Would you buy a dollhouse for a 10 year old?

My DS is 10 just after Christmas and he's asked for a dolls house - I've picked up the exact one he wants second hand and it's in the attic ready to be brought down on Christmas Eve. I'm almost as excited as he is!

Those Cutebee houses are miniature kits that need assembling. They are clearly marked age 14+. They come with tiny pieces that need assembling with tweezers and glue. They are not for playing with, they are models to be admired. They are totally gorgeous but not suitable for a 10 year old to play with.

This sounds good. Potentially an older child could have creative fun like this.

DD had a traditional style wooden dolls house from a very young age, just turned two I think. Mainly because MIL had always wanted one and then had only sobs herself so she was desperate for a granddaughter. She couldn't wait to provide the dolls house with furniture and a little family. Bless.

DD did play with it, but mostly she took stuff out of the house itself to set up her own scenes and use with other toys. Over time the Playmobil, Polly Pockets, Lego and dolls house things got fairly intermingled.

TBH by the time she was 10 she had more or less lost interest, but maybe that was because she had it so young.

She us an adult now and about a year ago we gave the house, furniture and all the people to a local charity shop!

Absolutely I would.

I had one at that age and used it for decorating it, making clothes for the dolls and creating the furniture. It was a creative and lovely experience.
I went on to be a designer as a grown up.

Anyway, it's irrelevant what her motives are, if she fancies playing with a dolls house it's no big deal.

My dd asked for a dolls house when she was nine and I felt the same way. Like she was too old but on the other hand I didn't know what I thought she should be spending her time doing instead.

I got it and she played with it for ages.

My son's were given a load of boys toys - power rangers, cars etc by a friend at 9 yrs old....every time her son came over (most days!) he basically played with his toys which had been given away to his best friends (My oldest) wee brother, made me sad really

Let her be a kid as long as she wants, buy the dolls house! In 70/80s it was totally normal for 12/13 yr old to still be playing with toys, bit sad that modern life makes them grow up so quickly.

Love it! That’s so funny!

My friend bought one, allegedly for her GD's. She's always buying new bits, and making stuff for it. If I were to see an old fashioned one I'd be tempted to get it.

My DD asked for a specific sylvanian family set for her 12th birthday (in Yr7) she did play with it along with other 'childish' things but Kept them hidden when friends came over. In yr7&8 it seemed she was straddling childhood and teenager but it didnt cause any problems, I know from chatting to another parent that one of her friends still played with her baby dolls but also hid them when friends were round. I thinknits probably quite common.

Adults have them. Who cares what anyone thinks.

Urgh, what a grim way of thinking.

I'm 45 and have a doll house. 10 is fine.

Yes definitely! I'd also let her pick out wallpaper etc to customise the rooms!

We have a lot of adult collectors of Sylvanian families, one of my colleagues I think must spend all her wages on it. Your DD probably has it in mind to wire it up with the lovely lights and furnish it. Her own design will be much nicer than the SF houses you can buy.

Yes I would. I'm 37 years older than her and would get one if I had the space!

Of course

Its easy to evolve to a more mature pastime. A creative child may move on to decorating it, interior designing the rooms, making little furniture or items for it etc. My sister still played with hers well past this age.

I'd be thrilled if my child wanted something like this rather than screens/phones/ adult & teen things they are barely old enough for.

Maybe not quite the same but my DM has a beautiful adult collectors type of dolls house. She’s spent ££££ on it over the years so my DD (also 10) has never been allowed to touch it- until today when we visited and DM said she was old now to play with it. Honestly, my DD disappeared and played with it for hours!! I think if your DD is still into creative play then there’s no reason not to get her a dolls house.

I work in a toy shop and get this a lot with slightly older children. It's like they realise they are starting to get older and want to have a last spell of enjoying younger toys before they are too grown up. Let her have the dolls house she wants, what harm will it do?

We also get a lot of adult collectors of certain toys. Again it doesn't do anyone any harm so why not?

I think that it really depends on the dollhouse. Barbie or Sylvanian families yes. But if it's Peppa pig or Gabby's Dollhouse then no.

Absolutely buy it! I was so sad when my daughter ceased playing with dolls. It felt like her childhood was over. I’d do anything to have those days back.

My daughter wanted Schleich at age 11. I thought she was too old to start liking a new toy but I bought a load second hand and she had a few new sets. She kept it in the spare room (my reason to her was there was more space but I was worried friends who came over would be unkind about her playing with toys). She has had a lovely few years enjoying them in her own space, sometimes I joined her and just let her talk me through what she was doing, other times she wanted time alone. She has just sold it all for more than I paid for it so is over the moon to now have some money to buy something new. Let her enjoy what she wants, they all mature at different stages. Playing with this was a real calming thing for my DD.

Yes definitely if that's what they wanted 😊

Yes I would in fact I'd buy one for me if I could .

Crzy that's great.