*Panics* do I need to make up the playmobil?!?

[FreeButtonBee]

3yo twins. They are getting the fire engine and the play house. They do have some patience and other toys coming too. But also have a (crazy) 16mo. And hosting. 😱😱😱😱😱

At 11 sure building it is part of the present? An 11 year old can build their own.

It depends on her interest doesn't it. If she hates the construction element that she will hate that regardless of her age. I'm 38 and the thought of having twist ties to cut on Christmas morning would spoil the mood for me. Never mind a whole bloody toy to spend hours assembling.

I did think building was part of it, but it does cast a shadow skigytlgbuf they're asking and you have to keep telling them to wait. Took me an hour to do the Playmobil camper which was fine but I wasn't hosting then. Think I'll build at least a bit of it, as ds isn't getting any Playmobil for this one so dd will be at a disadvantage.

Oh shit, I didn't know this!

I've got the Ark and the pirate ship. Children are 2 and 4. Do I need to pre build!? And then how will I wrap??

I carefully open the boxes, remove all the contents to hide in my wardrobe then wrap the empty boxes. Then I spend xmas eve putting the bits together. My DDs are definitely not interested in the building part (I can't get them interested in lego either) but I find it quite relaxing to sit with a glass of wine and some xmas tunes and build it all. In saying that we've only had the playground/horse set/pirate stuff before but I have the huge hotel to do this year so we'll see how that goes. I put the pre-built playmobil in the playroom and DDs seem to find it exciting to unwrap the empty boxes then go looking to see where santa has left the toys. They think the elves put it together for them .

I thought part of the point of Playmobil was that the kids build it themselves. I have never ever pre constructed it for them

also it is OK to say to your DC that they will have to wait for you to have time to do it. It doesn't need to be done right away!

Yeah it's fine of course, but more fun if you can just play with it. It really depends on the age of the children surely? Mine are 3 and 5. The five year old could assist but that's about it.

Also Playmobil instructions are generally terrible and not at all intuitive.

I used to love helping children with playmobil. Means other people can lend a hand with cooking and clearing up because you are Busy. Yet it is compatible with sitting down drinking bucks fizz. I say don't pre build!

Sloe - she can build it, but doesn't want to! Just loves playing with it all

1stTimeMama yes! get started. depending on what sets they are they might fir back into the boxes. OR do what I did. build and hide the pieces then wrap the empty box to give to them. Once they unwrap and ask you to open it, take it out of the room and produce magically the built set.

DD went out today with grandma and I did the Playmobil . . So glad as took just under 2 hours to assemble the City Life hospital and make up all of the little pieces/ stick stickers on etc.

All wrapped loosely in Santa paper and bows now, she can just crack on and play with it Xmas morning

It depends very much on the set. Anything with walls will be an twat to build. Start now.

We have the castle plus lots of little extra sets. The castle took us 2 evenings, 2 hours each time (and lots of alcohol). We didn't wrap it, just put a huge sheet over it.

Some bits do come apart (the balcony is not glued on) but it is nothing like Lego. It is designed to stay and play with, not re-build it every time.

Until DD was 5 we took all the little bits away and just let her play with the large items and the people. We got a four-drawer-unit for all the things to stay in so it is not flying around the whole house.

It is a brilliant toy (I am German, I grew up with it and remember lots of play and fun). For holidays we got DD one of the carry-on sets which are big enough to hold some extra things and she could play when away.

Yes! It took DH 2 nights to build the castle plus another on the pirate ship.

I think so. Husband and I have a hospital building night this week...we hope wine will make it more fun 😀

I love assembling playmobil, but then I also love lego. GPs got DS1 the knights' castle (huuuuuge thing) one year and I think it took me about 4 hours, which I wasn't expecting. The thing is too large to play with really and doesn't get enough love.

Christmas Day in this household is mostly Lego-assembly-on-the-table Day. But obviously we don't preassemble lego.

Fire engine and play house done. Not too bad. About 30 mins for play house and a bit longer for fire engine. But definitely better done in advance as the baby Would have destroyed everything!