colours and numbers (Orchard Toys Knickerbocker Glory)

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	Orchard Toys Knickerbocker Glory
Date:	16/03/07 (143 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good introduction to numbers and colours

Disadvantages: may have a short shelf life

Knickerbocker glory

In this game, children have to make their own knickerbockers glory as fast as they can. For some children the very name knickerbockers will cause much hilarity so they may have to get their giggles out of their system before the game can commence!!

~~~Who is it for?~~~

A game for 2-4 players although I use it in the classroom as a game for only 2 players to cause fewer arguments.

The suggested age range is 3-6, and I would tend to agree with this. I am using it at the moment with 4 and 5 year olds, and once the game is explained, they are quite able to play the game in pairs without any problems whatsoever.

~~~What do I get?~~~

As with most of the games made by this manufacturer, the bits and pieces come in a nice, relatively small (and easy to store) box, with instructions on the base of the box. I do like this idea because it means that there is no scrappy bit of paper with the instructions written on it, which is bound to get lost.

So, open the box and inside are 4 knickerbocker glory boards; these are knickerbockers glories with the insides out. There are also 24 fruit cards- 6 for each knickerbockers glory and featuring a picture with 1 orange segment, 2 grapes, 3 strawberries, 4 gooseberries, 5 blueberries, and 6 lemon segments. As well as these there is a colour spot dice, featuring the colours of the fruits shown on the fruit cards and also a number die.

~~~How do I play it?~~~

Very very simple game, which, once explained, is easily grasped by even very young children.

The object of the game is to be the first to make a complete knickerbocker glory.

Spread the knickerbockers glory fruit cards face up in front of you and when each player has a knickerbockers glory board, then the game can commence!

Throw the die and depending on whether the colour or number die is used, then having thrown it, the player looks for the piece to fit inside the knickerbockers glory, whether that be by number or colour. If a player throws the die and (s)he already has that piece of fruit, then play moves on.

~~~Who makes the game?~~~

Orchard Toys
Keyworth
Nottingham

www.orchardtoys.co.uk

~~~Price and Availability~~~

Available in some toyshops, online or by requesting and then ordering from the catalogue.

This game retails at a very reasonable £6.00

~~~What I Think of the Game…~~~

Another well priced game from Orchard toys. Once again, they have produced a game which is easy to explain to young children, and easy for them to play. The pieces are sturdy enough to withstand classroom use, although for prolonged use over many years I think I would have to laminate the bits and pieces (or buy another game).

I like the fact that there are two ways to play this game, because the pieces can be collected by number or colour, so handy in order to differentiate, and to enable me to take it at the child's pace. So, for very young children we can concentrate on colour matching, and as children progress we can use the number of dots on the die, count them and find the fruit which has the corresponding number of pieces.
It's also good that the instructions are on the back of the box- no way can I lose them as I tend to do.

For a good introduction to colours and numbers, I would recommend this game.

Thanks for reading.

Daniela x

Summary: good game for young children