Educational Toys · Est. 1795★★★★★ 150 reviews

The wooden toy that teaches itself

£13.99

or 4 payments of £3.49 with Klarna

🛡️ 30-day full refund, no questions. Fewer than 30 returns from 23,000+ orders.

Express · order today for next-day delivery

Standard · 2-3 working days

Teaches 1 to 10
Sustainable materials
Ages 12m+
Non-toxic paint
Self-explanatory play
Gift-wrapped ready
30-day returns
Klarna available

Delivery in 2-3 working days · 30-day returns · Est. 1795

as seen in

Real talk

No instructions needed, no Pinterest pressure

Colin works because his segments are numbered and they only fit in order. Your child picks them up, tries them, and learns through their own hands. You don't have to guide, explain, or orchestrate anything. It just works.

That's the Montessori thinking at home. Genuine learning through discovery, without you running the show.

Joe Jaques, Jaques of London

What's in the box

What you receive

Colin arrives beautifully gift-wrapped in Jaques ribbon packaging, ready to hand over or keep for yourself.

In the box

Colin the Clever Caterpillar

10 colourful segments, each numbered 1 to 10. Only fit together in order, so there's a single correct solution every time. Made with sustainable materials and finished with vibrant, non-toxic paint.

✓ 10 numbered segments, 1 to 10
✓ Safe, durable, and washable
✓ Signature Jaques gift wrapping included

Close-up of numbered segments showing colours and quality finish

Play style

Learn by doing

No adult needed to explain what comes next. Your child experiments, fits segments together, and discovers the number order themselves. Every attempt is a learning moment.

✓ Self-correcting puzzle design
✓ Builds confidence through discovery
✓ Keeps hands and minds busy

Colin displayed to show the full assembled caterpillar with all segments

Play style

Repeatable, rewarding play

Children can take Colin apart and rebuild him again and again. Each time they learn, remember, and get faster. Play grows with them from toddler to preschool.

✓ Ages 12 months and up
✓ Grows with your child
✓ Durable enough for years of play

Join 23,000+ parents who've made Colin part of their home

Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle: £13.99

While they play

What Colin quietly teaches

Looks like play. Works like a lesson.

🔢

Number recognition

Segments are clearly numbered. Repeated play embeds 1 to 10 in memory without drilling.

🧩

Logical sequencing

Only one correct order. Your child learns cause and effect, and builds pattern-spotting skills.

✋

Hand coordination

Fitting segments together refines fine motor control and grip strength naturally through play.

🧠

Problem-solving

No adult tells them what to do. They experiment, test, and find the answer themselves.

What families say about Jaques of London

Parents and children love Colin

★★★★★

"Excellent quality wood toys, so well made, no sharp edges, all lovely & smooth, very colourful & plenty of choice. Very reasonably priced & so beautifully wrapped you don't want to open them. Highly recommend this company."

Lynda Evans✓ Google review

★★★★★

"Fast delivery, excellent products, extremely good quality and long lasting. My granddaughter loves the toys from here. Good age ranges covered."

Danella Jones✓ Google review

★★★★★

"These toys tick all the boxes, educational, colourful, fun, well made and great service. I just keep buying more and more."

Irene Johnstone✓ Google review

★★★★★

"We love our toys from Jaques of London. The quality is excellent and they're the perfect size for little hands to hold and play with easily. Beautifully made, sturdy wooden toys that will last for years. Highly recommend!"

Tegan✓ Google review

★★★★★

"Harrods grade gifting for a very reasonable price. Not the usual tat from China. Had several hand picked orders fron Jaques, nice to know its a UK business with old school quality."

John A✓ Google review

★★★★★

"I am a real fan of this company. If only I had come across them years ago when my boys were little. It's my go to for beautiful, good quality toys for my granddaughter now and any gift I need to buy. They arrived quickly, prices are reasonable and the special touch is they are beautifully packaged too. I love the heritage of this business!"

