Playmobil - yes or no?

[IsabellaofFrance]

So DD wants the Playmobil Princess Castle for Christmas. Its ££££ (in our house you only get one big gift so its not an issue) so I want to make sure I am getting my moneys worth. Neither of my DS's have been into playmobil so I am not sure.

[thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter]

Hi that's pretty expensive for a first piece, how about getting her this and a few of the furniture sets to go with it and see if she likes it enough to get her the bigger castle for next year or next birthday?

My DS like their Playmobil, but it's all or nothing, they'll play with it obsessively for a few days then nothing for a few weeks.

In regards to money's worth Playmobil imo are the good value, robust and there's lots of scope for imaginative play.

Also do check Prices as they go up and down especially on amazon, and they have deals on the Playmobil official store (end of line, boxes abit battered)

Hope that's helpful

[sanfairyanne]

its often £60 if you keep an eye out

maybe try the smaller carry along type ones first?

[seaofloom]

My 7 yo DD has that castle.

It takes up a lot of floor space. You can't really dismantle it as it takes so long to build (seriously about 2 hours!) so you need to have it up all the time.

It's quite fragile and falls apart easily, and it's difficult to rebuild.

The accessories are very small and fiddly.

The extra sets you need to buy if you want to furnish it means it's v expensive.

So I would only recommend from about age 5/6 + and if you have plenty of space to keep it.

That said it has a lot of play value if your DD is into that sort of thing.

[NormHonal]

How about one of the smaller Playmobil castles, the unicorn ones, instead? Still plenty big enough but much less expensive?

[MrsTaraPlumbing]

If you can afford it then playmobile can be excellent.
We've had quite a bit of it in my house but not that item.
I would agree with the comments - needs an adult to help build, is fiddly, little bits will keep falling off and getting lost and only buy it is you have the space to keep it up all the time.
If you keep the box, instructions and don't lose too many little bits it does retain it's value well for resale.
I would say playmobile is good for children age 5-8 or 9.

[IsabellaofFrance]

DD is 6, so I do think she is the right age, and we have the space.

She can be a bit clumsy though, maybe one of the smaller castle sets might be better?

[PookBob]

I am put off that castle as it is not furnished, and the furniture for each room is sold separately making it an expensive gift.

I would definitely go for one of the smaller houses and castles, or the shopping mall or hotel that are furnished.

I have a house full of playmobil, it's fantastic for imaginative play.

[sewingandcakes]

I like Playmobil, it's well made, but bear in mind that it's designed so that pieces come off rather than break off; so if you're not the person building it for the first time, you won't know how to put it back together again!

[MyMummyRuns]

I like the playmobil figures, but hate the actual buildings, none of them stay together and I get sick of the constant re-building! Personally, I'd look at other castles that come in one piece and then get the playmobil figures/accessory packs to go with it.

[LadybirdsAreFab]

Advent Calendar

Secret Play Box

My DD (5) has the advent calendar, it is still up from last Christmas and she loves it.

She also has the Secret Play Box which get a lot of use.

She would love the Castle but already has the Grand Mansion. The Mansion gets a lot of use but the furnishing of it cost a lot on top of buying it.

Nothing has broken yet, in fact the stuff my brother and I had as children 30+ years ago is still in good condition.

[MrsTaraPlumbing]

6 is a good age.
Part of the pleasure is the building of it and definitely your daughter should be involved in building it.
If she wouldn't have the patients for building (like lego) then MyMummyRuns suggestion is good.
So depends a lot on your DD.

[Barbeasty]

We got it for DD last Christmas (she was 3.5) and she loves it.

It took me far more than 2 hours to put together, and was a pain to wrap up, but it's really good.

DS got her one of the rooms (he was too young to actually choose/ buy anything) and other family members got her room sets, so she had about 1/3 to 1/2 furnished. Then more for her birthday.

It's a lovely set. Although I was glad to get it on offer.

[wellies]

I highly rate playmobil.
My dd is 13 and obviously wouldn't play with her playmobil with her friends anymore but still arranges into little displays when she wants some down time. There's currently a show of some kind going on at the school

[tobiasfunke]

I would agree about the falling apart bit. DS has a big playmobil castle- it is sort of dismantled now and he plays with sections rather than the whole thing together as it comes apart so easily. There are bits of abandoned castle everywhere. I would've bought more playmobil because he loves the figures but I do think they need to redesign how they get put together.
I would go for one of the smaller ones- less sections to fall off.

[BigBadWolefPlum]

Mmm I personally don't really rate playmobil.... I think the sets are too tiny fiddly and fall down all the time! I think the advent calendars are OK but that there are better ones out there.

Personally I prefer the different sets (peppy pig world, Ben and holly world, Sophia the first castle, mix and match dresses, shopkins etcetc) but each to their own :)

[BigBadWolefPlum]

Wtf is peppy pig ... Peppa

[vikjul]

My kids (almost 9yo boy and almost 6yo girl) love Playmobil, but the larger buildings don't get used anywhere near as much as all the small bits combined in various unexpected ways. Normally they build castles/prisons/zoos or whatever with Magnatiles instead of the Playmobil buildings they have. I would suggest getting a smaller structure (if any at all) and add plenty of furniture/accessory sets instead. A smaller building has the benefit that she can move it around to be combined with different things for different scenarios which is what my children and their friends always seem to do.

Actually, another possible smaller/cheaper castle (that my daughter has) is the Djeco "Castle of Wonders" (eg here www.gentlyelephant.co.uk/djeco-castle-of-wonders-3d.html) that is very pretty, quite small, sturdy (thick shiny cardboard), can be moved around no problem and fits the Playmobil scale perfectly. This could be combined with loads of accessories/figures (that's what my daughter got for Christmas last year :-), much played with still!).

[vikjul]

Cheaper here: www.lepetittoyshop.co.uk/castle-of-wonders-3d-pop-to-play-by-djeco/