Animal Croquet: Gold, Independent Toy Awards 2026

A croquet lawn can be a daunting thing for a small child. Full-size mallets, hoops set wide, rules that reward patience. The Children's Animal Croquet was designed to bring all of that within reach of younger hands, and in 2026 it received Gold in the Wooden category at the Independent Toy Awards.

The set is made from timber sourced from responsibly managed forests, carrying FSC certification, and it is tested to UKCA and CE standards before it reaches any garden. Those two things matter: a game children handle freely should be made of something honest and checked for safety.

It sits within our croquet range and alongside our children toys, a scaled-down version of a very old lawn game made for the people who most want to play it.

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Why Animal Croquet won Gold

Gold in the Wooden category recognises a game built properly from the ground up. The mallets are shorter and lighter, sized for a child's grip, and the animal illustrations give each young player something of their own to chase round the lawn.

The set has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 from three verified Reviews.io customer reviews, as of 15 October 2026. That is a small but real picture of how it has been received by the families using it.

What the award reflects is a piece of equipment that lets children take part in the actual game rather than a watered-down imitation. The hoops, the mallets, the balls all behave as croquet should, only at a scale that suits smaller players.

You will find the set among our wooden toys, where the same thinking applies across the range: solid materials, careful making, and games that last long enough to be handed on.

The Gold sits within a longer run of recognition, which we have gathered together in our account of award winning toys from 2023 to 2026. Animal Croquet is part of that story rather than a one-off.

For a child, of course, none of this is the point. The point is being handed a mallet, lining up a shot, and sending a ball through a hoop for the first time. The award is simply the grown-up world agreeing that the game is worth playing.

Who judges the Independent Toy Awards

It helps to know who gives these awards. The Independent Toy Awards are voted for by UK independent toy retailers, not by expert testers or a panel of specialists.

That distinction is worth keeping clear. The people casting votes are the shopkeepers who stock toys, watch them sell, and hear back from the families who buy them. Their judgement comes from the shop floor.

It is also separate from safety testing. An award recognises a toy on its merits as a product to sell and play with; the UKCA and CE marks are a different matter entirely, earned through testing before anything is offered for sale. The two should never be confused.

So when Animal Croquet received Gold in the Wooden category, it was independent retailers deciding it deserved the recognition. People who know the trade, looking across what is available, and placing one game above the rest in its category.

That kind of endorsement carries a particular weight. Retailers have no reason to back a game that disappoints, because they are the ones who answer to customers when it does. Their vote is a practical one.

We have written more about the awards and what they mean for the wider range in our piece on award winning sustainable wooden toys in the UK, which sets this win alongside others.

For anyone weighing up a children's toy as a gift, knowing who stood behind the recognition is as useful as the recognition itself. It tells you the judgement came from people who sell these things for a living.

From the laws of croquet in 1864 to a game for small hands

Croquet has a long and documented history, and Jaques sits close to the centre of it. John Jaques wrote and published the laws of croquet in 1864, giving the game the rules it has largely kept ever since.

The company itself was founded in London in 1795 and is still run by the same family today. That continuity means a croquet set from Jaques carries more than two centuries of practice behind it.

The Children's Animal Croquet is a direct descendant of that work. It takes the same game codified in 1864 and rebuilds it for small hands, with lighter mallets and hoops a child can actually reach to position.

Nothing essential is lost in the scaling-down. A child still aims, still strikes, still watches a ball roll through a hoop and feels the small satisfaction of a shot well played. The game is the same game, only fitted to a younger player.

That faithfulness is deliberate. There is little point introducing a child to a version of croquet so simplified it bears no relation to the real thing. Better to give them the genuine game at a size they can manage.

The set belongs within our croquet collection, where the full-size sets wait for the day a child grows into them. The step from one to the other is a natural one.

A game first written down in 1864 and still played on lawns today has earned its place. Handing it to the next generation, in a form they can grasp, keeps that line unbroken.

What children learn from croquet

Croquet asks something of a child beyond simply hitting a ball. It calls for aim, which means pausing to look before striking rather than swinging wildly.

There is judgement of distance and force. Too hard and the ball overshoots; too soft and it stops short of the hoop. A child learns this by doing, adjusting each shot against the last, which is problem-solving in its plainest form.

Turn-taking is built into the game. You play, then you wait, then you play again. For younger children that patience is a genuine skill, practised without anyone having to lecture them about it.

There is counting, too, and a sense of sequence as players move through the hoops in order. The game quietly rewards keeping track of where you are and what comes next.

Much of this happens outdoors, which matters. Croquet is one of our outdoor games, and time spent on a lawn with a mallet is time spent moving, looking, and concentrating in the open air.

The focus croquet demands has something in common with the calm we write about in our guide to mindfulness techniques for children. Lining up a careful shot is a small act of attention.

It also works as independent play. A child can set up the hoops and practise alone, sending balls through one after another, which is the kind of absorbing activity we explore in our piece on independent play activities by age. The learning comes wrapped in genuine enjoyment.

Playing together: children and grown-ups on one lawn

One of the real pleasures of croquet is that it closes the gap between ages. A child and a grandparent can play the same round on the same lawn, and the game holds up for both.

