please tell me about sylvanian families

[aladdinsane]

Having thought them twee and expensive I can see DD would love them
I am thinking the car and caravan set and narrow boat look good
Does anyone know if the caravan that comes with the car is the same as the caravan sold alone?
Any recommendations gratefully received- also looking for bargains (hopefully)

They are lovely really detailed and easy to play with. DD has Larchwood Lodge, it wss on offer last Christmas but still very expensive as the animals and furniture sets all have to be bought separately. It was worth it as it is played with almost everyday.

They are twee. They are ludicrously expensive.
They seem to be adored by little girls, and (as fads go) do last for ages
Mine seemed to collect them for years.

The narrow boat (version from back then) wasn't worth the money. I think it appeals to the adult eye, but didn't really offer my girls the play options of the 'houses'.
Thats just my spin though.

Have had a quick look at what's on offer these days, and the campervan does look quite different to the car/caravan package

At the time DD wanted them, Sylvanians were way out of my price bracket.
Despite my protests, my mum sent her the narrow boat with a family for her birthday one year "...it's self contained so it will be fine, she won't need/want more..." and the addiction was triggered.

We still have the mansion in bags in the shed "for my future DCs", despite having more than one generous offer to buy it. DD is now mid twenties and pregnant so I'm watching and waiting!

My DD (6) absolutely adores them. She has the windmill, canal/barge boat, wedding chapel, car, ice cream can etc and she plays with them constantly, builds towns (for want of a better wird) and everything interacts. They are twee but gorgeous.

I got my dd then last year when she was 7. I got them in the sainsburys sale in oct which had a few items in the range reduced. I have to say neither dd1 or dd2 (age 5) are interested and they've been under the bed ever since! I think for my dds anyway, its because they are not dolls. Mine always loved polly pocket and have now moved onto lego friends which is fab!

My DD is 12 and although no longer plays with her sylvanians refuses to let any of them go.

We started one Xmas buying a second hand school and house which came with 10 animals and lots of furniture and accessories. I boxed it up in cardboard boxes from Ikea with kids covered with some pretty paper. I paid £40 for over £150 worth of kit. Yes it didnt come in the actual boxes and was not new but it was not tatty. At £15 to £20 a family and the same for a room of furniture it adds up buying new.

This was just the start and every birthday and xmas for about 5 years DD had another building or some bits and bobs - mostly new bought when on offer - IE: bought in July for Xmas. I used Hot UK Deals and MSE Forums to find deals and offers. Also watch Amazon.

DD is 6 and has the windmill, caravan and car (good set- DDs first one) ice cream van, couple of houses, the barge and way too many a lot of families. She started getting them 2 years ago and still plays with them.

I confess I'm massively envious of her because I loved them too when I was little and had hardly any. Ive shamelessly relived my love for them through DD though so havent totally missed out

As I said though while the car and caravan is a good set dont bother with the barge! It's so fiddly and annoying! also this stuff can break easily so if you have any DCs in the house or those that come to visit who are chuckers or stompers put this stuff where they cant get it! DD's stuff is in her room and away from her 2 year old brother. It's more or less the only stuff she has I dont expect her to share with him.

I love them. My dds have collected loads over the years - a couple of houses, school, hospital, bus and lots of families. We've also go the camper van which is lovely, you might want to consider it rather than the caravan.

They do get played with but nowhere near as much as flaming Polly Pocket.

jamtoast mine are the same. Def dolls over animals. Shame as I haven't got an excuse to buy any more!

I still have mine from when I was a child so they have lasted 20 plus years pretty good going! My 2 are too young for them yet I can't wait to play with them again!

playmobil is way better, sylvanians are overpriced and poorly made imo

Lego friends is great too.

DD started collecting at age 4. She has mountains of the stuff and still plays with it at age 11. Its everywhere!

My dd got the camper van last Christmas,and she loves it , so this year we are getting her the car and caravan and other bits . She also got the hotel last Christmas and she plays with it all the time, well worth the money.

Argos has the campervan & trailer in clearance at the moment for £21.99, a bargain if you can find it in stock near where you are!

Sylvanian Families Campervan and Trailer Playset.
www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9082122.htm?cmpid=APPSOCIAL01

Tesco Direct have quite a bit of Sylvanian Families bits in their clearance sale at the moment! :)

See my DD1 has the campervan. She has so little interest in. The toddler zooms it around and takes all the clothes off the freaky rodent animals and I am forever tidying it away despite the fact it is rarely played with properly. Hope no more is bought by MIL who loves the stuff.

I have some in the corner of my living room. Applewood cottage the mansion another house a car and tons of bits. Dd hasn't played with it in ages.

Would it e worth anything on ebay? Or should I put it in the shed?

Thank you Mipe - just managed to reserve the campervan at Argos!

Picked the campervan up at Argos this afternoon and it looks great. DD is going to love it. Thank you so much, Mipe.

My dd got the farmhouse, some furniture and a couple of families for her birthday last year. She has just turned 7 this week and has asked for a few more bits and pieces. I wouldn't say that she plays with it all the time but does get good use from it (and ds has been known to play with it a bit too!)