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Original poster

Is 3 too old for duplo?

53 replies

Onlyhappywhenitrains · 23/10/2012 21:20

I am looking at the duplo hospital for ds (3.5), he'd like a hospital but the Lego one is much much too complicated. The Playmobil one is very expensive and has thousands of tiny pieces.

Is he too old for duplo? We have never had any before. He is not a massive fan of building stuff really, never liked mega bloks but thought he might like the hospital.

OP posts:
ChiefOwl · 23/10/2012 21:23

I think it would be fine now, but it might not last that long. Is it expensive and do you have other dc to pass it onto after?

My ds is 4.5 and loves Lego we have to help him build but he's actually very good.

Sossiges · 23/10/2012 21:26

We have Lego and Duplo and my 3.5 year old prefers the Duplo atm

Original poster
Onlyhappywhenitrains · 23/10/2012 21:27

See, my ds lacks the patience to build anything. I think once it was built he would just play with it as a hospital and not bother rebuilding it again. The Playmobil one is nice but apparently takes five hours to build and is about £140.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 23/10/2012 21:27

Erm call me mean but my 10, 9 and 7 year old still have duplo (loads of it) and still play with it regularly! I'd look out for it 2nd hand though.

Original poster
Onlyhappywhenitrains · 23/10/2012 21:30

When I was teaching I'm pretty sure they were still happy to build with it in year 3 or 4.
I suppose I want a toy hospital and it seems quite a nice one and he can build with it if he chooses too. The Lego one would frustrate us both, I'm wondering if the playmobil would be better value if I can get it second hand.

OP posts:
Sossiges · 23/10/2012 21:31

Mines not really a builder either but she's starting to cobble bricks together, tbh Lego is just too complicated for her. Anyway the whole point of having kids is that you get to play with their toys so choose the one that you prefer Wink

Sossiges · 23/10/2012 21:32

Ah, I see you are thinking along those lines already - and you obviously like the Duplo more, so go for it!

catkind · 23/10/2012 21:32

my 3 yr old has finally started to play with megabloks!
think it depends on the child, sorry.

tutu100 · 23/10/2012 21:33

I think it is perfect for a 3 year old. My ds2 is nearly 4 and loves his duplo. His brother who is 7 now has lego which they both play with, but the 7 year old still loves playing with the duplo train set so I think you would have several years of play with the duplo.

tutu100 · 23/10/2012 21:35

I love playmobil and ds2 has some of that as well, but I do get a bit annoyed with all the little pieces whereas the duplo is a bit easier to keep all together IYSWIM. I'm off to look up the hospital now as I'd love one of those but had only seen the playmobil one and I don't think I could take all those pieces atm!

halloweeneyqueeney · 23/10/2012 21:37

mine lost interest in duplo by then and prefered real lego

RandomMess · 23/10/2012 21:37

I love the duplo as it builds quicker and there are no little annoying bricks to stand on and REALLY hurt your foot on Smile

Meglet · 23/10/2012 21:38

I don't think so. DS got most of his Duplo at age 3.

He's almost 6 and will still happily play with it when it's out. Although these days he's mainly obsessed with Lego.

neolara · 23/10/2012 21:38

No, not too old. My dd played with duplo until she was 6 or 7 even though by that stage we had plenty of lego.

stillsmilingafteralltheseyears · 23/10/2012 21:42

3 is perfect for Duplo, IMO they get rushed onto Lego too soon, some kids get Lego easily but some don't get into it til 7 or older.

Here we have a 9yo and 3yo, the 9yo has Lego and the 3yo has Duplo - but in reality, they both play with both and the Duplo is more popular with both of them because they can just get on and play instead of fannying about looking for teeny tiny pieces.

Original poster
Onlyhappywhenitrains · 23/10/2012 21:43

I mean it says 2-5 so he's actually still towards the lower end of that age group. Sod it, I'll get the duplo I think, unless I can get Playmobil cheaper on eBay. But I think all the little pieces might be too much for him and me!

OP posts:
Wallace · 23/10/2012 21:46

ds was given some duplo as a present when he was 5 - I had already put all ours in the attic.

However he loved it - it was a JCB set and he played with it so much. So did his 12 year old brother!

5madthings · 23/10/2012 21:51

Not too old at all. My boys are 13, 10, 7 and 4. We have loads of lego but we still have two massive baskets of duplo and the 10 and 7 yr olds still.play with it quite a bit to make 'bases' etc. I think duplo.lasts through the ages tbh. Def look out for stuff second hand if you can but worth the money imo.

tutu100 · 23/10/2012 21:57

Can I ask where you are thinking of getting the duplo hospital from, it's just I googled it and it looks great, but I can't find anywhere to buy it from that I recognise IYSWIM.

olibeansmummy · 23/10/2012 21:59

Ds is 3.4 and loves lego but has never liked Duplo. I guess it just depends on the child.

Original poster
Onlyhappywhenitrains · 23/10/2012 22:00

Amazon. :-). It is still about £70 though, so not cheap. Duplo isn't though really I suppose.

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Babyrabbits · 23/10/2012 22:06

Duplo is so loved in this house, 3 year old plays for hours with it! Its fast to build and open ended play.
Legos so fiddly.

izzywizzyisbizzy · 23/10/2012 22:07

DD is coming up to 3 and we have loads as have ds 2 years older.

She has only just started to play with it "properly" although agencies prefer ds playmobil - but I find she has almost "skipped" her age appropriate toys - she always wants what ds has.

I have just picked up loads of cars stuff (mega bloks duplo size) and a princess castle for Christmas - eBay/netmums nearly new are your friend.

I never buy new too pricey

tutu100 · 23/10/2012 22:10

Thanks onlyhappywhenitrains (are you a garbage fan?), it's ds2's birthday at the beginning of december, I'm wondering about asking my dad to get if for him as a joint birthday/christmas present.

MegBusset · 23/10/2012 22:12

My 3 and 5yos still play with Duplo just as often as they do with proper Lego. The only reason I won't buy any more new is a) cost and b) storage as we have a fair amount already. The supermarket was a big hit.