Orchard Toys for over 30 years have been leading the way in developmental games for children and their families. With offering for 18-month-olds to 8 years, they cover a wide range of products that grow with children as they age. All the games you can buy from Orchard Toys have been teacher tested and provide many skills being developed simultaneously at once. The Post Box Game is based on the much-loved British landmark dotted on many streets across the UK. This time players will be posting coloured letters to monkeys, rhinos and cats learning colour recognition along the way.
Post Box Game offers two different ways of playing. Firstly, there is setting up the 16 different letters face up on the table (or floor) and constructing the 3D postboxes (which look great). Young players then look at the available letters and try to match them to their correct player colour. The second version of the game again has players sporting their own post box but this time, cards are flipped face down, making for a memory challenge to the main gameplay. Play keeps going until one person has posted all 4 of their corresponding-coloured letters.
The game is marketed for 2-6 years old, however in my experience the game is probably designed more for older toddlers and possibly even 3-year-olds. At the moment my 2 year old daughter just enjoys the dexterity part of the game, where she can shove as many letters as possible in any random post box. On the positive side she loves identifying the animals and mimicking the sounds they make. With hedgehogs and octopuses there are some really fun characters in this game.
As you would expect with Orchard Toys the artwork is bright and colourful. The designers have made the effort of having corresponding place locations for adults to enjoy during the game. Martha Mouse lives in Chedder Gorge and Ricky Rabbit has the postcode HO32 9PY. All these elements make the theming really on point and quite fun for everyone involved!
Whilst the game is meant to be played with a single colour per person, a suggestion I have is that players work together to post the letters. After all, this game is about learning colour observational skills. Not only can children correctly identify colours, but they can also name them, providing invaluable skills. This, alongside the cooperative element of this gameplay style, also further enhances the experience for players. Having the address is a nice touch, and later on, children can begin to read these letters aloud, progressing their language and conversational skills.
Post Box Game is an instant hit when brought out to played with. The tactile letters and bold colours make it instantly appealing. With animal sounds, eye coordination and great fun this game provides a lot in a little packet. With chunky card and wipeable pieces this game is built to last the advertised 4 years on the packaging. Whilst Post Box Game isn’t a mused have Orchard Toys game, it is still a great little parcel of post!
