Orchard Toys First Sounds Lotto at a glance
A fun-filled sound game where players listen to the sounds on the Orchard Toys app or make noises themselves and match them to pictures on their playing boards! Children will have fun as they buzz like a bee, moo like a cow or hiss like a snake! First Sounds Lotto also includes a 6-piece jigsaw puzzle for added play value that can be used to encourage conversation from young children as they try to spot the sounds featured in the game.
We spoke to these real parent testers to get their review...
How did this product make your life easier?
Celine: As soon as we unpackaged the toy my two and a half-year-old toddler immediately wanted to open it and play. Which wasn't ideal a sit was close to bedtime. She was so excited by it she actually took it into her cot and slept all night with it! I still love pulling this toy out on rainy days and messing around making the animals noises. You don't need the mobile app but it is a nice little addition.
Helen: This game is brilliant in that I don't have to always sit and play it with the children. I have a 4-year-old and twin 2-year-olds. All of them are happy to just look at the cards and either make the noises themselves or play a matching game. The older boy also likes to lead his own games with the twins and get them to play matching.
Rebecca: As a mum and finding toys to stimulate & keep my child interested can sometimes be very difficult, but as soon as my child saw this one come out of the box she was immediately interested as she could see all the bright colours & pictures on the cards. This obviously was a very good start & one that made my life as a mum easier for sure!
Would you recommend this to other parents?
Imogen: I would recommend this to another mum because I liked that this particular game created multiple learning opportunities for my child. She practised her words, but also waiting her turn and listening. It’s a good game for a child who is very visual. My child enjoyed the colours and pictures. This game also came on holiday with us!
Celine: I would recommend this to a fellow mum as it's an interactive game that you can play alongside your child. You can get really silly with it and make the wrong noises and get a good laugh from your toddler. It comes in a small package that sits alongside all of the rest of my collection of Orchard toys. It is educational and can be played on the floor or at a table
Helen: I have 2-year-old twins and a 4-year-old. This game is easy for all ages to play with on their own or under adult supervision. I found that they all engaged with it well so covers all ages. It's in a small box so doesn't take up too much space in the toy storage. The cards are all bright and colourful so eye-catching for the children.
Would you choose this product above all others on the market?
Rebecca: I'd definitely choose this product over others as I loved the simplicity of it made it an instant hit with my children. There's nothing to really complain about from me and my children, they found it a very good game to play together. As I've already mentioned but it would also make my decision easier for purchasing this product as it's not made from plastics or any other one-use product.
Imogen: I enjoyed that this game can be played with or without the app. My child enjoyed the matching of pictures/tiles as something she could do by herself as well as playing the game ‘properly’ with us. It was also really excellent for helping her practise her listening/patience skills which I appreciated.
Celine: Orchard toys, in general, should definitely always feature on a shortlist of top toys. This one in particular, though a lot of fun doesn't have as much of a shelf life as some of the other orchard toys. My toddler who is two and a half years old will only play with it for a few minutes at a time. If you have a younger child I think they would play with it for much longer. Especially if they are in the process of learning which animal makes which sounds.
What changes would you make to this product?
Celine: I honestly can’t think of anything that I would change. We have really enjoyed playing this. I love how it is a game with so much to do and can be built upon as the children grow up. it promotes listening skills, generates plenty of talking opportunities and encourages turn-taking. What more could you ask for?
Helen: I'm not really sure what I would change about the product as I found it very good in that it is eye-catching to younger children and older, you can vary the game according to the children who are playing. I suppose the only thing I could think of is that the sounds are only accessed by the app and some who don't have a phone or laptop wouldn't be able to get the full potential out of the game
Rebecca: The one thing that could have made this toy a little better would be if the boards had an imprint so the correct square picture would fit inside, as with a two-year-old when excited rapid movements occurred & the squares that were placed on the board went flying all over the place so she got upset about that. That was the only one thing.