Meet Colin the Clever Caterpillar!
Colin loves to wriggle his way into educational adventures, helping kids learn their numbers in a fun and engaging way. His colourful segments fit together in numerical order, making counting an exciting game.
Made with sustainable materials and finished with vibrant, non-toxic paint, Colin the Clever Caterpillar is a safe and durable toy that will keep little learners engaged for hours. Beautifully gift-wrapped in signature Jaques ribbon packaging, he makes the perfect present for budding mathematicians!
Delivery & Returns
- 🚚 Fast Delivery – Ships within 2-3 business days
- 🔄 60-Day Warranty
- 📦 Click here to view our Delivery Policy or Returns Policy
- ⭐ Wooden Counting Caterpillar 11 colourful, numbered puzzle pieces
- ⭐ Size 29cm x 9cm
- ⭐ 11 Numbered Puzzle Pieces – Count, sort and build in order
- ⭐ Bright, Non-Toxic Paint – Safe for curious little hands
- ⭐ Suitable for Ages 12 Months+ – Ideal for toddlers and early learners
- ⭐ Teaches Counting & Number Recognition – A fun intro to early maths
- ⭐ Encourages Imaginative Play – Sparks storytelling and creative interaction
- ⭐ Develops Cognitive Skills – Enhances logical thinking and sequencing
Independent Customer Reviews
4.89/5 from 88 reviews of this product
Delivery Information
Explore our delivery services and choose the perfect option for you.
All options are UK Mainland only unless stated. Croquet Mallets, Croquet Sets & Luxury Chess are excluded from ParcelShop and Premium delivery see below:
🚚 ParcelShop Delivery – EVRI (3-5 Working Days)
- £3.95 for all orders
🚚 Standard Delivery – EVRI (3-5 Working Days)
- £4.50 for all orders
🚚 Standard Delivery – FedEx (2-3 Working Days)
- £5.95 for all orders
- Includes Croquet Mallets, Croquet Sets (3–5 Working Days)
- Includes Luxury Chess (5–10 Working Days)
🚚 Premium Delivery – FedEx (Next Working Day)
- £7.95 for all orders
- Order by 1pm Monday – Friday for next-working-day delivery
(excludes weekends & bank holidays)
- Postcode exclusions may apply
🚚 Northern Ireland Standard Delivery – EVRI (7-10 Working Days)
- £7.95 for all orders
- This option is not available for orders that include Croquet Mallets, Croquet Sets & Luxury Chess
*All Orders placed after 1pm on Monday-Friday and placed on a weekend or Bank Holiday will be processed on the next working day.
Returns FAQ's
We want you to absolutely love your new toy! 🧸💛 But if something’s not quite right, no worries, we make returns as easy as a game of tic-tac-toe! You’ve got until 31 January 2027 to send it back, hassle-free. 🎉 Want to know exactly how it works? Check out the process in our next question where we break it all down! 🔍✨
For more information please read our full FAQ on returns page.
Sending something back? No worries, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…4! 🎲✨ Here’s how it works:
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Reach out to our super-friendly Customer Service Team 🦸♂️💬 Just let us know what you’d like to return and why—we’re here to help!
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We’ll send you a step-by-step guide and a handy returns form. 📩 No guesswork needed, we make it smooth and simple!
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Pop your item back in its original packaging and send it our way. 📦🚚 (Make sure it’s unused, and don’t forget your proof of postage!)
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Once your return lands safely with us, we’ll process your refund faster than you can say abracadabra!
Easy peasy! Got questions? Just give us a shout we’re happy to help! 🎉😊 Check out our full returns page here.
Great question! Once you’ve sent your return back to us (don’t forget to keep your proof of postage! 📩), we’ll work our magic and process your refund within 7 working days. 💰✨ It’ll go straight back to your original payment method, easy peasy! If you need any help along the way, just give us a shout! 🎉 Click here to contact us.
How it compares
| Other Retailers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Material | Sustainably sourced wood | Unspecified or mixed materials, often plastic |
| Finish | Vibrant non-toxic paint on every segment | Painted surface quality often unstated |
| Packaging | Gift wrapped in signature Jaques ribbon | Arrives in plain retail packaging |
| Maker | Made by Jaques of London, games maker since 1795 | Unnamed or unknown manufacturing history |
Questions parents ask
Counting Caterpillar or another Jaques number toy, which one for a 1 year old?
Counting Caterpillar is built for this stage, suggested from 12 months up to around age 3. It has 11 numbered puzzle pieces that fit together in order, so a toddler can count, sort and build without needing to read yet. The segments are large enough for little hands to grip and join, which suits early motor skills rather than fiddly small parts. It works as both a first counting toy and an early puzzle.
What is the caterpillar puzzle made of?
Colin the Clever Caterpillar is made from sustainable materials and finished with vibrant, non-toxic paint. Each of the 11 segments is a separate numbered puzzle piece, so the paint needs to be safe for regular handling and mouthing by toddlers. The non-toxic finish is specifically called out because this is a toy for ages 12 months and up, when things still go in mouths. Construction is simple and solid enough to survive daily toddler use.
How do you actually play with the counting caterpillar toy?
The caterpillar comes apart into 11 numbered segments that a child counts, sorts and rebuilds in numerical order, nose to tail. It works as a straightforward sequencing puzzle rather than a game with rules, so there is nothing to learn before starting. This encourages counting and number recognition, and also invites imaginative play as children narrate Colin wriggling along. It suits early cognitive skills like logical thinking and putting things in order.
Is the caterpillar toy safe for a 1 year old to chew on?
It is finished with non-toxic paint specifically because it is aimed at ages 12 months and up, when toddlers still explore toys by mouth. The 11 pieces are sized for small hands to hold and connect rather than being tiny loose parts. Beyond that, care is straightforward, since there is no battery or electronic part to worry about. It is a toy meant to be handled, dropped and reassembled daily rather than kept for display.
How many pieces come with the Counting Caterpillar and what size is it?
You get one wooden counting caterpillar made up of 11 colourful, numbered puzzle pieces, nothing else to buy or add. Assembled, it measures 29cm by 9cm, so it sits comfortably on a rug or small table without needing much floor space. Each segment is numbered so pieces go together in a specific counting order rather than any order. It arrives ready to play with straight away, with no setup beyond opening the box.
Is the counting caterpillar a good baby shower or first birthday gift?
It suits gifting well since it is suggested from 12 months, making it a natural first birthday or baby shower present for a future toddler. It comes gift wrapped in signature Jaques ribbon packaging, so it is ready to hand over without extra wrapping needed. As an educational toy focused on counting and number recognition, it also reads as a thoughtful rather than purely decorative gift. Jaques of London has made games since 1795, which adds some occasion to a first gift.
What age should a child move on from a number puzzle like this caterpillar?
Suggested ages run from 12 months through around age 3, covering the toddler stage when numbers and sequencing first click. Because it is a physical wooden puzzle rather than an app or electronic toy, there is no version to outgrow in the way a screen based toy dates. Many families keep it going as imaginative play or a sorting toy for a younger sibling after the counting stage passes. There is no battery or software to become obsolete.
Does the counting caterpillar need batteries or an app?
No. It is a wooden puzzle toy made of 11 numbered segments, with nothing electronic involved and nothing else to buy afterwards. Play comes entirely from physically counting, sorting and reassembling the pieces in order. This means it is ready to use straight out of the box and stays ready for years, without charging, updates or an app to install. That simplicity is part of what keeps it durable for repeated toddler use.
Ready when you are
Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle
Was £18.99
£12.99 31% off
Easy returns · Making games since 1795 · Secure checkout