The wooden toy Millie is still discovering new things about at age 3.
Recommended by @essex.family.life
Lifetime repair guarantee. 30-day full refund. £1.95 delivery over £35 • free over £60 • free gift over £50.
The average plastic shape sorter holds a toddler's attention for a week. Then it becomes background furniture. This one keeps coming back to because every time they pick it up, they are a little bit different and the blocks meet them there.
Parents just like you.
Real families. Real homes. Real opinions.
“My daughter got this at 14 months and is now 2 and a half, still plays with it every day. First she just banged it around. Now she sorts every shape perfectly. Watched the whole progression. Brilliant toy.”
“The quality is exceptional. Solid wood, no sharp edges, the pieces are perfectly sized for little hands. My son is 18 months and absolutely loves posting the blocks through the holes.”
“Bought this instead of a plastic version from a big name brand. So glad I did. The wood is beautiful, it feels like it will last forever. Already thinking about buying one for my second.”
“Millie ignored her plastic shape sorter after a week. This one she goes back to every single day. The mirror block is magical — she just stares at herself and laughs.”
“My son has been playing with this since 10 months and just turned 2. The rattle pieces were his entry point. Now he sorts shapes independently. A proper developmental toy.”
“Excellent first birthday gift. The quality is immediately obvious — solid, heavy blocks, nothing sharp or flimsy. Still going strong at 18 months with no signs of wear.”
“My daughter got this at 14 months and is now 2 and a half, still plays with it every day. First she just banged it around. Now she sorts every shape perfectly. Watched the whole progression. Brilliant toy.”
“The quality is exceptional. Solid wood, no sharp edges, the pieces are perfectly sized for little hands. My son is 18 months and absolutely loves posting the blocks through the holes.”
“Bought this instead of a plastic version from a big name brand. So glad I did. The wood is beautiful, it feels like it will last forever. Already thinking about buying one for my second.”
“Millie ignored her plastic shape sorter after a week. This one she goes back to every single day. The mirror block is magical — she just stares at herself and laughs.”
“My son has been playing with this since 10 months and just turned 2. The rattle pieces were his entry point. Now he sorts shapes independently. A proper developmental toy.”
“Excellent first birthday gift. The quality is immediately obvious — solid, heavy blocks, nothing sharp or flimsy. Still going strong at 18 months with no signs of wear.”
“I am over the moon. I love a toy that grows with them and this is perfect for Millie. She is already exploring every shape. Over time she will learn, sort and master every single one. Such quality — nothing like the plastic versions.”
@essex.family.life
Making games longer than any other manufacturer in Britain.
We invented the Staunton chess set, the international standard used in every tournament since.
No batteries. No screens. Quality hardwood built to outlast the children who play with it.
Shape Sorter. One product, every age in the family covered.
Lifetime Craftsmanship Guarantee
If it ever breaks, a hinge, a piece, anything, we repair or replace it. For life. No asterisks. That is what 230 years of making things teaches you.
“"The brief for this sorter was: a toy that a 12-month-old will bang around and a 3-year-old will solve methodically. It took us three iterations to get there. I think we got there." Joe Jaques, seventh-generation owner.”
Joe Jaques, seventh-generation ownerWhat arrives when you order
- 🛡Lifetime guarantee. Anything breaks, we fix it.
- ↩30-day returns. No questions. Full refund.
- 📦£1.95 delivery over £35. Free over £60.
- 🎁Gift-wrapped. Hand bow-tied. Personal note printed inside.
At 12 months: mostly mouthing and banging, which is exactly right for that stage. The rattle and texture pieces catch attention first. Between 18 and 24 months, shape sorting clicks. By 3, they do it in seconds and want to be timed.
Shape Sorter
Less than one trip to soft play. Works from 12 months to school age.
Watch her figure it out. You'll see what she's capable of.
Questions
What if Millie does not take to it straight away?
The first stage is just handling and exploring the blocks, which happens immediately. The shape-sorting usually clicks between 18 and 24 months. It is designed for the long game, not instant results. If you are not happy within 30 days, full refund, no questions.
When will it arrive?
Standard UK delivery 3 to 5 working days. Express options at checkout. Orders placed before midday usually dispatch the same day.
What age is this for?
From around 12 months to age 4. The toy grows with the child: exploration at 12 months, shape matching at 18 to 24 months, independent sorting by 3. No upper limit if you have a determined toddler.
Is @essex.family.life paid by Jaques?
Yes. We work with families who use our products daily, not just for a photoshoot. @essex.family.life filmed Millie at home, with a toy she actually plays with. We pay a performance share on orders through this page.
Our products went viral.
Real parents. Real homes. Real posts. Every single one.
“AD ✨ We’re so excited to be working with Jaques of London”
“AD — from one family to millions. These are something else.”
“♟️ AD | Gifted ♟️ Our new Jaques of London chess set has arrived”
“Jaques of London — Bailey the Bus. We are super excited about this one.”
“We were kindly sent this beautiful Jaques of London set — it’s stunning.”
“Celebrating 230 years of timeless play with Jaques of London”
“Jaques of London have been making toys, games and puzzles since 1795”
“The love of games — Jaques of London wooden classics”
“Christmas has arrived at @jaquesoflondon — look at this collection”
“Jaques London Christmas is here and I am obsessed with every piece”
“Celebrating 230 Years of Jaques of London! It’s wonderful to share this”
“Did you know Jaques of London is the oldest games company in the world?”
“Jaques London Christmas — not just toys, these are heirlooms”
“Meet the 8th generation family behind Jaques of London”
“We are proud to celebrate @jaquesoflondon’s 230th birthday”
“Gifted — quality wooden toys that actually get played with every single day”
“Proudly crafting award-winning wooden toys and games since 1795”
“The fascinating history of Ludo and Snakes — all started with Jaques”
“@jaquesoflondon are celebrating 230 years of crafting beautiful toys”
“We have a growing collection of @jaquesoflondon toys and I’m not sorry”
“Super cute and exciting toys for the whole family — full Jaques review”
“The Jaques of London Toy Hairdresser Set — and I can’t stop playing with it”
“AD | Jaques of London Fishing Game — watching my boys play this is everything”
Why I run Jaques for the 231st year.
I am the seventh generation of my family to run this company. My great-great-great-great-grandfather started it in 1795. My children play with the same games I played with as a child. That is not a marketing line. That is just how it works when you make things properly.
From Jaques of London
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@essex.family.life is a paid partner of Jaques of London. We commissioned their content and pay them a performance share of resulting orders.