5 year old DD has stopped playing with toys

[Aintitfunlivingintherealworld]

I’m struggling with what to get her for Christmas, she likes making/doing/crafting. Does anyone have any suggestions?
She has so many lovely toys, Barbie’s, babies, sylvanian families and Playmobil she just doesn’t seem to play anymore or if she does it’s usually for a short period of
time and loses interest quite quickly. She used to play for hours on end with small
world toys. 5 seems so young to stop playing with toys.

what is she doing instead?

do you play with her? At her age she really does need a play partner that will get immersed with her.

Lego?

My 5 year old is in a very crafty phase, and doesn't play with her toys as much anymore. She will sometimes include them in her crafts though, like making a necklace for her doll. One of my most memorable Christmas presents as a child was a desk and lots of arts and crafts materials, I absolutely loved it - could that work for DD?

Do you play with the toys with her or does she have a sibling or friend to play with? After a while, even the most wonderful toys aren’t much fun alone.

My daughter is similar in that her absolute favourite thing to do it craft and arty stuff. Just an idea for Christmas… for her 5th birthday I got an Ikea trolley and filled it with art supplies. Paper, coloured card, all sorts of pens, glitter, glue, paints, new brushes, odd bits etc etc essentially just everything that she needs and Infact mostly just little bits but making into a “craft trolley” was really exciting and turned it into a “big” gift. It’s still her most used item in the house a year later. And doubles as storage for all her bits so it’s a win win.

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/raskog-trolley-pink-70629714/#content

www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/sunnersta-container-beige-10606065/

Can you show her how to make things for her toys? The kind of toys you mention got a new lease for us when my DD7 found out she could make and decorate cardboard box houses and beds for the Sylvanians, felt clothes for the barbies etc.

Magnatiles would be my biggest suggestion if you don’t have any! So versatile. Also Lego and board games, different type of playing

She’ll dip in and out of the toys over the coming years, I’d say. They go through phases.

Lego is a great suggestion if she’s into that. Otherwise kits for making things. We got our daughter a little fairy garden kit that she planted some things in one year. Basic jewellery making/beading kits were a hit for a while too.

Lego?
Actually my neice loved to play with random stuff rather than actual toys at that age.
I remember going into my parents she'd made a spiders Web with a ball of wool, round the entire living room. It was round table legs, door handles, im sure Granddads big toe was involved...

Then became a complete book worm when she learned to read.

If she is going off toys for crafts, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

If she is going off them for screens, then it isn't a good thing in my eyes.

The age though is tricky - I do think that siblings help keep play going for longer. A 5 year old with a 3 year old sibling will keep playing longer because the younger child wants to. Also it does depend on friends/family. Kids want to play with other people (mostly, some like me when I was younger would play for days on their own happily). Are her friends coming round to play? and playing toys?

Also are you playing with her? Children are also very influenced by parents. If every time she says "mummy play with me" you aren't that enthusiastic, but instead show much more interest in making and doing things with her, then she will slowly shift towards the area that is giving he the social interaction she wants.

Teach her to knit? I was 5 when I learned.

DD is 8 and still playing with toys. I'd say it's partly down to having a younger sibling, though many of her friends with siblings steered away from toys early because they felt the need to be seen as more mature, so that's only part of it. Play dates can sometimes hinder use of toys as there's a peer pressure not to be seen as babyish. I think it's also down to personality as she is really imaginative and some dcs like toys with more of a set of instructions and routine, like doing puzzles or board games.

DH and I have always been hands on with playing with the dcs and watching the little shows they put on. It's something we spend time doing together, not something the dcs do to keep busy while adults get on with doing other things, and our playroom is part of the kitchen so it's a space where they still have adult interaction and or separated from them.
We have a big range of other toys beyond small world - board games, role play, construction, science kits and crafts. We get most toys from Vinted so it's affordable to have a big choice at home.

Maybe she would like more building/making toys or physical toys (e.g. for the garden or a mini gym mat for the house)..the toys you've listed are all 'small world/roleplay' themed?

Ooh or a pop up play house/tent type thing?

Exactly what I was going to say! My babysitter taught me to knit at the same age. It's such a fascinating hobby, and the ability to follow the patterns has been linked to computer coding

They go through phases. DD has a Sylvanian town set up across her bedroom floor and she didn't play with it for ages, really annoying. What else does she like doing? Loads of different craft kits you can get.

My girls have started crochet and they have really enjoyed it. We have watched the you tube videos of how to get started.

edited to say there are little starter kits on Amazon

My 5YO is the same. Recent hits have been lego (he’s just started to get into the bigger sets that take a while to build), air dry clay, scratch art and junior monopoly.

My DD was exactly like this. Was absolutely mad for toys and then it felt like overnight stopped playing. She absolutely loved crafts and it's all she wanted to do for a almost a full year. There are loads of lovely craft sets out there and some presents my DD loved were a materials/sewing box from the range filled with novelty rubbers, new pencil sharpener, stickers, new pencils etc. The girls round here go mad for lugami pens.

DD started to play more role play games so loved dress up and now will play with cuddly toys as pets etc. It does come back but play takes a new direction as they grow. Crafting is great for developing new skills and it is really fun so let her go mad for it imo! If you want to encourage play you could try washimals or something? Don't stress about it though.

OP do you have other kids?

I found kids who have siblings close in age tend to pretend play more than ones who dont.
I wouldnt stress if shes into craft though. Nothing wrong with that.
Maybe shes just at a stage where she wants to play with a different type of toy. Not all girls like 'girly' toys. I liked dinosaurs and space when I was a kid.

They toys you mention all seem quite passive. If she likes making and doing perhaps look more at making and doing toys. Some good suggestions above - Lego and Magnatiles. You could also try a marble run, Junior Meccano, Kid K'nex, Brio trains.

She has a brother 18 months younger. They do play together sometimes but their styles of play are very different.
Love the idea of a the craft trolley and Lego sets.
Does anyone have any recommendation of good craft kits I can pick up for Christmas?

they are allowed to watch tv but don’t have a tablet/ipad. I’ve never limited TV time because they’re just not that bothered by it.

My son has always been like this, he is 7 now. He has never really played with toys in the way they are meant to be played with. The exception being trains, but he won't play with them anymore.

It's tough , I always find birthday and Christmas a struggle when people ask for ideas. If she is into crafts though, there are plenty of things you can buy

So what is she doing with her time currently? And have you tried giving her a catalogue and seeing what she asks for? I loved doing this near Christmas as a kid and mine still enjoy doing it now