Jaques of London is a family run business, currently being headed by it’s 8th generation of toy makers. They specialise in wooden toys for kids. Jaques is the oldest games company in the world and has invented many well known games, including Snakes & Ladders, Ludo, and Snap. I think you would be hard pushed to find a household in the UK that hasn’t played at least one of those games. A few year ago Little was obsessed with Snakes & Ladders. We played it multiple times a day. He cheated every time!
This post is a review of a Jaques of London toy that we were gifted. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About Jaques of London
As a family who have been inventing and making toys & games since 1795, we believe in the power of play and quality family time spent together. From our family to yours, thank you for visiting our website.
Emmett & Joe Jaques – 8th Generation Games Makers
As well as inventing games we still play today, during World War 2 Jaques of London were recruited by MI9. They made hollow chess pieces with hidden maps, currency, documents, and more inside to help British and American prisoners of war escape. How cool is that?! It reminds me of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang where they pretend to be toys to escape. Truly Scrumptious!
Every item from Jaques is designed in the UK with fun at the heart of every toy, and handmade with love. This really comes through with their attention to detail from the toy right through to the packaging.
Why I love wooden toys…
My boys had several wooden toys growing up, and I have to say they are the ones I remember most fondly. A ride on wooden train, and abacus, and a building block set that used to engage the adults as much as the kids, are just a few wooden toys we have enjoyed in our home over the years. I have lost count of the amount of wooden ice creams I ate at my son’s café. Although I have to say his serving methods were somewhat unorthodox. It’s the only café I have been too where the proprietor samples your food before he gives it to you.
I love wooden toys because…
1 Kind to the environment
2 Long lastging
3 Great for imaginative play
4 Well made
5 They just look nicer in your home
Wooden Noah’s arc toy…
Jaques kindly sent us a wooden Noah’s ark for a special little girl in our lives. I wanted to share it with you as I think wooden toys make beautiful gifts and are great value toys.
The wooden Noah’s ark comes complete with a variety of wooden animals, including giraffes, elephants, lions and zebras. The wooden boat has a shape sorting element and a fold down bridge. The animals can be kept inside the boat for ease of storage and save you loosing parts. The top of the boat also lifts off and can be turned upside down to make it more compact for tidying away.
The arc is made of 100% fsc approved wood, and painted in a non toxic paint with vibrant colours.
Our verdict…
I think this is a really well made quality toy, built for play. It is very tactile and has wonderful bright colours. It provides so many opportunities for imaginative play and learning about animals. It has great longevity for play, which as a parent is important. Too often my kids get toys that they are bored with after 5 minutes. As well as extended play this toy is built to last, and is something lovely to pass on once your kids outgrow it.
It’s great value for money and easy to see why it’s one of Jaques of London’s best selling toys.
The items are delivered beautifully packaged, and the packaging gives a real sense of the company’s heritage. The Items are individually boxed, which means very easy to wrap square packages!
Jaques have so much to offer from wooden car parks, shape stackers, games, puzzles and much more.
I love these kind of things for first birthday gifts, knowing they will last. I also think they make lovely Christening gifts, I mean how many first tooth trinket boxes does a child need!
Check out the range of wooden toys at Jaques of London for yourself.
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