Dollhouse Recs?

[VisionaryMom]

DD wants a doll house. We probably will get her one for Christmas. I'd prefer a good quality wooden one that will last her for a long time. We are hoping to spend around $200 but would go up to $300 for the right one. Any suggestions?

[JudiAU]

In that price range, the various models from Plan Toys or Elves and Angles (some at Nova Naturals) are options.

[LynnS6]

This Plan Toys one was very popular at dd's preschool. We had the Plan Toys My First Dollhouse and dd found it incredibly frustrating because it was really hard to access all the rooms.

this one from Magic Cabin looks super cool, but it's out of your price range.

This is one thing I'd consider buying used too, since a lot kids outgrow them and then they're big things taking up a lot of room.

[GuildJenn]

We have the Plan Victorian dollhouse and it's been - okay. I got it at a warehouse sale and I'm glad though 'cause it hasn't had a $200 play value compared to other toys. It's wonderful in terms of materials and all that and the furniture and accessories are pretty neat and one day we may paint it.

But it's also a little clunky in the sizes of things and when they fall over (and they do) it's very loud, which my son doesn't like.

If I were doing it over I think I'd get one of the Playmobil ones - lots more room for expansion of play with the other sets (not that this doesn't happen anyway) and less clunky and loud. And I'd also look used.

[mumkimum]

Not a rec. based on my experience with them, but I've been admiring the houses by Le Toy Van awhile myself (a few of theirs come furnished as well which is a nice bonus). They're pretty adorable, though.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

this one from Magic Cabin looks super cool, but it's out of your price range.

This is one thing I'd consider buying used too, since a lot kids outgrow them and then they're big things taking up a lot of room.

I bought my DD that very dolls house (and all the furniture to go with it) and frankly, while it was beautiful, she really didn't spend a whole lot of time playing with it after the initial excitement wore off, and I ended up donating it to our school's garage sale. So I second the recommendation to look for used. I wish I had done that.

[Joyfull]

My kids 7 and 5 didn't and still don't want a traditional dollhouse because, they said, they couldn't change the layout. If it's a two stories house it won't change. I ended up bought them the Lego Duplo Dollhouse and they love it. They can make it into one, two or three stories house, change the whole layout and break it down if they don't like it anymore and make it into something else. It has toilet, kitchen sink, sofa, beds, table, chairs, people etc. And it works with all their other Duplo. Not much of rec I know. Just want to share

[LynnS6]

I forgot to mention that we have moved on to Playmobil stuff and my kids (and all the neighborhood kids) love it. However, I would say that it's not suited to kids under 5 because of all the teeny tiny pieces. I'm not worried about choking hazards, but they often don't have the fine motor skills to set things up the way they want.

[deditus]

Originally Posted by Mirzam

I bought my DD that very dolls house (and all the furniture to go with it) and frankly, while it was beautiful, she really didn't spend a whole lot of time playing with it after the initial excitement wore off, and I ended up donating it to our school's garage sale. So I second the recommendation to look for used. I wish I had done that.

Totally agree. My MIL bought it for dd last Christmas and I am in the process of selling it. She was not interested in playing with it at all. She likes the furniture and the dolls, but I think this one is too big and overwhelming for her, and easier to get in if it is like up on a table but she wouldn't let me put it on her table.