Sarah Lardner✓ Google review

★★★★★ 4.8/5 rated by families across Google and Trustpilot: real reviews, quoted word for word

Get ready for life

Why real play matters

Real brain growth comes from real play.

Ages 12m+

Hand it over and step back

Colin works for curious toddlers through preschoolers. No age gate, no instruction sheet needed.

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One toy, one job done well

Counts, teaches number order, and keeps small hands busy. No batteries, no screens, no clutter.

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287

Parents share what they notice

Children return to Colin again and again. Learning sticks. Confidence grows. Play stays focused.

Why this matters right now

10 Numbered segments, 1 to 10 One correct order. Self-correcting design means your child learns through discovery, not correction.

Sustainable Materials, non-toxic paint Safe in the hand, kind to the world. Built to last and pass on.

Est. 1795 Britain's oldest games company We've been designing toys for learning and play for over 200 years. Colin carries that craft.

230 yrs of making things worth keeping Jaques of London has been crafting games and toys since 1795. This one is built to be handed down, not thrown out.

We really are different

Colin vs. other early-learning toys

	Jaques Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle	Cheap Alternatives
Works without adult explanation	✅	❌ Most toys need you to demonstrate
No batteries or screens	✅	❌ Digital alternatives drain focus
Teaches 1 to 10 in order	✅	⚠️ Generic stacking toys don't reinforce sequence
Self-correcting design	✅	❌ Open-ended toys leave learning unclear
Sustainable materials	✅	⚠️ Plastic alternatives less durable
Single correct solution	✅	❌ Loose blocks frustrate learners
Grows with your child	✅	⚠️ Age-specific toys quickly outgrown

Jaques

✅ No setup needed
✅ Zero screens
✅ Teaches sequence
✅ Self-correcting
✅ Sustainable
✅ One solution
✅ Grows with them

Cheap alternatives

❌ Others need you
❌ Digital distracts
⚠️ Generic toys unclear
❌ No feedback
⚠️ Plastic fails
❌ Too many ways
⚠️ Quick outgrow

Join 23,000+ parents who've made Colin part of their home

Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle: £13.99

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Not right? Return it within 30 days. Full refund, no questions.

Questions & answers

Questions parents ask

How does Colin teach without me doing anything?

Each segment is numbered and only fits in order. Your child tries, discovers what works, and learns through their own hands. That's the Montessori principle. You're not a teacher here, you're just the person who made the toy available.

What age is Colin really for?

From 12 months, when babies start grasping and exploring, through preschool. A toddler might mouth and handle segments. A 2-year-old might slot them roughly. A 3-year-old will count and build with purpose. One toy, three years of different play.

Will he fall apart?

Colin is made with sustainable materials and finished with non-toxic paint. He's built to last and pass on. Segments are durable enough for repeated play, washing, and the wear of genuine childhood use.

Is this just a basic stacking toy?

No. The numbered segments and single correct order make it a number-learning tool, not just a stacking game. He teaches 1 to 10 in sequence, builds pattern recognition, and rewards problem-solving. Play has a purpose.

How much does it cost?

The Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle is £13.99 today. Klarna is available at checkout if you prefer to spread the cost.

What's your returns policy?

30 days, full refund, no conditions. Return it for any reason and we refund in full. We've been standing behind what we make since 1795.

Join 23,000+ parents who've made Colin part of their home

Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle: £13.99

Our story

Making toys worth keeping since 1795.

Jaques of London was founded in 1795. We invented croquet, table tennis, and the Staunton chess set. For 230 years, we've been making things that pull children away from passive entertainment and into active, curious, hands-on play.

Jaques makes Colin because we understand how children's hands learn. A toy that teaches itself, without instruction or adult orchestration, frees you from the pressure to 'do it right.' Colin has one job: help your child discover numbers 1 to 10 through play. He's designed to work, to last, and to earn a place on the shelf that lasts years, not weeks.

Toys and games that leave something behind: a skill, a memory, a piece of play that gets passed on.
Joe, Jaques of London

Ready when you are