Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:41     Subject: Re:Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here - as a toddler he was drawn to playing with baby dolls in the classroom. But he’s never been into stuffed animals. He likes toys with lots of little pieces so I was thinking a doll house might be fun for that. He already has lots of building toys. He’s also started making up stories and talking to himself, so I thought a dollhouse might be cool to encourage that.

I was looking at the Melissa and Doug Hi-Rise Mansion with an elevator or a big Hape one. So pretty gender neutral I think.


Why is this even a consideration?


People above said they wished dollhouses were more gender neutral and suggestion firestations and such. I replied and said the dollhouses I have seen are pretty gender neutral IMO.


Again — we need to get completely away from the notion that there are “girl” toys and “boy” toys. How could a house with dolls in it not be gender neutral?

Ok… any thoughts on age? I’m more curious about what people think about whether 5 is getting too old. Tbf if we get a couple of years out of it I’m happy.


5 isn’t too old.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:40     Subject: Re:Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here - as a toddler he was drawn to playing with baby dolls in the classroom. But he’s never been into stuffed animals. He likes toys with lots of little pieces so I was thinking a doll house might be fun for that. He already has lots of building toys. He’s also started making up stories and talking to himself, so I thought a dollhouse might be cool to encourage that.

I was looking at the Melissa and Doug Hi-Rise Mansion with an elevator or a big Hape one. So pretty gender neutral I think.


Why is this even a consideration?


People above said they wished dollhouses were more gender neutral and suggestion firestations and such. I replied and said the dollhouses I have seen are pretty gender neutral IMO.


Again — we need to get completely away from the notion that there are “girl” toys and “boy” toys. How could a house with dolls in it not be gender neutral?

Ok… any thoughts on age? I’m more curious about what people think about whether 5 is getting too old. Tbf if we get a couple of years out of it I’m happy.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:38     Subject: Re:Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here - as a toddler he was drawn to playing with baby dolls in the classroom. But he’s never been into stuffed animals. He likes toys with lots of little pieces so I was thinking a doll house might be fun for that. He already has lots of building toys. He’s also started making up stories and talking to himself, so I thought a dollhouse might be cool to encourage that.

I was looking at the Melissa and Doug Hi-Rise Mansion with an elevator or a big Hape one. So pretty gender neutral I think.


Why is this even a consideration?


People above said they wished dollhouses were more gender neutral and suggestion firestations and such. I replied and said the dollhouses I have seen are pretty gender neutral IMO.


Again — we need to get completely away from the notion that there are “girl” toys and “boy” toys. How could a house with dolls in it not be gender neutral?
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:37     Subject: Re:Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here - as a toddler he was drawn to playing with baby dolls in the classroom. But he’s never been into stuffed animals. He likes toys with lots of little pieces so I was thinking a doll house might be fun for that. He already has lots of building toys. He’s also started making up stories and talking to himself, so I thought a dollhouse might be cool to encourage that.

I was looking at the Melissa and Doug Hi-Rise Mansion with an elevator or a big Hape one. So pretty gender neutral I think.


Why is this even a consideration?


People above said they wished dollhouses were more gender neutral and suggestion firestations and such. I replied and said the dollhouses I have seen are pretty gender neutral IMO.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:35     Subject: Re:Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:OP here - as a toddler he was drawn to playing with baby dolls in the classroom. But he’s never been into stuffed animals. He likes toys with lots of little pieces so I was thinking a doll house might be fun for that. He already has lots of building toys. He’s also started making up stories and talking to himself, so I thought a dollhouse might be cool to encourage that.

I was looking at the Melissa and Doug Hi-Rise Mansion with an elevator or a big Hape one. So pretty gender neutral I think.


Why is this even a consideration?
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:33     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:2nd hand doll houses are pretty available. Mainly because some of them are really big!

I would never avoid a toy that your kid will enjoy because some jerk kid *may* tease him at some point in the future? That's not a good reason.

If you want to make it less feminine, spray paint it colors he prefers.


Thanks - yes I saw a used Hape on on wheels on Marketplace. I asked my son about it and he insists he wants the Melissa and Doug one “the one with the elevator.”
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:31     Subject: Re:Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
OP here - as a toddler he was drawn to playing with baby dolls in the classroom. But he’s never been into stuffed animals. He likes toys with lots of little pieces so I was thinking a doll house might be fun for that. He already has lots of building toys. He’s also started making up stories and talking to himself, so I thought a dollhouse might be cool to encourage that.

