Imaginext castle or wooden castle for 5 1/2 year old?

[DTisMYdoctor]

DS has seen the imaginext castle on an advert somewhere but I had already been thinking of getting him a wooden castle.

Any thoughts on which is best for that age?

[ShoeWhore]

Have a look at the Playmobile one - it's fantastic. Loads more detail than any of the wooden ones we looked at.

[LarkinSky]

I bought this for my dd last Christmas (then 4) and I'm so pleased with it. It's gorgeous, beautifully made and will last a long time. It fits playmobil people so we bought a few playmobil princesses and princesses and the flying horse.

www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Folding-Princess/dp/B000NKH0E6?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Friends I know with the playmobil princess castle say as it's plastic it breaks easily, turret falls off here, a drawbridge there, unless you superglued it all together?

[DTisMYdoctor]

Do you have the falcon knights one? Is it massive? He has a few quite big toys in his bedroom already so a little bit concerned about space. The imaginext one doesn't look too big, and the wooden one looks like it would come apart and fold away.

He does like playmobil though...

[LarkinSky]

Sorry! just seen it's for a boy. Maybe he won't mind, but it does feature pink roses. You could always paint them out to de-pretty it!

[Stillhopingstillhere]

Ds is 4.4 and has the imaginext castle but he has plenty of older friends (up to 9) who also enjoy playing with the castle.

It is by far the most played with of any of ds's toys, it interacts with the cannon which comes with it and also with the additional toys you can buy. We have the dragon. Nothing falls off it and it seems indestructible which is good as it is attacked on a daily basis. I can't see ds tiring of it anytime soon!

[5madthings]

my ds4 is five and a half and wants the imaginex castle. he has played with it at a friends and loves it!

we have several other imaginext toys and they are very sturdy and played with lots.

in contrast the wooden castle we have is rarely played with and a pita to put together.

[DTisMYdoctor]

Thanks everyone. Encouraged to read about the imaginext castle posts - I did wonder if would find it too babyish soon.

I don't mind pink toys for him, but peer pressure decrees that it would be 'for girls!' Larkinsky.

Very useful to know about the wooden castle 5madthings.

How big is the imaginext castle?

[Manchesterhistorygirl]

My sons have the imaginext castle and they love it, it's one of their most played with toys. They got it for Xmas last year and it still looks good as new, despite being inn almost constant use. Ds are 2 and 7.

[5madthings]

its not too big at all and sort of folds in on itself. its on ds4's xmas list and i will prob get it.


as i said we have other imaginext toys, a boat, submarine, helicopter and the batcave and various accesories. ime they are well made, very sturdy and kids love them.


four boys here so they have been well played with and never broken. my almost nine year old plays with them as well and my two year old dd also likes them.

[Stillhopingstillhere]

You can have it folded out or it pushes in and is kind of flat. It's not too bad at all size wise. We have had our monies worth out of it already and ds has only had it a few months such is the use it gets!

You can get an array of weapons for the little knights too (groan) and my ds particularly loves this. The castle has pieces in the walls that push in so prisoners can escape, a jail and a place to hide treasure. It is my favourite of the imaginext stuff we have.

[DTisMYdoctor]

Thanks everyone!

[kiwidreamer]

www.amazon.co.uk/Melissa-Doug-Folding-Medieval-Castle/dp/B0028RBIQS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380924129&sr=8-1&keywords=melissa%20and%20doug%20castle&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

We have this one and DS loves it, gets played with the playmobil knights, the ELC 'bad guys', imaginext dinosaurs, an endless army of Spiderman / Batman / Ironman figures and I hope in years to come DD will play with it too but hopefully featuring a Merida or two!

[Oldraver]

DS is 8 in January and had the Imaginext one last Christmas, family bought him different pieces and he loves playing with it.

It isnt overly big as concertinas open.

[olibeansmummy]

No advice on the imaginext one sorry but just to say do not get the playmobil one! We have the falcon knights one and it falls apart if you so much as look at it :( the details are fab but ds's games are spoiled by it breaking (and he's not a rough child). It's ok if you can superglue it but we can't as we're in the process of emigrating.

[notso]

Sorry to hijack but can I ask if the Imaginext Castle would be suitable for my two youngest who will be 3 the week before Christmas and 20 months? I am torn between that and the Happyland Castle but was thinking the Imaginext might have appeal for longer. I think Ds1 9 would also play with it.

[Stillhopingstillhere]

Ds was 4 when he had his, I suspect at 3 he might not have played with it as much as he does now. However I think the age recommended is 3-8. I think 20 months would be a bit little. There are some small parts and it requires a level of dexterity (nothing like Lego but there are some small pieces!) I would say 3 would be the youngest I'd buy it for.

[WeleaseWodger]

I just bought this one from pintoy on eBay and saw it on letterbox for £60 (retails over a £100). Also picked up the papo knight set on sale at letterbox and another new knight/horse on eBay for a fiver. Still on the lookout for a dragon.

The castle is very sturdy and I figure the boy who it's for can paint it, if he wants to personalise it more in the future.

[DTisMYdoctor]

Thanks again everyone. I was looking at some different castles online with DS and he definitely has a preference for the imaginext one I think. It ticks the size box for me and it's just come back into stock at 39.99 at toysrus so I think I may go for that. Although I do really like the look of some wooden ones I suppose it's not for me! Family will like getting him bits and bobs to go with it, and he has a few papo knights, dragon etc already.

[raisah]

Toys r us Universe of Imagination range has castles & dolls houses etc.

m.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Toys/Action-Figures-and-Playsets/Wooden-Medieval-Castle/0022992;jsessionid=2693CAFCA87125332129C475C76604A5.app121?searchPosition=1

[notso]

Thanks Stillhopingstillhere I don't know what to do now! He definitely likes the Imaginext one, he was looking at in Argos for ages while we waited for our things the other day but I want him to be able to play with it.

[Stillhopingstillhere]

I think the 3 and 9 year olds would enjoy it but it might be a bit much got the little 20 month old - he'd grow into it though?

[notso]

As long as it's not going to be something that DS3 will wreck or eat I think I'll get it! Thanks again

[Stillhopingstillhere]

It's pretty unwreckable! Definitely get the dragon to go with it. The dragon roars and the castle replies 'dragon! Don't be dinner! Stay away from it's mouth!' in a Scottish accent.

[notso]

You've sold it to me Stillhopingstillhere

[Stillhopingstillhere]

I should work for Imaginext!