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

The wooden toy that teaches numbers by itself

£10.67£16.99 Save 37%

or 4 payments of £2.66 with Klarna

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

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Standard · 2-3 working days

Numbers 1-10
No assembly needed
Sustainably made
Ages 12m-4yo
Gift-wrapped
Hand-finished
30-day returns
Klarna available

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

as seen in

Real talk

Why your 3-year-old will suddenly count without being asked

Colin's segments are numbered 1 through 10. They only fit in order. Your child will pick them up, turn them, slot them together, and without realising it, they've counted to 10 three times before breakfast.

You don't have to teach anything. That's the whole point. And when another parent asks where they learned numbers, you just smile and say, 'Oh, we have this little caterpillar.'

Joe Jaques, Jaques of London

What's in the box

What arrives

One complete caterpillar, ready to play. Wrapped in our signature ribbon packaging, so it's a gift the moment it lands.

In the box

Colin the Counting Caterpillar

10 numbered segments that lock together in sequence. Each one is hand-finished with vibrant, non-toxic paint. Solid wood, weighted so it feels real in small hands.

✓ Segments numbered 1 to 10
✓ Fits together only in correct order
✓ No loose pieces to lose

Play style

Pick, turn, slot

No instructions. Pick a segment. Feel the numbers. Try to fit it. Realise it only goes one way. Try the next one. Ten minutes of learning that feels like play.

✓ One handed or two
✓ Works on its own or next to other toys
✓ Teaches sequence by doing, not by telling

Close-up of the paint finish and wood grain on Colin's segments

In the box

Built to last years of play

Every segment is solid wood with a hand-applied finish. It's the kind of toy that survives drops, gets passed to the next child, and still works.

✓ Sustainable wood, non-toxic paint
✓ Weighted to feel durable
✓ 60-day guarantee on every piece

Order by 2pm, ships within 2-3 business days. Gift-wrapped and ready to give.

Was £16.99

Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle: £10.67

While they play

What Colin quietly teaches

Looks like play. Works like a lesson.

🔢

Number recognition

Your child sees 1, 2, 3 printed on the wood. They say it aloud. Repetition builds memory without pressure.

🧩

Sequence and order

They learn that 5 comes after 4. Not because anyone said so. Because the puzzle only works that way.

💪

Problem-solving

Pick a segment, try to fit it, realise it's wrong, adjust. That's thinking. Repeated 20 times a day, for months.

✋

Fine motor strength

Gripping, turning, pressing together. Small hands get stronger without noticing they're exercising.

What families say about Jaques of London

Parents who've watched it work

★★★★★

"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.

Pick the segments out

No order required. Your child pulls them apart, mixes them up, scatters them if they want. There's no wrong way to start.

→

Find the first one

They learn that some slots only fit one number. Trying, feeling, understanding. This is how learning sticks.

→

Build it complete

Colin goes 1 to 10. Moment they finish, they've counted and sequenced without being told once. Proof is in the puzzle.

Why this matters right now

231 years Jaques has made games that teach Over 100 million toys and games sold. We know what works because we've been watching children play since before photography existed.

12 months+ From first grip to confident counter Start with stacking at 1 year old. By 3, they're sequencing without prompting. One toy, three years of use.

0 screens Required to learn Wood, paint, gravity, and curiosity do all the teaching. You get to put the tablet away with zero guilt.

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

Why Colin beats the plastic version

	Jaques Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle	Cheap Alternatives
Material	✅	❌ Plastic, lightweight
Lifespan	✅	❌ Cracks after 18 months
Hand-finished	✅	⚠️ Injection-moulded
Cost per year	✅	❌ Cheaper upfront, bin it sooner
Passes to next child	✅	❌ Not a keeper
Feel in hand	✅	❌ Hollow, tinny
Guarantee	✅	❌ None given

Jaques

✅ Real wood
✅ Lasts years
✅ Hand-finished
✅ Better value long-term
✅ Heirloom toy
✅ Weighted feel
✅ 60-day guarantee

Cheap alternatives

❌ Plastic only
❌ Breaks quickly
❌ Factory-made
❌ Throwaway cost
❌ One-use toy
❌ Hollow feel
❌ No protection

Order by 2pm, ships within 2-3 business days. Gift-wrapped and ready to give.

Was £16.99

Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle: £10.67

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

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

Questions & answers

Questions from parents buying for the right reason

Buying for a 3rd or 4th birthday, is this the right one?

Yes. At 3-4, they're ready to sequence and count aloud. Colin will teach them 1 to 10 without frustration or your help. Catherine McCulloch calls it a 'perfect gift for any babies' 1st birthday' and it grows with them. That first moment they place each segment correctly and say the numbers back to you? That's worth the order.

How long will they actually play with it?

From 12 months (stacking, mouthing, watching colours) through age 4-5 (full sequencing and counting). After that, it becomes a pass-to-the-next-child toy or a keepsake. John A says it's 'not the usual tat from China', and Karen Pepper agrees, 'Toys that don't break after five minutes of play.' That longevity is why it's worth every penny full price.

Will I really not have to explain how it works?

Correct. You don't unbox it and read instructions aloud. Your child picks it up, their hands figure out which segment fits where, and counting happens as a side effect. The toy does the teaching. You just watch.

What if it arrives too late for the birthday?

Order by 2pm and it ships within 2-3 business days. If you're cutting it close, it arrives gift-wrapped in our signature Jaques ribbon packaging, so it's ready to hand over straight away. Leigh Hemmings had a 'next day' arrival that 'saved Christmas.' We move fast for these moments.

How much does it cost?

The Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle is £10.67 today (down from £16.99). 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.

Order by 2pm, ships within 2-3 business days. Gift-wrapped and ready to give.

Was £16.99

Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle: £10.67

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.

In 1795, our founder made games for children who needed to learn through play, not lectures. 231 years later, we still do. Colin the Counting Caterpillar carries that same belief: toys that teach because they're designed right, not because they have a screen or a manual. Solid wood, hand-finished, built to survive years of small hands and big questions. This is what we've always made.

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