I was recently asked if I would like to review a product from the Galt range of toys and games. I was allowed to choose anything I liked from their extensive range  that cost less than £20 in return for a review on this blog. No other payment was received at any point.

I had a nosey around their website and eventually settled on a counting game called While the Cat’s Away… because Tori has recently discovered counting and is starting to recognise her numbers and I thought it would be a fun way of developing this.

The game is designed for 3-7 year olds (Tori isn’t 3 until July but she managed perfectly well) and can be played with 2-4 players at a time. Tori and I settled down on the floor today to have a go. It was actually the first time I tried to sit down and play a structured game with her so wasn’t sure what to expect.

The game included a simple spinner and 24 brightly coloured cards that were sturdy enough to withstand an overenthusiastic two-year old playing with them.

Set up is simple – you just lie all the cards out randomly with the mouse side up and put the spinner somewhere everyone can reach it.

On your turn you spin the spinner and see what number you get. Then you have to find a card with a corresponding number of mice on it and turn it over.

If you are lucky you will find the back of your card shows either 1, 2 or 3 pieces of cheese and you get to keep your card. If you are unlucky you will turn over a cat (oh no!!) and the card gets put to one side – no cheese points for you that turn.

The game ends when all the cards have been turned over. Then it’s a case of counting up your cheese to see who has won – Tori thoroughly trounced me first time we played!

Tori really enjoyed playing and counting and the only downside I can come up with is the fact that I have been forced to sing 3 Blind Mice on repeat ever since we started playing – I’m bored of it now!

Arthur rather enjoyed playing with the ‘windows’ that the cards pressed out of too – fun for all ages!

While The Cat’s Away… is available from Galt for £6.99 and is well worth the price. The cards are all good quality, bright and well printed with cheerful, cute images with plenty to talk about. Tori loved spotting the mice with balloons and cakes and was very fond of Cat by the end of the game.