duplo or similar for 4 year old girl

[fatsatsuma]

Can anyone recommend a construction toy for my soon to be 4 yo DD? She has tinkered with her older siblings lego, but I'm after something a bit chunkier, and also maybe more theme-specific, but still having lots of flexibility to come up with her own creations.

I've looked at the duplo website and seen a few sets with princesses, fairy tale characters etc, but I'm not sure how much creativity comes with those sets - there doesn't seem to be much to them. But she is into princesses etc, so would like the look of the box!

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[habbibu]

Wouldn't just ordinary duplo do - why does it have to be princessy? Do you think she wouldn't play with it otherwise?

[Wigeon]

My DD (3.10) loves her (standard) duplo without a princess in sight. She and DH makes all sorts of stuff with it - castles, shops, our house, garden, a playground, and her DH's favourite - juggernauts. Absolutely no need to girlify duplo. Standard duplo isn't "for boys" anyway!

Rant over!

In terms of other construction type things - how about a marble run, or stickle bricks?

[thisisyesterday]

we started with proper little lego at 4... i reckon that would be better for her. she might think the duplo is a bit babyish?

they do all sorts of sets

personally i have found the big sets of bricks have the most play value. anything that comes as a kit gets made once then taken apart and chucked in with the rest to be used for making all kinds of great stuff

[fatsatsuma]

Thanks for these comments. Just to clarify - I haven't said that I'm specifically after something 'princessy' or that I need to 'girlify' standard duplo. I mentioned those sets as they were the ones on the website which would catch DD's eye - but as I pointed out, I didn't think there was much to them.

However, we do have a huge box of proper lego which has been hugely played with by her (much older) siblings, and she doesn't quite know where to start with it yet - hence my thought that something more 'themed' might be a good starting point.

But I might be wrong about that. If I were to get her a box of basic duplo with enough bits for lots of different building projects, any suggestions on what I should get?

[gaunyerseljeannie]

Duplo all the way, and not babyish, still enjoyed by my 6 year old girl and sneakily (if she thinks no one is looking) by 11 year old big sister. e were lucky to inherit a massive box when my DS1 was 2, so its 16 years old!! I don't know what sets you can get nowadays, but might be worth a look on eBay, Gutree for recycled stuff. Its easy to wash and doesn't seem to break at al.
We have all sorts, animals, train, vehicles, house, basic blocks in all shapes and sizes. I just don't think you can go wrong... they play with "big" lego too so one doesn't rule out the other

[Wigeon]

Sorry, , I have a rather over-sensitive radar about pinkification of girls!

DD has this one I think - it's great - lots of different shapes, a few people figures, some wheels, brilliant. It's not desperately themed, but actually that means she can make all sorts of different things with it. Then her aunt gave her a set with some more duplo and shop things (eg a duplo cash till) which gave even more possibilities.

[ReshapeWhileDamp]

DS1 (4.3) has a lot of Duplo (including some 'cavemen and dinosaurs' pieces my mum found on ebay) and is amassing a collection of 'little lego'. He plays with both of it, sometimes together. If he's wanting to make something quickly, or a building for another toy like his trains, he goes for the Duplo, and if he wants to tinker with something more delicate, he uses his little lego. I do think, though, that he'll be off the Duplo in the next year. So perhaps you could get your DD a basic 'little lego' set that's all hers? The starter set in a blue box is about a tenner, and has nice instructions for making little people, a small house, animals, etc. It's less daunting than a huge box of bricks.

[Lilyloo]

We have some legislation friends bits mixed in with ordinary lego. My dd4 loves the girls changeable hair and the little dogs. Think she would find duplo. A little babyish

[pinkappleby]

My DS is 5 and plays with small lego but DD nearly 4 wants to play with it but there is no way she could follow the instructions and it is far too fiddly for her - different kids, different toys.

We got her this , which she likes and is quite creative with, then she serves us her creations. She also has this which she likes, and can do the people by herself but not the house or car. As someone else says, because it is a small self contained kit it is not as daunting as a big box of lego, and it is very much hers, not her big brothers (although he has had a go too).

She does like a build it toy from elc www.elc.co.uk/Build-It-toys/216887,default,sc.html which is something a bit different but expensive. She can do this unaided.

[pinkappleby]

Also, DS (5) still plays with the duplo too.

[mercibucket]

Dd, 5, still likes her duplo, the big farm is good. It probably doesn't have the long lasting factor, in that she might not want to play with it past 6, but you can buy and sell on ebay for good prices
Playmobil is a bit fiddly at that age and little lego doesn't appeal to dd either
Marble run is a great idea as well though

[mercibucket]

Dd, 5, still likes her duplo, the big farm is good. It probably doesn't have the long lasting factor, in that she might not want to play with it past 6, but you can buy and sell on ebay for good prices
Playmobil is a bit fiddly at that age and little lego doesn't appeal to dd either
Marble run is a great idea as well though

[fatsatsuma]

Thanks for all these comments. DH keeps reminding me about the huge box of Lego we already have, but I'm still thinking duplo would be better for DD at the moment. . I like the look of some of the boxes people have suggested.

[fatsatsuma]

Sorry, can I ask - what is 'little lego'?

[mercibucket]

Lol I just meant 'normal' lego

[mercibucket]

Lol I just meant 'normal' lego