to want to build the toy in advance

[Sassyfrassy]

Bit of a silly one,
It's our youngest daughter's fourth birthday in a couple of days and she will be getting a huge playmobil pirate ship. It looks great in it's box but from reading reviews it apparently takes 1-2 hours to put together.
I think we should build it and put it in a big box and wrap it up so that it's ready to play with straight away.
DH thinks we should leave it in the box so that she will be impressed at seeing the big box and the pictures on the box. He will then build the ship while she watches. (DD is not a patient child)

So, what should we do?

Ship has been built. Took almost exactly 2 hours. Next I'll put together the little cannons and things and put them in the big box. It's a pretty impressive ship, think she'll be very pleased.

Excellent.

Well done.
It is indeed very impressive!

Call me bonkers but the whole point of buying a present, age appropriate, is so the child can build and play with it?

It's not a construction toy though and a four year old (at least not mine) wouldn't be able to build it. It took me two hours and much intent peering at the instructions.

Good move OP. Birthdays are not the time to learn patience!! As someone else said, DH can have his birthday presents 'unspoilt' I'm sure you'll have one happy girl tomorrow.

JTH - going by your logic children would never get a bike until they were at least 12