Dear Mummy, it seems Father Christmas has come early in this household and we’ve been sent a cool new board game to review!
In fact this is no ordinary board game it’s one about Christmas which is perfect for this time of year and helps with the build up to the big day!
It’s been designed and manufactured in the UK by Orchard Toys and we’ve reviewed a couple of games for them in the past and have always been impressed with the quality and finish of their toys. Orchard Toys are designed with the ethos ‘Learning Made Fun’, and they manufacture bright, fun educational games and puzzles.
Orchard Toys have been trading for over 40 years and are recognised as a leading manufacturer of educational games and puzzles around the world. They may be successful but they still trade from a small Norfolk town and the majority of the staff work in the same building. All their ideas are conceived in-house by a very talented design team and they work with Early Years professionals to ensure that skills seen in National Curriculum Key Stages and Early Years Foundation Stages are built into the games and jigsaws.
So what is Christmas Surprises?
It’s a festive colour and shape matching game. Suitable for 3 years to 6 years it great to learn how to match shapes and identify colours. It retails at around £10.
The box contains 4 double sided festive boards, 24 shaped presents, 24 coloured bauble pieces, 1 shape dice, 1 colour spot dice, 1 instruction leaflet.
I didn’t really need to read the instruction booklet as I was too eager to get in the box and start playing. It seemed simple to me and I haven’t even turned 3 yet. I started matching up the shapes into Father Christmas’s sack and my mummy told me to turn the little cardboard pieces around so we just saw the wrapping. We then had fun together turning them round to discover what was in the presents!
There are two little dice along with the game which help us to take turns and find the pieces and colours to match up to the cardboard trees and Father Christmas. It’s great fun!
I helped Father Christmas decorate the Christmas tree and collect presents for his sack.
It’s nice that it is two games in one as children can choose to play a colour match game with baubles on a Christmas tree, or a shape game matching the shaped presents to those in Father Christmas’s sack and don’t lose interest as easily.
A really beautiful and colourful game, we keep it at the bottom of our Christmas Tree and I play with it in the evenings just before bed. It’s helped me learn about shapes and colours and has reinforced the magic of Christmas.
You can obtain it from Argos, Debenhams or online at Amazon and it makes a great Christmas gift! Something that you can bring out each year to play with, a lovely family tradition. We think it’s a great educational game!
Love Bella x
Disclosure: We received the product in order to write an honest review.
dearmummyblog.com 
This looks like a great gamefor the run up to Christmas and you look like you are having so much fun!x
Such fun for the little ones! Love the pictures.
This looks like a great game. I love board games. I am looking forward to having a “games night” when the girls are older.
Oh this looks fab and we have wanted to get Sienna some more games for Christmas! I wonder if I can order it in time! x
I need to start looking into games like these as I think my toddler is around the right age, this looks perfect for this time of year! We’ve got an Orchard shopping list game for her for a Christmas present actually!
I love orchard toys. This looks a great one to have for christmas day x
I think my nephew would love something like this, it looks quite interactive x
aw my girls LOVE orchard toys board games – we have loads!
Sebby loves his Orchard Toys game and he would love to play this I am sure
I do love board games, we had so much fun when my brother and I were children, playing board games as a family. And I really like the sound of this Christmassy game =)
Aw looks like a great game! Especially because it’s Christmassy! X
Thanks for popping over Sophie! x
I love orchard toys games, great entertainment for when you want a moments peace and quiet #triedtested
This looks like such a great toy for Christmas, I love Orchard toys as they are great for helping little ones learn and have fun. #triedtested
Orchard Toys make lovely games…This looks perfect for Christmas 🙂 x
I love orchard toys and this looks a great game
Aw, I love Orchard Toys. This looks really good value too as you get multiple games in it. 🙂
I love Orchard games, Pickle may have one from Santa for Christmas! Lovely review 🙂 Kaz x
This looks like lots of fun and is really bright and colourful. When my daughter was younger we played lots of Orchard games (Shopping List at least twice per day!) and I’ve kept them all for when my son gets a bit older. Will definitely add this to the collection! x
Orchard games are fab. This one looks good to play altogether in the Christmas holidays #triedtested
I love Orchard Toys – they are so fun but great for helping to learn new skills as well (the memory ones are great for mums and dads too!)
We love Orchard Toys – I don’t think we’ve come across a bad game yet!
Thanks for linking up with #TriedTested over the course of this year! Have a wonderful Christmas x
Looks like some great games here 🙂 Looks like someone is having lots of fun 🙂
I ran a giveaway for several of these recently – it sounds perfect for festive fun with kids xx
I ran a giveaway for several of these recently – it sounds perfect for festive fun with kids xx 🙂
We love Orchard toys. This sounds like a great game from them for the festive season
We love our one, they are so simple but fun for little ones
This looks really good. I’ve a lot of good things about Orchard toys but haven’t bought any as yet. I’ll keep this game in mind for next year.
Laura x