Orchard Toys – Five Little Ducks Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Amy Peacey
As a mum of a lively and curious 3 year old, I am always on the lookout for games that are fun, educational, and simple enough for her to enjoy without becoming frustrated. Five Little Ducks by Orchard Toys ticks every one of those boxes and has quickly become a firm favourite in our home.
The game arrived in a simple carboard package which can be recycled easily.
My daughter already enjoys the Orchard Toys games and loves singing “Five Little Ducks,” so seeing her face light up when she recognised the theme was a joy in itself. The game captures the charm of the song wonderfully, with bright, colourful illustrations and chunky, durable pieces that are perfect for little hands. Orchard Toys has clearly designed this with young children in mind.
The game is straightforward but engaging. Players take turns moving around the board, collecting ducklings and helping the mother duck find her babies. For my daughter, this simple objective is exciting enough to keep her focused, and the element of “finding” the ducks feels like a mini adventure each time. One of the things I love most is that there are no complex rules.
In terms of learning benefits, the game assists with the players counting skills in a very natural way. My daughter loved counting the ducks as she finds them, and the repetitive nature of the game has boosted her confidence with numbers from 1 to 5. It also encourages taking turns and patience. Two skills that can be challenging at this age. I’ve seen a real improvement in her ability to wait for her turn without getting upset or wandering off.
The storyline of helping mummy duck find her ducklings appeals strongly to my daughters sense of care and empathy. She always cheers when “all the ducklings come back,” which is incredibly sweet and adds a gentle emotional connection to the game.
From a parent perspective, the game is quick to set up, easy to tidy away, and doesn’t take too long to play. A full game only lasts about 10 minutes, making it perfect for short bursts of focused play. This has made it ideal for winding down before bedtime or filling a few minutes when she needs a calm activity.
Overall, the Orchard Games Five Little Ducks is a great introduction to board games for young children. It’s simple, beautiful, and thoughtfully designed. Most importantly, it is something my daughter genuinely looks forward to playing, and it has become a lovely little bonding activity for us.
The game suggests that it is for children 3+ but in my opinion due to the simple nature of the game it would not appeal to children older than 3. I would suggest a 2+ rating might be more appropriate.
You can buy the game from the Orchard Toys website here or other Orchard Toys stockist.
The RRP is £12.00 which is great value. The Orchard Toys website also has 20% for purchases made in half term.
Rating: 5/5