With the Children's Animal Croquet, the mallets are sized for younger players, but the game they are playing is the game everyone knows. That means no one has to pretend, and no one is left out.

Croquet also has a gentle way of levelling the field. Accuracy matters more than strength, so a careful child can beat a stronger adult on a good day. That possibility keeps the game interesting for everyone round the hoops.

It rewards the slower pace of a family afternoon. There is no clock, no rush, just a succession of turns and the conversation that fills the spaces between them.

For families already drawn to well-made games, the set fits naturally among our wooden toys and the wider children's toys range, chosen to be played with again and again rather than set aside.

If you are starting younger still, our notes on award winning wooden toys for toddlers in the UK cover the games that come before croquet, when a child is just beginning to grip and swing.

The Children's Animal Croquet was made for exactly these afternoons: a Gold-winning version of a very old game, sized so the whole family can share one lawn.

What parents say about the Children's Animal Croquet

4.6 out of 5 from 3 verified Reviews.io reviews (as of 15 October 2026). These are real buyers, quoted word for word.

“Perfect for a sunny afternoon with a two year old and a four year old. Thank you.”

★★★★★ Linda, verified buyer, 2026-08-10

“Bought this for a four year old who loved it. Beautifully made and a big hit”

★★★★★ K, verified buyer, 2026-07-22

Read every review of the Children's Animal Croquet

Frequently Asked Questions About Children'S Croquet Set

What award did Jaques Children's Animal Croquet win?

Jaques Children's Animal Croquet won Gold at the Independent Toy Awards 2026 in the Wooden category. The Independent Toy Awards are voted for by UK independent toy retailers, making the Gold Medal a strong signal of confidence from specialist retailers who know their customers well. Jaques of London, founded in London in 1795 and still family-run today, has a long heritage in croquet — John Jaques wrote and published the laws of croquet in 1864.

Who votes in the Independent Toy Awards?

The Independent Toy Awards are voted for by UK independent toy retailers — the shop owners and buyers who sell toys every day and understand what children and families genuinely enjoy. There are no expert testing panels or judges; the awards reflect the collective opinion of specialist retailers across the country. Jaques Children's Animal Croquet received Gold in the Wooden category at the Independent Toy Awards 2026, reflecting strong retailer confidence in the product.

What age is children's croquet for?

Jaques Children's Animal Croquet is designed for younger players who are developing their coordination and enjoying outdoor play. The colourful animal-themed design makes it appealing and accessible for young children, allowing them to engage with the classic game of croquet in a fun, age-appropriate way. For precise age recommendations, please refer to the product listing on the Jaques of London website, where current guidance is kept up to date.

Is Animal Croquet made of wood?

Yes, Jaques Children's Animal Croquet is a wooden toy — it won Gold in the Wooden category at the Independent Toy Awards 2026, voted for by UK independent toy retailers. Jaques of London, founded in 1795 and still family-run, has a long tradition of crafting quality wooden games. Wooden construction gives the set a reassuring weight and durability that plastic alternatives often lack, making it well suited to garden play season after season.

Can adults and children play croquet together?

Croquet is well suited to mixed-age play, as the turn-based format means players of different abilities can participate together without one group dominating physically. Children's Animal Croquet from Jaques of London brings a colourful, accessible twist to the classic game, making it easy for younger players to join in alongside older family members. The straightforward rules — rooted in the laws of croquet written by John Jaques in 1864 — keep the game easy to follow for everyone.

What skills does croquet develop in children?

Playing croquet encourages children to develop hand-eye coordination, concentration, and turn-taking as they aim mallets and plan their shots. The strategic element of the game — deciding which hoop to target and how to position the ball — introduces early problem-solving thinking in a relaxed outdoor setting. Because croquet is a social game played with others, it also supports communication and patience. These benefits come naturally through play, without children realising they are building useful skills.

Did Jaques invent croquet?

Jaques of London did not invent croquet, but the company played a defining role in establishing the game. John Jaques wrote and published the laws of croquet in 1864, helping to standardise the game and bring it to a wider audience. Jaques of London, founded in London in 1795 and still run by the same family today, has been associated with croquet ever since, producing sets for generations of players from garden beginners to serious competitors.

Is croquet a good screen-free garden game?

Croquet is an excellent screen-free outdoor activity that gets players moving, thinking, and engaging with one another in the garden. Jaques Children's Animal Croquet, which won Gold in the Wooden category at the Independent Toy Awards 2026 — voted for by UK independent toy retailers — offers a colourful, hands-on alternative to indoor entertainment. The combination of fresh air, physical movement, and gentle strategy makes a game of croquet a naturally engaging way for families to spend time outside together.

Sources

Every award on this page links to the organiser's own results page. Checked 2026-10-14.

• Independent Toy Awards 2026 Gold Medal Winners (Independent Toy Awards)
• About the Independent Toy Awards (Independent Toy Awards)
• Children's Animal Croquet product page, Jaques of London
• Verified customer reviews: Reviews.io, Jaques of London store (live feed, 15 October 2026)