Dice and Dice Games · Est. 1795★★★★★ 150 reviews

Numbers that stick without worksheets or screens

£16.99£25.99 Save 34%

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

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Standard · 2-3 working days

Teaches addition naturally
One game, all ages
Solid wood frame
Baize-lined tray
Includes dice and rules
Tactile, not digital
30-day returns
Klarna available

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

as seen in

Real talk

Montessori learning without the Pinterest pressure

You're drawn to Montessori because it respects how children actually learn. Shut The Box embodies that principle in one wooden box. Roll the dice. Add the numbers. Close the matching flaps. Your child is doing real maths, in real time, with you sat beside them.

You get to step back. The game does the teaching. That's the work already built in.

Joe Jaques, Jaques of London

What's in the box

What arrives at your door

Everything you need to play. No batteries. No app. No extra pieces to hunt down.

Shut The Box wooden game tray with numbered flaps, angled view

In the box

Polished wood frame with baize lining

30cm by 17.5cm tray. Numbers 1 through 12 on individual flaps you close as you play. The baize lining keeps dice in place and makes every roll feel considered, not rushed.

✓ Solid wood construction
✓ Baize-lined playing surface
✓ Flaps close silently, stay closed

Child's hand rolling two dice on the Shut The Box board

In the box

Two dice, ready to roll

1.5cm solid dice included. Big enough for small hands to grip, throw, and read without confusion. Nothing tiny to lose.

✓ Two standard dice
✓ Chunky size, child-friendly
✓ Included, nothing to buy

Shut The Box game laid flat, showing all 12 numbered flaps open

Play style

Rules sheet for 1 or more players

Simple rules that take 90 seconds to learn. One player, two players, or the whole table. Each turn is a roll, a sum, a decision. No turn order confusion.

✓ Plays solo or with others
✓ Rules included, easy to follow
✓ Rounds take 10 to 15 minutes

Ready to play without prep

Was £25.99

Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game: £16.99

While they play

The maths that happens quietly

Looks like play. Works like a lesson.

🔢

Addition and number bonds

Rolling a 4 and 5 means you're adding instantly. Your child discovers that 9 can close in different ways. Real arithmetic, no repetition.

🧠

Problem solving

Dice show 6 and 3. Should she close the 9, or the 6 and 3 separately? She's weighing options, making choices, learning strategy.

🎯

Logic and planning

As numbers close, she sees fewer options. This teaches consequence and forward thinking without anyone saying the word 'lesson'.

👥

Turn-taking and patience

If you play together, she learns to wait, watch, and think while someone else rolls. That skill transfers everywhere.

What families say about Jaques of London

From families who live this daily

★★★★★

"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.

Safe for younger hands

Suitable from age 5. Older siblings and adults find genuine challenge in the strategy. One game grows with your child.

→

Just one setup, done

Open the box. Roll the dice. That's it. No components to sort, no cards to shuffle, no board to fold back up.

→

10-15 min

No screen time needed

A full round takes 10 to 15 minutes. Fits between breakfast and school, no negotiation required.

Why this matters right now

1795 Year Jaques was founded We have been making games for families longer than any company alive. Shut The Box arrived in the UK through us in the mid-20th century, and we have not stopped making it since.

30cm × 17.5cm Tray dimensions Big enough to live on a shelf and grab when you want it. Not so large it becomes clutter. Designed to be used, not stored away.

Solid wood Built to last decades This is not flat-pack. It is made to be played with hard, by multiple children, and passed down. The baize will age gracefully.

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 Shut The Box beats the alternatives

	Jaques Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game	Cheap Alternatives
Teaches real maths	✅	⚠️ Worksheets feel like work
No screen time	✅	❌ Apps need charging
Plays solo or together	✅	⚠️ Most games need 2+ players
Zero prep, zero cleanup	✅	❌ Board games scatter pieces
Built to last years	✅	⚠️ Cheap dice games wear fast
Grows with your child	✅	❌ Flashcards become boring
Fits shelf space	✅	⚠️ Large games need a cupboard

Jaques

✅ Real maths happens
✅ No screens
✅ One or many players
✅ Play and pack in seconds
✅ Lasts for years
✅ Fits as children grow
✅ Shelf-friendly size

Cheap alternatives

❌ Worksheets feel forced
❌ Apps drain batteries
❌ Most need groups
❌ Pieces scatter everywhere
❌ Cheap sets fall apart
❌ Games get boring fast
❌ Takes up too much room

Ready to play without prep

Was £25.99

Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game: £16.99

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

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

Questions & answers

Questions parents ask us

Can my 5-year-old play alone?

Yes. Shut The Box works as a solo game. She rolls, adds the two dice, closes the matching flaps, and rolls again. You can sit nearby or let her play independently. It teaches without you directing every move.

Does it work for multiple ages at once?

Absolutely. A 6-year-old learns addition. A 9-year-old learns strategy and probability. An adult finds genuine challenge in the maths and tactics. Everyone plays by the same rules, but at their own level.

How durable is the wood?

Solid wood and baize are made to be used. We have versions still played with after 50 years of family play. It will show age and love, which is the point. This is not a decoration.

What if a flap breaks?

The baize-lined frame is built robustly. Flaps are mechanical but not fragile. If something ever does wear, we can advise on repair. This is a game meant to be played hard and last.

How much does it cost?

The Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game is £16.99 today (down from £25.99). 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.

Ready to play without prep

Was £25.99

Shut The Box - 12 Numbers Family Game: £16.99

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 made games since 1795 because we believe play is where real learning happens. Shut The Box arrived in Britain through us in the mid-20th century, and we have refined it ever since. It is not a toy that teaches maths. It is a game where mathematics is simply the language you speak to win. No worksheet needed. No screen required. Just wood, dice, and the quiet satisfaction of solving a number problem with your own hands.

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