Orchard Toys Fairytale Castle Shaped Jigsaw Puzzle Review
DISCLOSURE -THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Amy Peacey
We are big fans of Orchard Toys products in our house, so I was really excited to try the Fairytale Castle Shaped Jigsaw Puzzle with my three year old daughter. We have always found Orchard Toys products to be colourful, fun and really well thought out, so this was exactly the sort of activity I knew she would enjoy. She loves anything involving princesses, fairies, castles and magical characters, so she was immediately drawn to the beautiful picture on the box.
The puzzle contains 75 pieces and creates a lovely large picture of a magical fairytale castle when completed. There is so much detail in the picture that it gave us lots to talk about while we were putting it together. My daughter enjoyed spotting the princesses, fairies, knights, dragons and other characters and it really encouraged her imagination. We spent quite a bit of time talking about what we thought was happening in the castle and making up little stories about the characters.
The pieces are made from thick, durable card and they are a good size for little hands. My daughter is at the stage where she really enjoys doing puzzles but can sometimes get frustrated if the pieces are too fiddly, so I liked that these felt sturdy and easy for her to handle. She enjoyed turning the pieces around and trying to work out where they belonged.
One of my favourite features is the large poster that comes with the puzzle. This was particularly helpful because there are lots of colourful details in the finished picture. We were able to use the poster as a guide when she was unsure where a piece should go, which meant she could keep going rather than becoming frustrated. I also think the poster would be useful for children who are developing their confidence with larger puzzles.
Although the puzzle is officially recommended for children aged 4 and over, my three year old was able to enjoy it with some help from me. I would say it is a great activity to do together at this age, rather than expecting a three year old to complete all 75 pieces independently. She loved being able to find pieces herself and was incredibly proud whenever she worked out where one belonged.
I also really like that this is more than just a puzzle. It encourages concentration, problem solving, observation and hand eye coordination, while the detailed picture provides lots of opportunities for discussion and imaginative play. It is lovely when a toy can keep a child entertained while also helping them develop important skills without them even realising they are learning.
It has also been a lovely screen free activity for us. We often sit at the table together and work on it for a little while, then come back to it later. My daughter does not always have the patience to complete a large puzzle in one sitting, so being able to take a break and return to it works really well for us.
The quality is exactly what I have come to expect from Orchard Toys. The pieces feel sturdy, the illustrations are bright and engaging and everything can be packed neatly back into the box when we have finished. I think it would also make a lovely birthday or Christmas present for a child who enjoys fairytales.
Overall, we have really enjoyed the Fairytale Castle Jigsaw Puzzle. My daughter loves the magical picture and I love that it gives us an opportunity to sit together, talk, use our imaginations and work on a puzzle. We already like Orchard Toys products and this is another one that I would happily recommend to other parents.
Rating: 5/5
RRP £9.99
You can buy this product from Orchard Toys at https://www.orchardtoys.com
https://www.orchardtoys.com/products/fairytale-castle-jigsaw-puzzle?variant=58155657888079&_pos=1&_sid=19f66141f&_ss=r