what toys does your 4 year old DD love to play with? My DD seems a bit bored, but I'm loathed to spend on things she doesn't need...

[Astrophe]

My D is 3.5 and seems to be a bit bored with her toy. I'm not the type of Mum who rushes out buying things every time the DC looks bored, believe me, but she has seemed bored for a few months now!

She already has:
tea set
saucepans
train set
puzzles
some play fruit and veg
a dolly and pram
animals
cars and trucks
lots of books (and she will get lots more for Chrissy)
Duplo
drawing/painting/sticking things
some dress up things

The only thing she seems interested in atm is her duplo, which she and DS play with a lot.

I'm not at all keen on beeping/flashing/talking/plasticy toys, and I don't think she would get any sustained enjoyment from these anyway. We don't have loads to spend. She and DS are getting books, a balance bike and scooter (courtesy of MN competition!) and a coupld of DVDs for Chrissy.

So, any thoughts? Does she even need anything new, or will she eventually learn to play with her existing toys in new ways?

[LIZS]

figures, playsets, vehicles like Playmobil, characters or as an extension of Duplo ?

[Astrophe]

had been thinking of some playmobil, so glad to know your dd likes it...any other thoughts?

[pinkteddy]

At the moment dd (also 4) into Baby Annabel, dressing up clothes, anything arts and crafts and also imaginary play stuff like little people. We have got her a dolls house for Christmas with everything associated. She would love Sylvanian families but it is very expensive - might be worth it if you haven't got anything like that as other family members can add to it. Last Christmas we bought her the ELC cash register with toy money and a shopping trolley, she has played with this all year. It also revitalised the toy fruit and veg she already had as she puts in the shopping trolley and pretends to buy it! Hours of fun even her older cousins enjoy playing it with her! HTH

[Astrophe]

We had decided not to buy a dolls house until we go back to Australia next year (because removals are so expensive), but maybe some sylvanian families would be good. I used to have them when I was a little girl and loved them!

[Astrophe]

b ump

[MrsBadger]

[consults ultimate toy manual ]

playdough? maybe with a pastry set
wooden bricks?
things to climb on?
puppets, perhaps with a theatre?
doctor's set?
has she a playhouse or at least some way to make a den?

she's nearly old enough for real woodwork tools but they need super supervision

[soapbox]

Hama beads
Polly pocket
Arts and crafts stuff

[ELR]

cash register a good idea dd5 had this last year and loves it

[Bodkin]

another vote for Playmobil.

Orchard toys do some good games that you can play with her - things like the shopping list game are really good for this age.

Fuzzy felt

Get some icing sugar, sprinkles, jelly tots, smarties etc and make some fairy cakes for her to decorate ( and then scoff )

[Bodkin]

Here's a link to their site:

www.orchardtoys.com

[Astrophe]

i guess the real problem is that she does love all those crafty things, and she also likes games like snap and memory, but I have a 21 month old as well, so I need at least some toys that she can play with independently, as i can't always supervise painting etc, and ds intetferes with snap!

off to town to look at sylvanian families, playmobil and cash register. thanks

[arfishy]

My 4yo DD has a largish play kitchen with lots of pots and pans and fruit/veg, with extras like a cappuccino maker [ponce alert] and toaster/kettle that we've added over the years and it's a huge hit - it's the only thing that most children that come here play with.

[Anna8888]

Proper grown up Lego - my daughter got lots for her third birthday and is getting a whole lot more for Christmas.

Dolls' clothes and accessories (a mini iron and ironing board, a mini clothes horse, mini chest of drawers, mini hangers and cupboard etc) - my daughter adores all these and they are excellent for fine motor skill development and imaginative play. My daughter loves getting her dolls ready for bed, changing nappies, giving bottles...

[Elibean]

dd (nearly 4) likes Polly Pocket, will spend ages 'making cards' if I give her old unused Xmas cards, or folded coloured paper, a few stickers, and some felt pens. She also still loves dens/playhouses of any description and enjoys one made of old sheet over furniture as much as anything.

Also - but keep away from 21 month old - ransacked second hand shops for v cheap jewellry, hair ornaments, evening bags etc. She spends hours dressing herself and her cuddly toys up with them

[francagoestohollywood]

dd is 3.5 and is showing more interest in "smaller" things like playmobils. They do a take along doll's house for 24.99.
she also likes making necklace with wooden beads. and puzzles.

[Astrophe]

can't be anything too big as we are moving to australia in 6 months, nohing to small because of ds! impossible challenge!

[francagoestohollywood]

take along dolls house. I paid 24.99 on the high street!!!

[francagoestohollywood]

it's not big, we are moving too in 3 weeks time

[francagoestohollywood]

yes, playmobil isn't the safest thing to have around with an inquisitive toddler around. the thing is that when they get to 3sh, they really are more interested in smaller stuff like beading etc... luckily dd is my youngest

[Astrophe]

franca, she would adore that

[francagoestohollywood]

One thing's for sure, I would adore that .

They do "rediscover" toys they haven't played with for a while (imo). ds (5) also likes to play with the dools, teaset and playfood, they often play "restaurant"

[francagoestohollywood]

dolls

[Fennel]

Mine plays with everything here (except beads, none of my dds have liked beads).

She particularly likes jigsaws at the moment, last month it was Duplo. She does play with the dolls house but she's the only one of my 3 dds who has done so.

We had playmobil with inquisitive babies and toddlers, but none of mine were particularly oral children - they didn't put things into their mouths all the time.

[GrumpyOldHorsewoman]

DD2 is heavily into drawing and writing. She has a toy vet set (from M&S, I think) that was about £10 and packs away neatly into a little carry box. She loved that.
For christmas this year (I never go mad on her presents) she wants a cool bake oven which I will get her. She would love a toy kitchen, but we don't have room so an oven will have to suffice. I have also got her a Lola soft doll with day clothes/pyjamas you can change. she will ike that, too.