Playmobil- assemble or leave for child to do?

[RaindropsAndSnowdrops]

It's the Wildlife Adventure Tree House. Some reviews say it takes hours and others 20 mins!

Depends on the child - ds building the stuff, although he needed help with some bits. But his Playmo building skills got much better as he got older.

I'm still tormented by the memory of the fucking firestation from the burning infernoes from Hell.

This made me laugh. Karma will undoubtedly bite me in the backside when I try to assemble this thing tomorrow.

I'm still tormented by the memory of the fucking firestation from the burning infernoes from Hell.

Arse. We have this to come. And the fire engine.

My DCs are getting the space station and Mars research vehicle as a joint present this year. I'm really looking forward to building it Xmas eve as I love building flat packs and Lego... I'm usually pretty fast at it. Hopefully I'm not in for a rude awakening! (It's the first big set we've had new)
We open stockings upstairs, and tree presents after breakfast, so hoping they will play with the ready-set up playmobil whilst DH and I lazily put together breakfast and get the turkey in.
Last year DD2 got a boxed Sylvanian lighthouse, which was pretty quick to put together. It didn't stop the impatient nagging though, and I'm not making that mistake again!

@NeverDropYourMoonCup ohhhh. I really feel for little you

@mayfayner yes it was!! It was absolutely ridiculous

NeverDropYourMoonCup

I feel sorry for your little self. Parents clearly missed the point of Lego.

But my limited experience of Playmobile it's not fun to assemble.

My 4 year old asked for Playmobil Pirate sets from Santa last Christmas. I built everything in advance and he was actually quite disappointed that they had been opened and assembled. He told me he would have preferred us to build it together! This year Santa’s elves will not be making the same mistake. I’ve built plenty of playmobil sets over the years, so hopefully it won’t take up too much of Christmas morning Really depends if your child enjoys the building part, or just likes to play.

The firestation! I'd forgotten about that. As you sigh with relief and try to massage some feeling back into your finger tips after its assembled, you remember the stickers still have to go on.

The child builds it. It keeps them occupied while you cook Christmas lunch! Unless you are buying it 'early' for a two or three year old. I've only ever helped with Playmobil or Lego once DS was about 4.

We build the main thing but leave some of the accessorising of the people and other accoutrements for the child on the day.

The Knights Castle is enormous and of particular difficulty. DH and I were neat hysterical trying the get the fecking ramparts to stick together.

I've only ever helped with Playmobil or Lego once DS was about 4

I think your memory might be playing tricks ManiacallLapwing

Or your dc were quite exceptional to be able to build the large Playmobil structures aged 5 ..... Lego, of course - that's the point of it. But playmobil isnt a construction toy.

I built the school in advance, it took me about 4 hours and was pretty tricky (my first experience with it). There was no way DD, who was about 6 or 7 at the time could have made it herself. Also depends how much space you have, we have a small house, trying to do it on Christmas Day with extra presents, guests, stuff everywhere would have been a disaster. Would be much easier if you had masses of floor space.

I think your memory might be playing tricks ManiacallLapwing No, I have photos of him proudly showing what he's built. I gave up on Playmobil fairly early and just bought Lego because he hardly played with it once he had built it. It was all about the construction for him.

Being technical here (we have a LOT of playmobil)... if it's one of the older style designs where you have to pop a bajillion red and yellow connectors into holes and it takes hours - prebuild. Otherwise on Christmas day you'll end up with sore hands, and a child constantly asking if it's ready yet. The hospital took me about 3 hours the other year.

If it's a newer design they're quite quick to build - I did their new mega school in about 20 minutes relatively recently.

Or if it's got lots of little bits what I've done before is open it and part assemble the sub-bits and then re-box it back up so that it's quicker to do on Xmas day.

I've left the ferris wheel and waltzer ride un-assembled but I'll probably prebuild the modern mansion and ski lodge the kids are getting for Christmas as I know they're going to be a faff to do.

Like I say - my kids are bonkers for the stuff.

I’m still haunted by the playmobil dolls’ house we gave dd for her 3rd birthday. It took about 3 years to build. I’ve got quicker since as it has been broken apart several times...most notably when the removal men dropped it down the stairs (you can imagine how horrified they were!).

Playmobil isn’t about the building, unlike lego, so I’d definitely make it in advance.