Freckled Frog Our Solar System Mats 10 Piece Set

The set has ten thick rubber-backed mats: the Sun, the Moon and all eight planets from Mercury out to Neptune. Every planet is cut in a scaled size, so children can see how much bigger Jupiter is than Earth as they lay the whole system out.

Each mat is labelled with the name of the planet, Sun or Moon it shows, so children read the words while they build the solar system. Setting the pieces in order sparks conversation about distance, size and what makes each planet different.

You get Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, plus the Sun and Moon. The planets are made in scaled sizes relative to each other, giving children a more realistic sense of the solar system than same-size pictures would.

The mats are made with natural rubber and microsuede, with a thick rubber backing that keeps them non-slip on the floor. That grippy base lets children step and jump from planet to planet without the mats sliding around underfoot.

The largest piece measures approximately 81cm by 47cm, while the smallest is around 9cm in diameter. The range in size mirrors the real difference between the planets and gives children plenty of room to hop from one to the next.

Yes. The non-slip mats work indoors or out in the backyard, so children can lay out the planets on grass or carpet. Jumping from one mat to the next turns a science lesson into active play that gets bodies moving.

This set is suitable for children three years and over. At that age children enjoy naming the planets, ordering them and using the mats for jumping games, which supports both early science interest and gross motor movement.

When each planet is sized in scale, children can physically compare a giant Jupiter with a small Mercury instead of imagining it. Handling the pieces this way makes the idea of size and distance in space concrete and memorable.