I was looking at the Melissa and Doug Hi-Rise Mansion with an elevator or a big Hape one. So pretty gender neutral I think.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:29     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:We use this as a dollhouse in my daughter's bedroom. Love that she can make it into whatever she wants.

Wildkin Kids Wooden Dollhouse Bookcase for Girls, Measures 42 x 12 x 33 Inches, Dollhouse Bookshelf Keep Toys, Games, Books, and Art Supplies Organized, Ideal for Bedroom or Playroom, BPA-Free (Grey) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GB9R2XX/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_WPCNA4J87KF6BTRFBVWY


This is a great idea and here’s a similar type one from IKEA:

https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/flisat-doll-house-wall-shelf-50290785/
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:23     Subject: Re:Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Maybe ask him what he’d like, or take him window shopping and see what types of options he seems to really like.
If you’re interested in encouraging imaginative play that might last a bit longer, consider getting a puppet theater and a variety of puppets and/ or the materials so that he can make his own if he would like to. (A very positive example of Sockpuppeting! Lol)

Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:20     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We got my son a Calico Critters house when he was younger. He still played with it around 5, I think.


My daughter LOVES her Calico Critters! She’s 5. My parents got her a little set of baby triplet bunnies, with a crib, a play treehouse, and a couple of other things. She’s obsessed with them. I think they’re adorable and they seem really well-made.


These were a hit in our house as well until about 5th grade for both my DD and DS. I remember buying a set on vacation the summer going into 5th grade.

WRT boys -
My sons loved the Imaginext castle and pirate ship from ages 3-6. Unfortunately they rebranded everything from generic castle to DC Comics or Sponge Bob.
We had the KidKraft Fire Station as well and the kids liked it - but it was never the go to toy.

One son did lots of play with Imagnext and Playmobile
The other was all about building structures with blocks / magnatiles and putting army men in them


PP here. Oh, the Magnatiles are absolutely the default toy. Everything goes into the Magnatiles, and the Magnatiles end up contributing to whatever DD is doing with other toys. By far the best investment we’ve made.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:18     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We got my son a Calico Critters house when he was younger. He still played with it around 5, I think.


My daughter LOVES her Calico Critters! She’s 5. My parents got her a little set of baby triplet bunnies, with a crib, a play treehouse, and a couple of other things. She’s obsessed with them. I think they’re adorable and they seem really well-made.


These were a hit in our house as well until about 5th grade for both my DD and DS. I remember buying a set on vacation the summer going into 5th grade.

WRT boys -
My sons loved the Imaginext castle and pirate ship from ages 3-6. Unfortunately they rebranded everything from generic castle to DC Comics or Sponge Bob.
We had the KidKraft Fire Station as well and the kids liked it - but it was never the go to toy.

One son did lots of play with Imagnext and Playmobile
The other was all about building structures with blocks / magnatiles and putting army men in them
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:12     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?

My son liked figurines and vehicles, but not houses or castles. He loved tea sets, though! I bought him a really nice miniature porcelain tea set that you can put real food and drink in. My younger daughter has made full use of all the figurines, dollhouses and the castle we have, but royally ignores the tea set! None of them really liked the boy and girl dolls I bought for them. Kids are funny
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:08     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
We use this as a dollhouse in my daughter's bedroom. Love that she can make it into whatever she wants.

Wildkin Kids Wooden Dollhouse Bookcase for Girls, Measures 42 x 12 x 33 Inches, Dollhouse Bookshelf Keep Toys, Games, Books, and Art Supplies Organized, Ideal for Bedroom or Playroom, BPA-Free (Grey) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GB9R2XX/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_WPCNA4J87KF6BTRFBVWY
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:06     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
Anonymous wrote:We got my son a Calico Critters house when he was younger. He still played with it around 5, I think.


My daughter LOVES her Calico Critters! She’s 5. My parents got her a little set of baby triplet bunnies, with a crib, a play treehouse, and a couple of other things. She’s obsessed with them. I think they’re adorable and they seem really well-made.
Anonymous
Post 04/07/2022 12:03     Subject: Dollhouse for 5 year old boy?
If he doesn’t play with dolls I wouldn’t get a dollhouse.

Maybe a castle with knights and dragons and such, or a big wooden barn with people and animals.