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

The wooden toy that teaches itself while you watch

£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

Self-directed learning
Numbers 1 to 10
Sustainable wood
Non-toxic paint
From 12 months
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 prep. No instructions to read aloud. Just play.

You know that feeling when a toy arrives and you have to spend 20 minutes working out how to make it work? Colin doesn't do that. His segments are naturally ordered by number and colour. Kids arrange them, see the pattern, learn the sequence. That's it.

For you, it means a toy that works the way Montessori principles work: the child leads, the material teaches, and you get to actually enjoy watching it happen instead of running the show.

Joe Jaques, Jaques of London

What's in the box

What you're getting

One Colin the Clever Caterpillar, ready to go straight out of the box. Beautifully wrapped in signature Jaques ribbon packaging.

In the box

Colin the Clever Caterpillar

One complete caterpillar toy with 10 interlocking segments, each numbered and colour-coded. Segments fit together in sequence to build the full caterpillar from 1 to 10.

✓ 10 segments, numbers 1 to 10
✓ Sustainable wood with non-toxic paint
✓ Self-directed: no adult direction needed

Close-up of caterpillar segments showing number sequence and colour coding

Play style

Order and snap together

Each segment has a number and colour. Children arrange them in order, then snap them together to build Colin. The physical connection makes the number sequence tangible.

✓ Order-based learning through play
✓ Tactile feedback when segments connect
✓ No batteries, no setup, no fuss

Colin the Clever Caterpillar in gift-wrapped Jaques ribbon packaging

In the box

Ready to gift

Arrives beautifully wrapped in signature Jaques ribbon. No need to wrap it yourself or explain what it does. Hand it over and step back.

✓ Presentation-ready packaging
✓ made for birthdays or baby gifts
✓ Works from 12 months onwards

Your turn. Colin's waiting.

Was £16.99

Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle: £10.67

While they play

What Colin teaches, quietly

Looks like play. Works like a lesson.

🔢

Number sequencing

Kids see that numbers follow a pattern. 1 comes before 2, 2 before 3. This is the foundation of number sense, and Colin makes it visible.

🎨

Colour coordination

Each number has its own colour. This dual coding helps younger brains lock in the concept faster.

🤲

Fine motor control

Fitting segments together builds hand strength and coordination. Simple, purposeful movement.

🧠

Problem-solving

Kids work out which segment comes next. They try, adjust, succeed. That's how learning sticks.

What families say about Jaques of London

What parents are saying

★★★★★

"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.

Unwrap and hand over

Colin arrives ready. No assembly, no instruction manual. Just give it to your child and let them explore.

→

Watch them order the segments

Kids instinctively try to arrange Colin in sequence. The colours and numbers guide them. You're not directing, just observing.

→

They snap together and learn

When segments connect, the physical satisfaction is real. Numbers aren't abstract anymore. They're tactile, ordered, buildable.

Why this matters right now

10 Number segments One for each number from 1 to 10, colour-coded and ready to order.

12 months+ Safe from this age Designed for toddlers and preschoolers. Non-toxic paint, durable wood, no small parts to worry about.

Zero setup Adult effort required No instructions to memorise, no batteries, no pieces to lose. Just a toy that works the way Montessori principles work.

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 usual counting toys

	Jaques Counting Caterpillar - Number Puzzle	Cheap Alternatives
Self-directed learning	✅	❌ Adult-led (you have to teach)
Durable wood construction	✅	⚠️ Plastic (feels cheap after months)
Tactile number sequence	✅	❌ Visual only (less memorable)
No batteries or setup	✅	⚠️ Needs assembly or charging
Colour coding included	✅	❌ Numbers only (single learning pathway)
Gift-wrapped ready	✅	❌ Arrives in plain box
From 12 months+	✅	⚠️ Typically from 2 or 3 years

Jaques

✅ Child-led, not adult-driven
✅ Real wood, built to last
✅ Numbers you can hold
✅ No setup or batteries
✅ Colours teach too
✅ Ready to gift
✅ Works from 12 months

Cheap alternatives

❌ Most need you to run them
❌ Plastic feels temporary
❌ Just pictures or symbols
❌ Requires assembly
❌ Numbers in isolation
❌ Packaging work for you
❌ Too advanced too young

Your turn. Colin's waiting.

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 parents ask

Will my toddler actually understand what's happening?

Yes. The colour-coded segments and physical snapping together make the number sequence visible and tangible. You don't need to teach it. The toy's design does the work.

How long will a child stay engaged with it?

From 12 months, they explore the segments and enjoy fitting them together. Around 2-3 years, they start to grasp number order. Older preschoolers use it to solidify 1 to 10 sequencing. You'll get years of use.

Is it Montessori-aligned?

It follows Montessori principles: self-directed learning, hands-on exploration, and a material that teaches through its design. No instruction needed. The child leads, the toy guides.

Will the paint chip or fade?

Colin is made with non-toxic paint on sustainable wood. It's built to withstand toddler play. If you're concerned about durability, Jaques has been making toys since 1795. This toy is made to last.

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.

Your turn. Colin's waiting.

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.

Jaques has been making toys since 1795 because we believe learning shouldn't feel like work. Colin the Clever Caterpillar sits in that tradition: a simple wooden tool that teaches through play, not instruction. The segments are designed so the material itself guides the child. No script for you to memorise, no prep. Just a toy that works the way good education works: the child explores, discovers, learns. That's 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