea creatures (and divers) underneath it.

Completed puzzle measures 50 x 40 cm.

100 cardboard pieces.  Includes a helpful poster of the jigsaw.

Age suitability: 6 plus years.

A lovely little suitcase containing four jigsaw puzzles, each depicting a cute animal scene.  The first one (bees and flowers) has six pieces. Then they get progressively harder with the fourth one (white bunny) having 16 pieces, so the set is ideal for someone just starting out on the puzzling journey.

Each puzzle measures 20 x 20 cm.

Large cardboard pieces. Each puzzle has a different colour backing to make life simpler.

Age suitability: 2 years plus.

36 piece jigsaw puzzle, depicting a range of sea animals.

Completed puzzle measures 100 x 20cm.

36 large cardboard pieces.  Includes a helpful poster of the puzzle.

Age suitability: 4-6 years.

20 piece jigsaw puzzle, depicting a range of garden creatures from squirrels and bees to birds and ladybirds.

Completed puzzle measures 50 x 40cm.

20 large, easily grasped, cardboard pieces.  Includes a helpful poster of the puzzle.

Age suitability: 2-4 years.

A 3-D magnetic travel game game in which you use your logic and deduction skills to place the ladybird families on the correct spots.

Metal box containing 12 magnetic ladybirds (5 red, 4 orange and 3 yellow), 48 challenges and solutions.

Age suitability: 6 years plus.