Similar ideas to polly pockets - 2.5year old boy

[Caspianberg]

I’m looking for something like this for my toddler at Christmas, probably add to stocking.

I basically want a small play set that we can take with us when popping to friends without children , or at a restaurant or on the train. He draws or uses stickers but doesn’t last long.

Have just ordered him the Narwhal pollly pocket which I don’t think is too ‘girly’. But we aren’t that bothered if it is.

Im sure I remember having like the Lion king mini polly pocket type set, and my brother having a marvel thing?

Any ideas would be lovely. Ideally £10-20 bracket, but could go more if it would keep him still on a plane or restaurant 20-30 mins. Needs to be small enough to go in hand luggage handbag or toddler size rucksack

www.joules.com/Home-Garden/Childrens-Toys/Foldaway-Farm?id=FOJ%7C2501%7CAB4489%7CBASE

This is cute

We just took a couple of small cars or small ninja figurines

@Winterfellismyhome - thanks. That’s just way to big though for what we need

@InvincibleInvisibility - we have done this. Problem is with cars he wants to get down and drive them, not sit in seat ie on train.

Metal tin. Packet of magnets. Photocopy backdrop. Stick small figures or cut out photos on magnets…

Take along play mobil or play box playmobil

E.g. Playmobil Dinos 70507 Dinosaur Explorer play box, From 4 years old amzn.eu/d/6PT5DEX

My son has this. applestopears.com/View/20363/farm-in-a-tin

We have this which is cute, and the same company do a zoo and some other types too I think. applestopears.com/View/20363/farm-in-a-tin I’m sure I’ve seen them a little cheaper elsewhere, but still in the £13-15 range.

@5zeds - we have one of these magnet toys. He doesn’t seem interested in it at all.

I think I’d avoid anything with tiny plastic pieces as they will get lost.

Maybe something magnetic?

Ha cross posted!

What does he like playing with?

He honestly doesn’t play with much. Mainly outside play, bike.
Indoors it’s mainly things he can build. So he will play with schleich animals but mainly using wooden blocks to build houses for them, or cars on car track. If he just has the animals or cars alone he doesn’t really do much.

He likes simple where’s Wally animal type books to look and find. We have a bluey one too. But that’s 5-10 mins max entertainment.

We just have lot of things coming up the next 6 months, weddings, trips, journeys, where I could do with something that doesn’t need setting up, and he can just open and fidget with playing a little bit.

we have another magnet thing similar to the above box from @minipie that granny sent, but he finds it a bit too tricky still tbh. And it’s fairly big to take.

We had these for my DS at that age which he enjoyed.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363918024972?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=363918024972&targetid=293946777986&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045188&poi=&campaignid=17116423086&mkgroupid=134652533165&rlsatarget=pla-293946777986&abcId=9300856&merchantid=6995734&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1d9M8eDYHxv1flFQzHNOyw3D&gclid=Cj0KCQjwyOuYBhCGARIsAIdGQRPGKIP-nsUS4qJj07TE5t0mvMqcXgra8meXIhzqxzKfaqGsGKHa2nsaAv2YEALw_wcB

Something like this?

I’m not sure if polly pocket type toys would be suitable for your ds

Hes too young. There are loads of little pieces that can be easily lost or swallowed

What’s wrong with Polly pockets? Why not just get him those instead of hunting for something similar?

I used to bring a few Superzings zipped into a coin purse.

Would he like fuzzy felt

Last suggestion - lift the flap books.

However TBH when mine were that age there wasn’t much that kept them entertained for long periods without adult involvement.

I have known 2.5 yr olds who would sit and do stickers or play with toys for much longer, but they were always very calm, compliant kids and were happy with anything, could nibble quietly on a snack for an hour!

I think it’s down to personality rather than there being a magic toy that will keep him occupied. Sorry!

(Screens with headphones do work though if you have a one off like a wedding ceremony where he needs to be kept quiet).

Thank you all

@Reallyreallyborednow - I said I have ordered him the narwhal polly pocket to try already.
So I have no problem with just buying more of them if he likes, just thought there used to be more options of similar if anyone remembered what they might be

Hes fine with small pieces. He has things like small coins and other tiny things he doesn’t eat. Even nursery has very small beads this morning they give to them to use.

yes lift flap books we already use. They work, but he wants us to read to him usually so not as good when we are trying to eat in restaurants. Good at home or on train/plain though

i have ordered a fuzzy felt from Djeco. Will see what he thinks of that.

those water play books, disaster. Regardless of how tight I screw pen back together he just unscrews and drinks the water…

Disney store sometimes have little players in, I think they are called animator playsets. I'm not sure which films they currently have them for

There used to be mad Max playsets because my brother had one- sadly look to be discontinued! What about busy books- they come with lots of small figures. other Things we take on our travels for D's age 2 that would make a nice stocking filler are: Small Duplo set (the 'my first..' sets are small but have a few things to make), apples to pears gift tins- we have the farm, zoo, ocean and diggers and they have been well loved and played with by all my DC, tube of animals- we have insects, farm and zoo animals, LCD notepad
/Writing tablet- a huge hit for all my DC, binoculars, magnifying glass.

We have a 'tat bag'. It has random little hatchimals/pets/toys from the front of magazines or little gifts we've acquired along the way. If he likes building, maybe a handful of Lego or duplicates blocks.

They're zipped up in a little toiletry bag and my now 6 and 8 year olds can play a range of games with them and have been able to for many years. They often end up with a serviette with a little road/house/bath drawn on it which all the animals go in....

Janod do little wooden figures that come in sets. We have the fire fighters, the pirates, the fairytale ones, knights and a zoo. I've taken a selection of them in a bag before and my kids still love them at 4 & 7.

Also wimmelbuchs are awesome. We have around 6 fairy tale ones plus a few others and they're great for looking for things and discussing. Ours are all in German but I think you can get English versions plus you don't need the text.

Thanks yes we have wimmelbuchs ( also in German speaking country)

I think I’ll do a small mixture in a pencil case too of little things.

we take magformers out also