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Original poster

dolls houses for boys

17 replies

sister · 12/10/2002 18:58

My DS is 4 at the end of this month and I would like to bug him a dolls house as he seems to have a keen interest in them, especially if they have sound effects like door bells ringing etc etc. My DH is not very happy about ds having one as he thinks they are for girls. I was wondering if anyone knows of a butch dolls house! Anyone bought anything similar for their ds that they would recomend??
Thanks.

OP posts:

Original poster

sister · 12/10/2002 18:59

sorry, meant buy not bug him!

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Tissy · 12/10/2002 19:37

Dawson and Son do a gorgeous wooden castle, and you can also get furniture and people to go inside it. Its rather pricey at £80 for the castle, £40 for the furniture and £8 each for the soldiers, horses and royalty! Doesn't look as if it has sound effects, but it does have a drawbridge, a prison with a sliding door and a well with a turning handle.

sobernow · 12/10/2002 20:07

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

anais · 12/10/2002 20:43

Argh, forget your dh, dollshouses are for boys as well! The only one I can think of that has sound effects is the ELC Happy Street one.

Not sure if they have sound effects, but what about something like a play mobile or duplo one. You could then have the house as part of a bigger set, IYKWIM, which might appease your dh?

Original poster

sister · 12/10/2002 22:22

anais, is the elc happy street the one where you add to it?

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Hilary · 13/10/2002 08:28

Yes, you can buy happy street train track and roads and shops and vehicles. That's another option, having the house as part of that set with some more boy-ie things to go with it. (sorry, I've just noticed anais said that already)

I have two ds's and keep looking longingly at dolls houses for them but dh won't hear of it, for much the same reasons as yours. I think I maybe want one cos I never had one though, maybe it is nothing to do with my ds's at all!

Janeway · 13/10/2002 09:15

The Hamley's catalogue has a great looking tree house, but it's pricy (£90) and doesn't have any doorbells.

Alternately you could tell dh that ds is just honing his DIY skills, or he's heading towards being an Architect with this interest and therefore it should be encouraged.

fish · 13/10/2002 13:47

Sister - have a gander at Sylvanian families (not actually dollies - cute animals in clothes), they have a fab array of homes including a windmill with wind up pulley and so on. My son (3)likes playing with this with or without his sister, both with the animals or with small dolls and spiderman/pokemon/whatever blob he's got hold of. It has stood up well to some robust play and I've noticed older lads (5/6) coming to play are intrigued with it, despite being deep in the girls stuff/boys stuff sorting phase.
In the mean time you could do up a big cardboard box for him (with him?) with four rooms, wallpaper and so on and get him to tell you exactly what he wants in it, help him makeit/buy cheapo bits and bobs. The box won't last forever and could help you find out if its a whim or a grand obsession. Your his Mummy, you're allowed to play your kind of games with him. All the best.

Hilary · 14/10/2002 10:52

In our local Ikea, there is a bedroom display which has a small bookcase painted and decorated to be a dolls house. They had filled it with furniture, about 2 rooms to each shelf, and had got dolls in it, all of which they sell quite cheaply. I am tempted to do it for my sons, then when the dolls house stage has passed, I can paint over it all and have a bookcase again and I haven't spent £100 on a dolls house (which I saw in a catalogue this morning) Obviously, you wouldn't have a door bell or, indeed, stairs, but it did look very good. I thought I'd mention it to you, just in case.

SoupDragon · 14/10/2002 10:55

ELC have a wooden castle like a dolls house.

Katherine · 14/10/2002 11:32

I would second about the castles. I've seen some gorgeous ones this year. What an excellent idea. Would be very tempted for DS apart from space.

At DS's nursery they have a duplo house. I'm now trying to find where I can buy one as I think its a great solution. Both DD and DS love duplo and I want to get a big tub anyway. If it doubles up as a dolls house thats 2 pressies in one!

Joe1 · 14/10/2002 12:00

My ds also likes dolls houses but my dh also didnt really want him having a real girly one. We looked around but couldnt find anything so he made him like a secret agent base with helicopter pad, ramp, vehicles etc. Ds loves it, I think dh likes playing with it too.

Bron · 14/10/2002 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SueDonim · 14/10/2002 16:38

This company has various dolls house/castle/farm/garage toys. Wish I could have them all for myself! The Hill Toy Company

BlueRose · 25/10/2002 10:41

Ive just bought my ds a 'bear in the big blue house' house from Argos for £12.99, it has a fold down bed and is nice and simple - also folds up and is not too big, with a carry handle and is blue! and i think it comes with bear and a couple of other figures (havent got it out of the box yet, havent had time!)... what a bargain, Ill let you know if he likes it.. its his 2nd birthday on 31st October!

Original poster

sister · 25/10/2002 11:19

Bluerose, I thimk your ds will absolutely love it. My friends son had one of those for his birthday a couple of years ago and when ever we go around to his house my ds makes a bee line for it!
The only reason that I decided not to buy him one for his birthday is that he is going to be four and I decided that the Bear in blue house dolls house might too simple for him now (probably wrong and I don't want to hear about any ten year olds that still play with it!).
Fish, I've taken the plunge and brought a Sylvanian Windmill which my DH finds a bit more acceptable!

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BlueRose · 01/11/2002 10:53

Mmm probably a good call, it is a very 'simple' house. The bit of sad news is that it lasted about 4 hours and then the door broke off so I am going to have to take it back anyway theres always something that breaks isnt there!

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