SHOPKINS?! What do I need to know before I buy??

[QuirkyKate]

Pre-schooler would like some - seemingly she hasn’t got enough plastic crap

Before I buy any neon coloured plastic choke-sized bits that can easily get lost and distress her, what do I need to know please?!

What is important in order for this ‘game’ to be played or is it purely imagination-driven?

Preschooler- doesn't matter. Juts buy a few and she'll be delighted. Too young to be into 'sets' so juts buy them and that'll be enough for now!

I bought a ton of Shopkins stuff from eBay pre owned for cheap, for my five year old step-daughter. 100 pieces for £8-ish. Check that stuff out first.

Like another poster has said, there is nothing to 'get', kids like them and play with them as they see fit. They're pretty much the same as Trash packs but are aimed at girls. I think they've literally jumped on the Moshi Monster bandwagon!

Oh accendo my kids literally have some from three years ago! Mine play with theirs quite often

Ok, the mini pack sets - where for example the little Shopkin is in a yoghurt pot, once you’ve opened the packs they’ve come in is that chucked away or can the plastic tat be repeatedly put in and out of them?

Me step daughter uses a catapult to fire the little shopkins figurines at her dad's head. She's brilliant.

B&m bargains sell huge packs of shopkins really cheap. They sell the playsets too.

My DD went crazy for them (thanks to YouTube). Bought her a few sets and whenever I attempted to tidy the playroom, ended up stepping on the little bits. She 'played' with them for a couple of weeks before wanting the next thing. I threw them into the bin as I 'tidied' and she forgot all about them. Now her younger sister is asking for them!

The LOL dolls are another pile of shite. My daugher opens them pretending to be the creepy YouTube adult. The biggest thrill for her is opening each little bag (painstakingly slowly) and holding up the tat and 'exclaiming' how 'awesome' it is. She then walks around showing each of us (individually) each little piece. Two days later, I find them on the floor.

They are expensive too. If you can avoid 'collectibles' do so!!!

Shopkins opened and discarded in our house. However LOL dolls have been played with daily for 18 months now sadly. I really really hate the things, obscene waste of plastic packaging, hugely over priced, babies in stockings, knee high boots, hoop earring etc. Vile things. But so loved here and really the only toy played with. We've now banned YouTube watching to avoid asking for ridiculously expensive new products they will definitely bring out for Christmas.