The Boy has recently developed a taste for cars. Cars and jigsaws! As long as he can 'brum' a car along then he's a happy chappy. Give him a 24-piece jigsaw as well and he's in seventh heaven!
Now wouldn't it be good if someone combined the two together?
Well, the genuis that is Orchard Toys have! They've created an extra large floor puzzle in the format of a road jigsaw. Now strictly speaking this is not a typical jigsaw: as there are a great deal of combinations that can be created from the 20 chunky pieces which include corners and junctions, as well as straight roads.
When it first arrived, I honestly cannot tell you who was more excited: The Boy, me or Mr. TheBoyandMe. Mr. TBAM has undertaken a personal challenge to create as many different layouts as possible using all the pieces, as his OCD is worse than mine and he won't allow a layout to be counted if there's a piece left over. I often have to ban him from playing it until The Boy has gone to bed, but both of us love setting out a new system for The Boy before our bedtime so that when The Boy wakes up, he's got something new to play with.
Of course, The Boy gets a look in! He's very fond of making roundabouts and straight roads; it took me some time to get him to realise that he can combine the two to stop the car crashing into the wall. However, he adores it and often races off to find his cars so he can 'brum' along the roads.
This game (and I call it that because I think it is more than just a jigsaw) creates hours of fun, and I don't use that phrase often or lightly. It is more than just a jigsaw:
- It's a problem solving activity. Older children could be given a drawn picture or photograph of a layout and asked to recreate it.
- It's a tool for imaginative play. Use cars, create shops with old cardboard boxes, get little figures out and create an imaginary world.
- It's a real-life discussion activity. The beautiful illustrations demonstrate some very important real-life situations: recycling, litter, road safety, etc.
I cannot even begin to convey how fond we are of this game/jigsaw. Every child who comes into our house, be it boy or girl, heads straight for it to try and come up with an exciting road system. I've already suggested to Orchard Toys that they do add-on kits for it. Mr. TBAM would like to see cul-de-sacs and cross-roads, I'd like a single roundabout piece. Can you imagine a layout over the entire ground floor of your house?! How cool would that be?
The Giant Road Jigsaw is available to buy from Orchard Toys for the bargain price of £13.50. I truly mean it, this is a bargain! Coming up to Christmas, if you are looking for a stand-out present for a pre-school age child, then this should be it!
Competition
To be in with a chance of winning one of these amazing jigsaws, then please do the following:
- 'Like' Orchard Toys on Facebook
- 'Like' TheBoyandMe on Facebook
- Tweet the following message:
I want to win a Giant Road Jigsaw with @OrchardToys & @TheBoyandMe's blog https://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=4394
Please leave one comment only below.
T&C
Competition closes on Tuesday 11th October 2011 at 8pm. One winner will be drawn at random and notified that evening. I will need a response by Thursday 13th October 2011 or I will redraw the winner.
We were provided with this for the purpose of review. Our enthusiastic opinions are honest, as always.
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED
Congratulations to @MummyMummyMum who has been chosen as the winner by the reliable random.org
Have done all above my twitter is BekKitandCake.
My son loves jigsaws, this would be like heaven for him. 🙂
Have done all of the above. The competition ends on my birthday – must be a good sign 🙂
All three done
Twitter – lottieplus2
Great competition. Already like both pages and have tweeted as @1978rebecca
Thanks!
All three done. @susankmann x
All done, I've tweeted as @carafreckles Looks like a great jigsaw, we love things with lots of little details to find in the illustration.
great comp, i have done all the above. twitter sammy_hibbs
All three steps completed – @misslongstockin
This looks wonderful, my boy would love it 🙂
wow, if i dont win it i may have to add it to the christmas wish list (for him, honestly!!). done all 3 steps. and thank you.
Hopefully I've done all 3 correct, I've only just ventured onto Twitter and am still a bit scared of it 🙂
Great comp
Both already done my lovely & tweeted x
Fab prize. Have liked you on facebook.
Liked – Karen MSE Donald
Followed – Karen2105
🙂
I've done all three (twitter name rugbylovingmum).
Great prize, my daughter loves jigsaws.
Mine would love this. I have tweeted as smilinglikesuns
xx
Done all 3, thanks for the competition, what a good idea for a jigsaw
Looks fabulous! I have liked both facebook pages, and tweeted as @slbhill42
all 3 done 🙂
@emmav6
emma mse walters
Done, done and done!
Thank you so much for the great giveaway! I have liked both Facebook pages – Tracy K Nixon and I am following you on twitter and have tweeted too @tracyknixon xxx
All done, thankyou!
