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Christmas

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Original poster

Barbie, playmobil or sylvanians?

67 replies

Fredthefish · 01/10/2021 06:23

I’ve got a 4 year old girl (loves pink, sparkle and dollies if relevant!)
Which of these would you go with for Christmas? Or any other suggestions? I plan to coordinate with grandparents etc so need to make a decision soon.
Thank you!

OP posts:
cliffdiver · 01/10/2021 06:27

Show her pictures / adverts and subtly ask which she prefers.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 01/10/2021 06:35

I would go barbie if she likes sparkle, pink and dolls.

hiptobeasquare · 01/10/2021 06:48

I have a nearly four year old who likes the same type of things, I have gone for a mixture of that’s an option.

Though, this is the cutest thing we have bought so far…
www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/fashion-and-dolls/sylvanian-families/sylvanian-families-vehicles/sylvanian-families-royal-carriage-set/p/196624

Indecisivelurcher · 01/10/2021 06:53

You haven't said her age, but personally I think playmobil because I think it's got a lot more options and longevity because of it. It's not particularly pink and sparkly though (imo a good thing). Dd likes the maternity set, horses and has asked for a playground, ds likes the dinosaurs and the chickens and has asked for fishing.

Indecisivelurcher · 01/10/2021 06:54

Oh wait, your first line clearly says 4 year old... Reaching for coffee... Mine are 6 and 4.

Mybalconyiscracking · 01/10/2021 06:58

Start investing in Sylvanians but I wouldn’t give them to a four year old unsupervised. Nice toy to play with together until she’s older.
In the meantime one very shiny brand new boxed Barbi and a couple of charity shop ones.

BiscuitLover09876 · 01/10/2021 06:59

Playmobil to help her get over the pink and sparkley? Might like it for longer too.

ililililil · 01/10/2021 07:04

Sylvanian clothes and manoeuvring (getting to sit and stand etc) are too tricky for my 4yo DD and cause lots of frustration. I think they would be better from 5/6.

I personally dislike Barbie and am trying to keep out of the house as long as possible if not forever...

I would go for play mobile :)

Mumdiva99 · 01/10/2021 07:07

@BiscuitLover09876

Playmobil to help her get over the pink and sparkley? Might like it for longer too.
Why does she need to get over pink and sparkly? My 11 year old loved all 3 of those....still loves her barbies.

As someone else suggested try asking her. Otherwise I would go Playmobile....there are so many different sets my daughter loved the princess ones most. - but we have loads - school, zoo, fairies....etc etc

lovablequalities · 01/10/2021 07:07

Playmobil has loads more options and is much more flexible to play with. Also you can get cheap sets and expensive ones so it's a useful gift idea.

delilabell · 01/10/2021 07:10

My 5 year old loves all three but I'd go for sylvanians or barbie as I HATE putting together playmobilGrin

Beamur · 01/10/2021 07:10

Playmobil. You can get such a huge variety of kits and themes. It's quite robust too.
I'd agree she's a little young for Sylvanians but my DD absolutely loved hers.
Not really familiar with Barbie.

Calendulaaaaa · 01/10/2021 07:11

I would go for Lottie dolls or Our generation over barbies. But all good choices otherwise.

Inks42 · 01/10/2021 07:14

What does she like to play with?
When she has been at a friends house, what toys does she talk about that they had and she doesn't?
What does she prefer to play with at nursery/reception?
Does she prefer smaller toys to act out role play, or does she reach for bigger toys?
Observation usually reveals preferences.

DeathMetalMum · 01/10/2021 07:16

I'd probably go with playmobil just. My dc have had both barbies and playmobil and the playmobil has had far more use. But we didn't have loads of barbie accessories, just dolls and a car. They are 10 & 8 and playmobil still gets played most weekends.

Good age to introduce some lego. Mine spend hours playing and have had it since your dd's age.

Dearreader · 01/10/2021 07:18

As much as I absolutely adore everything to do with Sylvanians they are so hard to play with. They don’t bend properly to sit in chairs etc and fall over when you stand them up. Playmobil is absolutely easy to play with. They stand, they sit, their little hands hold the things that are designed to be held.

Beamur · 01/10/2021 07:19

Lottie dolls are a good call if she likes dolls. They're very sweet

bangonthedoorgroovychick · 01/10/2021 07:23

My 4 year old LOVES playmobil and barbies. Playmobil is fab with all the sets, I played with it myself as a child for hours and hours.

If you order through their actual website you get a good % discount just for signing up to the newsletter as well by the way, and they do lovely playmobil gift bags to match.

gg96cgp · 01/10/2021 07:26

My 5 year old loves all 3 so I don't think you can go wrong with any of them!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/10/2021 07:30

My 8yo still plays with barbies. 10yo stopped a year ago. They both still make clothes for barbies though
Playmobil... they preferred lego.
Slyvanians freak me out slightly, so have none.

Lego Friends could be another option. Start with the sets marked 4+, used to be called Juniors (they are proper lego, not duplo).

Vallmo47 · 01/10/2021 07:34

My 9 year old still adores playmobil so that’s my choice. :) I love it for all of the reasons mentioned above. The only thing is once you spend forever putting something together, it doesn’t take them long to break it all apart and then …. You just gotta hope you got the instructions still. :) I’ve told my daughter it doesn’t have to be perfectly right and proper though. She plays with it however it comes now.

Fallagain · 01/10/2021 08:20

My 5 year old has been playing with slyvanians for a few years and her 2 year old sister joins in. Playmobil and slyvanians are the same size so they can be played with together.

Fallagain · 01/10/2021 08:21

Aldi wooden doll house and accessories will be out soon if it’s not already.

Peggytheredhen · 01/10/2021 08:28

Does she like the look of any of them?

I spent loads of money on stuff like this for my DD but she wasn't a child with much patience for small toys with bits. Her favourite toys at 4 were the pushchair, a doctor's set, her play kitchen and the play food. She ignored the rest. She liked baby dolls but wasn't really interested in Barbie type ones til about 8/9.

She had a sylvannian families shop but it was very fiddly and mostly ignored until about age 8/9.

However, out of the three I would vote for Playmobil.

Fredthefrog · 01/10/2021 09:51

Thank you for this thread. This is exactly the question I had for my daughter! I know she loves small world stuff as her happyland is well played with and the dolls house at nursey but not sure what the next stage looks like