Sylvanian Families - is 10 too old and any bargains?

[CambridgeBlue]

DD has asked for Sylvanian Families for Xmas, I know she enjoys playing with her friend's (but she has loads as she's been into it for ages whereas DD would only have a few things to start with) but I wondered if 10 was too old to start collecting it, especially bearing in mind how pricey it is. I don't mind too much especially if I can get a good deal as I know it has good Ebay value but I wondered if other girls this age and older still play with these sort of toys?

[SavoyCabbage]

When my dd was 8 she asked for a SF dolls house for her birthday. I was a bit taken aback and to be honest I was a bit embarrassed. On the one hand I don't want her to want a One Direction duvet cover, but on the other I felt she would sound silly when her friends asked her what she wanted for Christmas.

We ended up getting her a Lundby house and a mixture of Lundby and SF furniture.

She does play with it and loves rearranging the furniture.

[olibeansmummy]

Is she year 5 or 6? If year 5 she might get a year out if them but if year 6 then she'll enjoy them til summer max although she might still like to collect and display them rather than play with them...

[SavoyCabbage]

Forgot to say that I did some research and I read that 9 is the optimum age for a dolls house but that we push everything forward too much. Like how people buy an 18 month old a Cinderella t-shirt and when they should be enjoying watching Cinderella at 7 it is seen as babyish.

[SnowMuchToBits]

If you think she will play with it, then buy it. Children grow up too quickly in my opinion. Ds is still into his Playmobil and he will be 12 in a couple of days time. He will be getting a Playmo set (amongst other non-toy items) for his birthday. I wouldn't buy it if he didn't still play with it, but he does, practically every day. He still does other activities (cricket, plays his drum kit, goes to Scouts, watches tv etc) so I don't think there's anything wrong with it.

[orangepudding]

Sainsburys and tk maxx have some good sylvanian family deals.

[helpyourself]

Argos have some deals. I say always go low in age, especially if she's requested it. SF are lovely; along with the Madeleine dolls they're now in the attic for grandchildren.

[OhTheConfusion]

DD is 8 and has been collecting it for 4 years now... we have a scarily large collection but she genuinely does still play with it all. However DH and I were saying we think this will be the last year she asks for it as we can see her tastes maturing a bit this year

[Startail]

My Y7 DD2 still plays with her playmobil and is way more the teenager than her almost 15 yo sister.

[RightUpMyRue]

DD is in year 6, is 10 and loves her Sylvanians. Her friends love them too. She still loves her Barbies aswell. I reckon the longer we can encourage playing with dolls and avoid make-up and mood swings the better! Buy her dolls, lots of dolls.

ToysRus have some Sylvanian deals.

As do Tesco. Think there's a code for £10 off Tesco direct if you look on the Xmas bargains thread.

Argos often have some deals too.

I've had a few good buys from www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sylvanian%20families&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 this year too.

Ebay is pretty good for 2nd hand bits but you have to be careful you're not paying the same, or more if you get in a bidding war, than you could get for new.

[mercibucket]

Awwww that's really lovely
There are some good deals on cheap houses atm - check out hot uk deals and the xmas thread on here, but maybe just some cheap 'family' sets?

[mercibucket]

Awwww that's really lovely
There are some good deals on cheap houses atm - check out hot uk deals and the xmas thread on here, but maybe just some cheap 'family' sets?

[anicesitdown]

I'd say go for it - my 10yo DD is still enjoying hers, and we are getting her one of the houses for Chistmas. Her friends also enjoy playing with them when they come round. I think the imaginary games they play change as they get older, though the toy stays the same. DD now has Jacqueline Wilson type storylines on the go with hers!

[CambridgeBlue]

Thanks all, I think I will go for it - solves my problem of relatives asking what she'd like as well. I am really pleased she wants something like this tbh, I thought she'd be asking for make-up or a flashy phone so some cute animals and their house is a pleasant surprise :)

[helpyourself]

it's lovely when they stay young. I've just given DS age 12 a Lego advent calendar. I feel I've been on the cusp of putting the Lego away for about 18 months now, it's lovely to have it around.

[Dancergirl]

toughasoldboots - I sometimes catch my 40 year old SELF re-arranging the house!

[beingagoodmumishard]

am I the only one who has a DS who likes playing with Sylvanians . He is nearly 8 and has asked for the treehouse for Christmas. He already has a number of pieces including the car and caravan and the canal boat. He also has a huge pile of Lego, so I seem to spend most of my time trying to avoid hoovering up teeny pieces of SF or lego

Dancergirl I have caught my MIL combing the mane of one of the toy horses when DS was playing with something else

[haggisaggis]

I think we get too caught up with the age on teh box - OK SYlvanian Families MAY be suitable for 4+ - but teh bits are so fiddly that it's only when they get older that they can really appreciate it. My dd is 10 and is getting more SF for Christmas. She also still plays with Playmobil as again (IMO) they get more fun from it when they are old enough to set up all the wee bits properly.

[helpyourself]

beingagood DS loved SF. For years his slightly older sister would make him play with her, now she'll indulge him by playing Lego with him- payback!

[Dancergirl]

I agree haggis - my middle dd (nearly 10) still plays with her SF and even is occasionally joined by dd1 (11)! Dd3 (5) on the other hand is just getting into them but is still a bit young. I can't wait till she's a bit older so I can buy her me the caravan and one of the boats.

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

My DD is 10.6 yo and has SF .She got the Regency Hotel last Christmas (half price) and has maybe 2-3 'houses' .
But she hasn't bought anything new for well over 6 months. (though she has them in her bedroom and will go and play quite happily with them)

[Arcticwaffle]

My 12yo dd still plays with sylvanian stuff, but she's quite young in some ways and she's always been very keen on what nursery used to call "Small Worlds Play". But my 11yo has grown out of it (she never played with it that much). 8yo is very keen.

I think they do grow out of this sort of imaginative play toy quite suddenly, so 10 might be a bit old to start spending a lot on it.

[Grumpla]

I played with my dolls house (populated by SF animals) until I left home!

Was often slightly stoned at the time though

[Hulababy]

DD is 10y and still likes her SF toys, as do many of her friends. I have told DD she can't have anymore, though this is because she already has so much already!

[Aftereightsaremine]

Dd is 10 & loves her sf & she's getting more for Christmas. I had thought last year that would be it but she still really enjoys playing with it all. Also dniece who is 19 still comes over & loves playing sf on her own! So I'd say go for it. You can always sell it once she outgrows it.