Hook a Duck: 3 First Places, BlogOn Awards 2025

The ducks bob in a slow circle, little brass rings glinting, and a child leans in with a wooden rod and a careful hand. There is a pause, a near miss, then the lift and the small cheer. It is a scene that has played out at fairgrounds for over a century, and it still holds a room of children just as well today.

At the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025, the Hook a Duck game took first place in three separate categories. That is the sort of recognition that tends to follow a toy children actually want to play, rather than one that merely looks the part on a shelf.

Like the rest of our wooden toys, it is made from FSC-certified timber and tested to UKCA and CE standards. The duck sits in a long line of games we have made since 1795, still run by the same family, and still judged first by whether a child picks it up again.

Shop the Hook a Duck

First in Family Games, Preschool and Primary School

The judges at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025 placed the Hook a Duck game first in the Family Games category, first in Preschool and first in Primary School. Three categories, three first places, all for the same game.

What makes that spread interesting is the range it covers. Family Games recognises something the whole table can share. Preschool rewards a toy that suits the youngest hands. Primary School points to a game that still holds older children. Few toys manage to land in all three at once.

The same game also took second place in several further categories that year, including Influencers Choice, Active Toys, Educational/STEAM, Interactive Toys and Toddler Toys. That breadth tells you something about how widely a simple fishing game reaches.

Awards are a matter of judging, of course, not a safety check in themselves; the testing to UKCA and CE standards is a separate matter we handle regardless of any panel. But the judging does confirm a point we have long held, that the plainest games often travel furthest.

You will find the Hook a Duck among our traditional games, sitting comfortably alongside the other classics we have kept in production for generations. It also belongs squarely within our children toys, where the test is always the same: does a child reach for it a second time?

A first place in Family Games, Preschool and Primary School suggests the answer is yes across a wide age range. That is rare, and it is worth noting plainly rather than dressing up. The duck earned its place by being played with.

How Hook a Duck is played

The game is as simple as it looks, which is much of its charm. A set of wooden ducks float in a line or circle, each fitted with a small ring. The player holds a wooden rod with a hook on the end and sets about lifting a duck clear.

Some households fill a shallow tub with water and let the ducks drift. Others keep it dry and arrange the ducks on the floor or a table, which suits younger players who find a moving target a step too far at first. Both versions work, and children tend to settle on their own preference quickly.

Scoring can be as loose or as formal as you like. Many families simply count how many ducks each player hooks in a turn. Others number the undersides of the ducks and add the scores, which nudges the game towards a little arithmetic without anyone noticing.

The rod is the thing to watch. It wants a steady hand and a bit of patience, because a hurried swipe sends the duck spinning away. Learning to slow down and aim is half the game.

For a day in the garden or further afield, it packs down easily and travels well, which is why it turns up in our game ideas for family picnic. A set of ducks and a rod take up little room in a bag.

You will find it listed among our traditional games, and it suits the same occasions as the rest of our board games when the table turns to something quieter than a running-about afternoon.

Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination

Behind the simple business of hooking a duck sits a good deal of useful practice. To lift a ring with a hook, a child has to line up what the eye sees with what the hand does, and then hold that line steady. That is hand-eye coordination at work, built quietly through play.

The grip on the rod matters too. Holding a wooden handle, angling it, and making small corrections uses the same fine motor control a child will later lean on for holding a pencil or doing up buttons. The game gives that control somewhere to develop without ever feeling like a lesson.

There is patience in it as well. A duck that drifts or wobbles rewards the child who waits for the right moment over the one who lunges. Learning to time a movement, and to accept a near miss and try again, is no small thing for a young player.

This is the quiet strength of well-made wooden toys generally. A plain object asks the child to supply the effort and the imagination, and the skills follow from the doing. We have written more about this in our piece on award winning wooden toys for toddlers uk, which looks at how simple toys support early development.

The same thinking runs through our wider range of wooden toys, where the aim is always to give small hands something honest to work with. A duck, a ring and a rod sound almost too simple to teach anything. In practice, they teach a surprising amount.

One game, three ages at the table

One of the harder things to find is a game that genuinely suits a mixed-age group. A toddler and an older sibling rarely want the same thing, and a parent joining in often ends up refereeing rather than playing. The three BlogOn first places, across Preschool, Primary School and Family Games, hint at why the Hook a Duck sidesteps this.

For the youngest, the dry version on the floor works well. A large, slow-moving target and a forgiving hook mean a toddler can succeed often enough to stay interested. Early wins keep a small child in the game.

For a primary-aged child, the challenge can be raised. Float the ducks, set a time limit, or number them for scoring. Suddenly the same set rewards skill and a little strategy, and an older child has reason to concentrate.

Adults, meanwhile, can join in without having to pretend. The game is light enough to chat over and competitive enough to care about, which is exactly what a shared game should be. We cover this balance in our notes on board games family game night uk, where the aim is always something everyone at the table can enjoy together.

That flexibility is why it belongs among our children toys as readily as it sits with grown-up games. It scales with the player rather than against them.

A game that a two-year-old and a ten-year-old can both lose happily is worth keeping. The duck manages it by asking only for a steady hand, something every age can bring in its own measure.

Why the fairground classic still works

Fairground games have a way of fading, replaced by brighter and noisier things. The Hook a Duck has not. It turns up at fetes, in nurseries and on kitchen tables, and children who have never seen a fairground take to it at once.

Part of the reason is that it asks nothing a child cannot already do. There is no reading, no waiting for a turn to come round a long board, no complicated rules to remember. A child picks up the rod and understands the whole thing in a moment.

