Boys and Dolls Houses?

[DoodleAlley]

My 2 year old DS isn't a big toy person - he's more a run around, climb thing sand go visit people kind of toddler. However, he does like the few farm playmobil 123 items he has but gets a bit stuck with what to do with them after he's fed the animals.

When we've been to his friends houses (who are girls) he's loved playing with their dolls houses.

I think he gets them more because he can play at doing things he's familiar with - having meals, going to bed, having a bath.

Obviously buying a dolls house is a real investment and so I don't want it to be an ignored toy.

Does anyone else have toddler sons who routinely play with dolls houses or is this likely to be a fad because they are toys of his friends and thus a novelty?

I'd have thought that there's no reason boys couldn't play with dolls houses but the ones in the shop are all pink and girly which makes me think maybe boys just dont like them.

Any experiences and comments gratefully received.

A friend of mine had a dolls house (neutral plain wooden one) for her DS and he loved playing with it, although he did 'go off' it fairly young (about 5) whereas I think little girls play with them for longer because it is seen as more socially acceptable amongst their peers.

I fully intend to buy my DS a dolls house as soon as he is big enough! I loved mine as a child and I think it's a bit sad that boys aren't encouraged more often to play with 'domestic' toys like dolls, prams etc.

Why don't you have a look on ebay? I bought a fantastic second hand house for my little cousin a few years ago, would have cost me hundreds new and I paid £30. You can always re-paint a pink house more neutral colours - you could later paint it grey / stone effect and have a 'castle' for his knights to live in. I'm assuming even knights have baths, wash their socks and eat breakfast together! I think the ELC still do a nice plain wood one.

Thanks for responding. I'm pretty son my DS will use any house to bathe and feed his dinosaurs but I'm ok with that.

I think it's sad we're so stuck in ruts about who plays with what. I know there are often similarities in the genders but it's a shame to pigeon-hole them so early on.

I shall scour ebay for houses - thanks for the suggestion.

And I hope you find a good one when your DS is old enough!

my son loved his peppa pig house

My ds (nearly 3) has played with his big sister's (5) dolls house more than she has. I also find it really odd that so many houses are geared towards girls and I like to think that if I'd had him first I'd still have bought all the supposedly 'girls' toys for him as that's largely what he enjoys doing. It's fab that he has an older sister as he has endless opportunities for dressing up in tutus, playing with Barbies etc!

Another hit in our house is this ELC Happyland cottage - as well as loads of other Happyland stuff - but this is particularly good as it has beds, a bathroom, kitchen so it's very good for acting out familiar 'at home' scenarios. It's not such a big investment as a dolls house - the only negative is that the furniture is moulded on rather than loose. But it makes noises which is also a plus for my dc!

My DS (2.5) also plays with his peppapig house every day, and my nephew (3) has a wooden dolls house which is a constant favourite. It's one of the few toys that keeps him occupied and playing happily by himself for an extended period of time.

Oh I like that phrase - "playing happily by himself for an extended period of time"!

Definately going to look out for one now - maybe a christmas present to help fill those dark winter days where everything closes by 4pm!!!

Asda have a plain white dolls house on sale for £35 at the moment. Unfortunately the furniture pack that you can buy separately is pink

oh thanks going near there tonight. that's an amazing price. Been looking at ebay and you can get furniture easily on there it's the house itself that's the big outlay. Cheers.

Sorry didn't link here
I think playmobil do a house as well if he already has playmobil.

Morrisons have dolls houses half price at £30.

DS1 had this until he got fed up with it aged about 7. He painted it and made wallpaper for it by printing patterns off the computer etc. as it's pretty much a blank canvas - and there are loads of little details like a loo brush, wine bottles and books.

DD1 and DS2 play together for hours. I love the dialogue whereby you hear things said that i have said as a parent. We have a eco wooden dolls house made by Plan Toys in plain wood and un stereotipical furniture and accessorieswith vegetable dyes. Aged 6-8 years imaginative games and dolls house play. They now want to make short videos of the stories! I have to declare an interest as wooden dolls houses are expensive at around £90- but have had years of use. It helps that as owner of bouncy happy people it was an ex display one.

i have a girl(5) and a boy(3)

i bought my sarah the medium sized le toy van wooden dolls house, and a matching farm yard for my son. they share the toys together and seem to really enjoy them!

although dolls houses at first thought are for girls they are very unisex!

(both have done well to pass the durabilty test from them)