@rachdreaming
Done all of the above
@sharmagaskill (twitter)
sharma gaskill (fb) 🙂
LOVE this puzzle!!
have tweeted @french_caroline and already a fan of both facebook pages x
All three done 🙂 thanks!
@kellywd
I have liked on Orchard toys
Have done all of the required steps!
Rachie Littleme on Facebook
@rachiegr on Twitter
I did all three.
Twitter ID @mumoffunkids
all things done natalie mse goatley
@nataliemay29
nataliemay27@hotmail.com
Done all. Looks amazing!! x
hiya,
Just did all that "roo julie roo" on facebook, @buttonf1fan on twitter.
🙂
Done all of that. @zaphgb twitter
already Like Orchard Toys and TheBoyandMe on Facebook, both fab pages
All done
@littleboo_21
following on fb both: steph marie
twitter:stephie_xox
tweet:http://twitter.com/#!/stephie_xox/status/117663029755248640
Thankyou, fingers Crossed!!
What a great puzzle have liked on facebook am kiki woo on there and tweeted:) xx
I've done all three 🙂
@caro_mad
This looks fab!
Have liked and tweeted 🙂
Like and tweeted, thanks for a great comp 🙂
@joeycomps
I have done all three
@kiki_725
All 3 naturally!
This looks amazing! I live the quality, durability & colour if their toys. They are all such good value and stay intact and played with for years to come 😮
Lovely comp, I have done all of the above. My son would love this. I love your blog. Twitter @mummybird_ or my website is http://www.mummybird.com
Fingers crossed we win x
Thanks for the giveaway
I have liked both FB pages and tweeted
@chocolateonemse – Twitter
Karen A Barrett – FB
Done on @mummyvs work and my personal FB 🙂
Have done all three, this looks amazing! x
I've done all three! Fingers crossed. It looks so cool. Great review.
fb-kellieanne mitchell
twitter-kellieannem83
done all three,what a lovely prize x x x
All done, Would love to win this.
Great Comp.
Great giveaway!
I have done all the above
Facebook – Kirsty Fox
Twitter – @bloomingfox
have liked both on FB and tweeted as @loumathema
What a fab puzzle ! I've completed all three.
@daisyangel1
all done jessica whitehead-stevens on fb
and @jessws2011 on twitter
Have done everything
Facebook name Kate Cunningham
twitter @01592_katie
I love Orchard Toys!
Liked and tweeted @MamaMummyMum xx
Have done all 3. please enter me for the competition.
Like both on Facebook (Robyn Logan)
Tweeted @robynlclarke
I am fans of both on facebook, and have tweeted @stralisemiai
This is a wonderful idea for a toy, great giveaway. 🙂
hi there i have done all the above my fb name is sarah clegg
twitter name is sarahclegg2
Have liked both pages and have tweeted too (@milkpetal). Thanks for such a lovely giveaway 🙂
Done all three as requested, thanks a lot cool prize, P
Done!
@jenniferlkelly – Twitter
Jennifer Kelly – FB
already liked both pages on facebook (s pearce mse) and have tweeted messages and followed both pages on twitter (srjcs)
I like both Orchard Toys and Boy and Me on facebook as Kath Vlcek
have tweeted messages and follow both on twitter as kathvcomps
thanks!
done all the above as tubbyjpin
All done, #avedajunkie
I have 'Liked' Orchard Toys on Facebook (Alice Hindley)
I have 'Liked' TheBoyandMe on Facebook (Alice Hindley)
I have Tweeted the message: on Twitter – tweet me @aesop57
I have tweeted and liked both facebook pages! I would love to be included in the prize draw!
Already like both facebooks and have tweeted
@lilysmum2008
Have already liked both pages – Clare Jaibaby Webb
Have followed & tweeted – @mrs_jacksparrow
Done all three steps 🙂 My kids love jigsaws so if I don't win this is gonna be on their Xmas list 🙂 @pipersky1
ps. oooops, did I just say the 'X' word? 'm I bad??
Oh, I love it!
All done!
@pandcands on Twitter.
Already like both and I have tweeted 🙂
@vickyd4v3
all done
@joanna_kow
This looks great – bet my boy would love it too. I'm following on FB and have tweeted @lowie789
Great competition, liked on fb and tweeted as beclee09
Have done all of the above. Please enter me
Done all of the above tweeted @ginadoc
Done, done and done!
Great review, looks like another fab puzzle from Orchard.
@missielizzieb
Love orchard toys!!
But my son doesnt havce this one so have liked both facebook pages and have tweeted @BBDIVA1977