What they say:
“A fun first matching activity that develops into a game as children grow in confidence and ability. Farmyard Heads and Tails is a simple game, which toddlers can enjoy on their own or with other players. Featuring 12 farm characters and objects to match, the game encourages observational and memory skills whilst introducing very young children to the concept of turn-taking! The big, wipe-clean cards are ideal for little hands.”
Tested by mum Melanie Hudson for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails to other mums?
I would recommend this game to a friend or family member as it is such a well-made card game. The card pieces were really thick and easy for my little one to pick up and witheld the slobber should she put them to her mouth. The design of the animals on the cards are very colourful and are quite big which made it easier for them to recognise the animals. This game was not just popular with my little one but with my older children too, who are 3 years and 6 years!
How did this product make your life easier?
This is a great game to play should the weather be bad outside. We would get this out when we couldn't get outside and play the matching heads and tails game. The size of the box is very handy as it is not too bulky which made it easier when I wanted to take it with us on a picnic, as my little one enjoyed playing this at the park where we would see some of the animals such as ducks.
Would you choose this product to win?
This game is so well made and the manufacturers have put a lot of thought in when designing it for toddlers. The cards are thick and sturdy and put up with being thrown, sucked and occasionally stolen by our inquisitive dog. The colours used are vibrant and make sit easy for little ones to recognise the animals.
What changes would you make to this product?
The only thing I would recommend for this game is that it has a handy handle so as you are able to take with you anywhere. This game was ideal to take on holiday with us as the box is a good size but it would be easier with a handle on as like other mums I am sure, I use my pushchair to hang most things on using the shopping hooks and it would just be easier to be able to hang up.
Tested by mum Lisa Boyd for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails to other mums?
I would recommend this game to a friend. I like the simple design of the cards making it easy for all toddlers to play. The small nature of the cards make it easily transportable which means they can easily be slipped into a handbag and brought out to distract toddlers when visiting friends. The sturdy box is also built to withstand boisterous toddlers.
How did this product make your life easier?
The small nature of the cards make it easily transportable which means they can easily be slipped into a handbag and brought out to distract toddlers when visiting friends. The sturdy box is also built to withstand boisterous toddlers. This product makes a mums life easier as they can be used as a distraction both in the home and when travelling.
Would you choose this product to win?
Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails can be used easily both at home and when travelling. The colourful pictures keep toddlers entertained for hours. Younger children can even use them in their highchair while mum rushes to prepare a meal. This product is one that children will use time and time again and not tire of.
What changes would you make to this product?
I really like Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails and find it hard to pin point something that would make it better. Maybe as a first time mum I would be put off buying it for my 10 month daughter as it says 18+ months however she had great fun with it and so maybe the age limit should be reduced so more babies can enjoy this wonderful game.
Tested by mum Frances Fleming for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
The Farmyard Heads and Tails cards are nice and chunky, so don't bend in little hands. They also look as though you could wipe them clean without damage. The pictures are all really nice and clear, plus there is a really good selection of images - all classic farmyard images that you would see if you visited a real farm.
How did this product make your life easier?
The best thing about Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails is that it can be used for individual play or as a game with up to three other players. As a mum, this is great, as it can be used to keep little ones occupied on their own or with others. It's very educational with demonstrating matching. You can also encourage children to voice the animal noises, so it's fun for them also.
Would you choose this product to win?
I have had a few sets of similar animal cards, but this is better for the strength of the cards. They look as though they will last well without becoming dog-eared. There is a really good selection of images in this pack also compared with others I have used. The images are clear and easy for children to recognise.
What changes would you make to this product?
I really can't think of anything that would improve Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails. It's well-packaged, well made and sturdy. It is a simple toy, but it works really well. One suggestion is a hole in the top corner of all of the cards, then an open-and-close ring that could be used to hang them up in the child's bedroom.
Tested by mum Sarah Lloyd for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
From first glance it is easy to see that this is a high quality and appealing product. It is exceptionally designed and is colourful and fun to look at and play. The cards are friendly looking, easily identifiable animals which my little one instantly adored. The cards are also chunky so will withstand lots of play which is great due to them having dual purpose as a jigsaw type game and then a memory game too.
How did this product make your life easier?
Being wipe clean means the product is a firm favourite for me. Anything that is easy to clean instantly makes tidying up that much easier. The cards were also easy to understand and use, and with no set up required it means they can be picked up and played anywhere at anytime. They are also small enough to store without taking up space. Due to the 2 games in 1 they will also last years as my little one grows and learns.
Would you choose this product to win?
The quality of the product is outstanding. The cards are chunky and well made and the box they come in equally robust and solid. The bright and colourfully designed cards are appealing to look at, easy to handle - even for little hands - and are most importantly easy to clean if needed. I also like that this is a British made product.
What changes would you make to this product?
I think it would be useful to include a mini poster within the box which has all the animals on to show what the cards should look like once they have been matched up. This would help particularly younger ones to know what they are looking for. I think the pictures on the box are just a little bit too small for some children, particularly younger ones, to identify from.
Tested by mum Jacqueline Floyd for the M&B Awards 2017:
Would you recommend this to other mums?
I loved that this product encouraged my daughter to recognise the different farmyard animals. We would do this along with the noises of the animals so it was a great game to play together! The cards were large and easy for my daughter to pick up and put down. I also liked that the box is durable and easy to keep for storing the cards in.
How did this product make your life easier?
I loved that I could play this with my daughter and it was a great game for us to spend time with each other and for me to teach her about the different animals. My daughter also enjoyed playing this alone and would spread the cards out along the floor to match these up so it would keep her entertained for quite some time. They were easy to transport too as the box is very durable.
Would you choose this product to win?
I thought this was a great value product and the cards were large and colourful. I would buy this for certain as it is a great game to play with your child, or for your child to play with friends. There are a fantastic range of animals on the cards and the size of the cards make the cards easy to pick up with little hands.
What changes would you make to this product?
Very little I would change but I did have some concerns that the cards might start to peel at the corners after more use. This didn't happen but they did start to become rough after my daughter sucked on them a few times; I would like to see how they hold up after a few months’ use. Although the box they came in was durable, it would be nice to have a plastic case to put these in as they are easy to lose.