Part of it is the shape of the thing. Wooden ducks are pleasant to hold and handsome to look at, and they age well rather than cracking or fading. A set made properly can pass from one child to the next, which is how the best toys have always worked.

We have made traditional games of this kind since 1795, and the lesson across those years is a steady one: the games that last are the ones that trust the player to supply the fun. We wrote the laws of croquet in 1864 on much the same principle, giving a simple pastime a clear shape and letting it endure.

If the duck appeals, it sits alongside plenty of its kind in our traditional games and our board games, and the thinking behind making them well is set out in our piece on award winning sustainable wooden toys uk.

A century on, a child still leans in, hooks a duck and grins. Some games simply do not need improving.

What parents say about the Hook a Duck

4.8 out of 5 from 201 verified Reviews.io reviews (as of 15 October 2026). These are real buyers, quoted word for word.

“The duck game was my free gift and I'm delighted with it. I run the Christmas tombola stall for my local church and I'm always on the lookout for nice toys for the children's tombola. The duck game will have pride of place to attract children to play, they have better odds of winning than the adult tombola.”

★★★★★ Ms, verified buyer, 2026-08-09

“We got this as a free gift with our order and it's great. It's lovely quality and very colourful. It's easy to play and fun for young children (and adults too!). Brilliant to have the cards included to support children in developing maths skills. Beautifully packaged and speedy delivery.”

★★★★★ Melissa, verified buyer, 2026-09-10

“Lovely little game to play with my baby grandson (the box is the 'pond'). Good for fine motor skills and learning to take turns (I expect there will be some clapping when a duck is 'hooked'). When he's older, the maths element of the game will add to its longevity.”

★★★★★ Julie, verified buyer, 2025-01-28

“Purchased for my 3 year old grandddaughter who absolutely loves ducks. The game is well made and comes in a sturdy box. She hasnt seen it yet as its a christmas gift but I can honestly say she will get many hours of play out of it. I would definitely recommend.”

★★★★★ Mrs, verified buyer, 2025-10-29

Read every review of the Hook a Duck

Frequently Asked Questions About Hook A Duck Game

What awards did Jaques Hook a Duck win?

Jaques Hook a Duck won 1st place in three categories at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025: Family Games, Preschool, and Primary School. It also placed 2nd in five further categories at the same awards: Influencers Choice, Active Toys, Educational/STEAM, Interactive Toys, and Toddler Toys. The BlogOn Toy Awards are judged by parent bloggers and influencers across the UK, making this sweep of placings a strong reflection of real-world family appeal. Jaques of London has been making games since 1795.

What age is Hook a Duck for?

Jaques Hook a Duck is suitable for a wide age range, reflected in its 1st place wins at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025 in both the Preschool and Primary School categories, as well as 1st place in Family Games. This suggests the game appeals from preschool age upwards, making it a versatile choice for households with children of different ages. Always check the product packaging for the specific recommended minimum age before purchasing.

How do you play Hook a Duck?

Hook a Duck is a classic fishing game in which players use a small rod with a hook on the end to catch plastic ducks floating in a pool or tub of water. Each duck has a loop or ring on top that players aim to hook and lift out. The player who catches the most ducks wins. The game combines hand–eye coordination with the excitement of water play, making it entertaining for young children and families alike.

Does Hook a Duck help fine motor skills?

Yes. Hooking the loop on a floating duck requires careful hand–eye coordination and precise control of the rod, which naturally exercises fine motor skills. This practical development benefit is supported by Hook a Duck's 2nd place finish in the Educational/STEAM category at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025, where judges recognised its value beyond pure entertainment. For preschool and primary-school-aged children, repeated play can help develop the dexterity and concentration needed for everyday tasks.

Is Hook a Duck a good family game?

Jaques Hook a Duck won 1st place in the Family Games category at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025, judged by parent bloggers and influencers. Its simple rules mean younger children can join in alongside older siblings and adults without needing to read instructions or learn complex mechanics. The water element adds sensory excitement, and because rounds are quick, it suits families looking for light-hearted, sociable play. Jaques of London has been crafting family games since 1795.

How many players can play Hook a Duck?

Hook a Duck is designed to accommodate multiple players taking turns or competing simultaneously, depending on how many rods are included. Its 1st place win in the Family Games category at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025 reflects its suitability for group play. For precise player numbers and the contents of the Jaques edition, check the product listing on the Jaques of London website, as set configurations can vary.

What are the BlogOn Toy Awards?

The BlogOn Toy Awards are annual toy awards run by BlogOn, a UK blogging and influencer community. Products are tested and rated by parent bloggers, influencers, and their children, providing real-world family feedback across a range of categories including Family Games, Preschool, Primary School, Active Toys, and more. The awards are judged by families rather than industry panels, giving them a distinct consumer-facing perspective. Jaques Hook a Duck placed 1st in three categories and 2nd in five further categories at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025.

Is Hook a Duck screen-free?

Yes. Hook a Duck is entirely screen-free. Players use a rod and hook to catch floating plastic ducks from water — there are no batteries, apps, or digital components involved. This makes it a straightforward active game focused on physical play, hand–eye coordination, and social interaction. It placed 1st in the Family Games category at the BlogOn Toy Awards 2025, highlighting its appeal as hands-on entertainment for families seeking a break from screens. Jaques of London has been making traditional games since 1795.

Sources

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

• BlogOn Winter Toy Award Winners 2025 (BlogOn Toy Awards)
• Hook a Duck product page, Jaques of London
• Verified customer reviews: Reviews.io, Jaques of London store (live feed, 15 October 2026)

Explore more from Jaques of London

• Children Toys
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