Our Story

From School Gate Chaos to UKGE: The Story of Duck and Dragon

“The Game.”

That’s what the kids at the Grange Primary School, Essex gates affectionately called it. But before it had a name, it was just a way to survive the morning drop-off.

The School Gate Struggle

In 2025, my daughter started primary school. If you’ve ever been at a school gate at 8:45 AM, you know the scene: absolute chaos. While we parents are running through mental checklists—Do you have your book bag? Water bottle? That random shoebox for the craft project?—the kids are a bundle of restless energy.

The problem? Running around near busy roads is a parent’s worst nightmare. They’re bored, they’re energetic, and they need a distraction that doesn’t involve sprinting into traffic.

Back to the Drawing Board

Being a board gamer, I knew there had to be a "tabletop" solution for the sidewalk. I looked at the classics first—marbles, hoop-toss—but quickly realised that rolling objects plus busy roads equals disaster.

I started experimenting with resin animals and small drawstring bags. I wasn't entirely sure what the "hook" was yet, but after some trial and error, a few games started to emerge. "Don't Get The Duck" was the winner. It was quick, simple to teach, and—most importantly—easy to stop the second the school doors opened.

Designing for the Real World

Soon, we had a dedicated little gathering of kids playing every morning. But as the group grew, we realised that standard figures weren't built for the pavement. We needed something better.

With a lot of encouragement from my husband and friends, Duck and Dragon was born. We invested in a 3D printer and teamed up with the talented Florida Features Digital to create exclusive designs. We didn’t just want them to look cute; we needed them to be "School-Gate Tough."

When designing our animals we focused on three important features:

• The Anti-Bounce Build: We designed the animals in a sturdy sitting pose with a low centre of gravity. This means when a kid sets it down on the uneven pavement, it stays put instead of tumbling into the gutter.

• Tactile Grip: We chose a matte, slightly textured finish. Not only does this feel great in small hands, but it also provides extra "grip" so the figures don't slip out of little fingers.

• Total Safety: Because we have younger siblings watching from strollers, we ensured every single edge is rounded and smooth. Even the wings lay flush against the body to prevent any snapping or sharp points.

• UKCA Testing and non toxic products: We take safety seriously. We are dedicated to completely UKCA testing, our own parent safe testing standards and even just some good old common sense. 

See You at UKGE!

If you told me at the start of the year that we’d be exhibiting at the UK Games Expo (UKGE), I wouldn't have believed you. It definitely wasn’t on our 2026 Bingo card! What started as a conversation about giving away a few freebies spiraled into us having a stand for the full three days.

Sometimes you just have to grab the good opportunities when they run at you.

We can’t wait to show you "Don't Get The Duck" in person. Come say hi, feel the textures of our new dragons, and let’s turn that school-gate chaos into play!