Pretend Play Reviews

This dollhouse has shown that a lot of imagination and thought went into this piece. The only draw back is that it is VERY labor-intensive, but worth the effort. Older children MAY be able to put it together, but I would recommend they have adult assistance. One adult could put it together in one day - maybe a day and a half. The base and first level alone have around 100 parts so patience would be the best thing to have plenty of.

my 12Year old daughter started with Playmobil 8 years ago,are playmate she had whom was a boy introduced her to it.Thru the years we have bought so many pieces that I lost track,the doll house and all the funuture,the castle and all the funiture,the adventure set,that was her first,and is no longer being made,the cabins the animals,the pirate ship,yes a girl wanted the pirate ship,and the lagoon.Playmobil is one toy she always went back to playing with.She will play for hours on hours role playing.I thought we were done with toys,she is at the age of boys and makeup.So I went in and separted and put all the pieces back toghter,2 days of work and found out that I like it too.I really enjoyed all the craftmanship that goes into each piece.We have a room full of Playmobil,and I am going to keep buying it,because it somehting,a hobbie that my daughter and I can do together.Playmobil is a good learning tool to let kids use thier minds insted of watching tv,or playing the video games,and computer.
LET YOUR CHILD IMAGINE.And you might learn too.

Santa Claus brought this for my 2.5 year old daughter. She was too little! She did love to play with it, but the parts were too small (we never installed half of them) and hard for little fingers to manipulate. We thought it would "grow with her," but it really would have been better to wait! She is 4 now, and we may get it out again. If you are looking for a dollhouse for a younger child, try something simple like the Fisher-Price one, and but this one for a later birthday or Christmas.

I didn't think that kids would actually like this. It seemed like such a stupid toy.

Yet I took my kids to playgroup and a group of 10 3 and 4 year olds spent over and hour crawling through it. (I think they were playing rescue mission or something). Then they kept asking for it every day after that! Go figure.

My daughter is 1yrs old and this is her absolutely favorite toy! She spends endless hours day in and day out in it. Her 7yr old Aunt plays with her in it everytime she comes over too. It folds up and expands with in seconds. It really is a MUST HAVE toy for any toddler!! We are even buying a second tunnel to attach them together for her 2nd birthday. My advice: "Just buy it"!

My kids ages 2 1/2 and 18 months LOVE this tunnel. We got it for the kids for Christmas and keep it put away and bring it out about 3X a week in the evenings when we have had a slow day and the kids didn't get any energy out. They go CRAZY, they play and run and scream and crack up! My husband drags them through the house super fast and they sit in it and laugh their butts off. You can play peek a boo, or roll balls through it, the possibilities are endless!

It's by far the BEST gift. The kids don't fight over it, no one gets hurt, it doesn't break, it's SO cool ! It folds in no time and folds so small, it doesn't take up any room. BUY THIS!!!

After an extensive research of outdoor toys, I have decided that this house would be a nice addition to our backyard. (...) Needless to say, I was thrilled to come across one at a garage sale.

I would like to share with those considering buying it, that this playhouse has been one of the best toys we have purchased for our kids (5 and 1 y. o.) Some of the things to consider:
1. It is extremely durable. The house I have purchased is several years old and none of the colors had faded except for the Step2 red square logo. There are no cracks, broken parts, or major scratches. The only thing I had to do with it is to wash it and reattach some of the stickers that had started to peel.
2. It is HUGE. I am 5'7 and can easily fit in the house. I do have to sit down inside, but there is still plenty room left for my kids, their "babies" and strollers, as well as a play shopping cart.
3. It is sturdy. Our 7-month, 70 lbs German Sheppard pup has been testing the house by stepping on the table and jumping in and out of the windows. The house stands up great to all this abuse.
4. It is fun. Our kids have spent HOURS at a time playing in it. It encourages their imaginations and development of language skills.
5. It encourages outside play. Did I mention that our kids now play outside even when it rains? The playhouse makes a perfect shelter for those days when it just "drizzles" outside.
6. You will be able to return at least some of the $$ when your kids outgrow it. As I mentioned earlier, the house is extremely durable and much sought after at garage sales.
7. It is easy to move. It took me about 15 minutes to disassemble the house and another 15 to put it back together.

Overall, it is a great toy and our kids enjoy playing in it daily.

We bought the playhouse for our daughters, then 5 and 3. The house was big enough for both of them plus a few friends. In comparing expensive wooden houses, little tykes and step 2. The decision was easy. This house is larger than others, was very little maintenance and blended great in our yard. The house traveled with us to another state and held up great through the move. The girls enjoyed the house for many, many years. Every spring we power washed the house and it looked as good as the day we bought it. Unfortunalty my kids now 13 & 11 outgrew the house. But, through these past 9-10 years,the play house has not aged at all. In fact, we gave it to a neighbor last year and her preshoolers are now enjoying this very house that it still on the market today. Good job step 2

We bought the Welcome Home Playhouse when my daughters were 2 and 1 years old and as soon as their baby brother is able to, will be sharing it with him as well. There is plenty of room for all 3 plus their friends to play inside this house - it's huge. There is a built in sink and cupboard, shelves, a table that can be folded down, a clock with hands that turn and a phone that makes lots of different sounds.
The window shutters and doors are easily opened and closed by the youngest of toddlers and my eldest daughter (now 3.5 years) has taken to climbing in and out of the windows! My other daugther likes to stand in the sink and sit on the table. All of this and it still looks brand new.

My husband and I have to bend down to get through the door but we are able to stand up inside. It is a big playhouse - I wouldn't recommend it for inside unless you have a HUGE playroom ... it takes up quite a bit of room.

As it is permanently outside ours has faded a little with our harsh Australian sun but that will happen with anything you leave outside. It shows no sign of deterioration despite being left in all kinds of weather (we don't have snow where we live)and sits easily on concrete, grass or paving.

The assembly instructions are detailed and recommend that there be two people to work together. We found it quite easy and it was up in about 20 minutes the first time. I say the first time because since we have bought it we've moved house 3 times (1 time to a new city). Pulling it down and re-assembling it has never been a problem and we are much quicker at it now. It's really easy to keep clean - being outside, it will get dirty and get the odd spider or two but we find a sweep down inside and out each week and a warm soapy wash and rinse every other week keeps it in good condition.

As with any playhouse big or small the kids have an amazing time playing everything - tea parties, hide and seek games, you name it- they play it. They are only limited by their imagination.

The reason we bought this plastic house over a wooden one was for its portability (we move house often with my husbands job), it's durablity, how easy it is to keep clean and the fact that many children can fit inside at once.

This was a HUGE purchase for us (especially in Australian $$)- but I've not regretted it. We've already got our moneys worth many times over in it's ease of moving it from one home to the next and, more importantly, the amount of enjoyment and fun my children and their friends have already had with it.

THIS TOY LOOKS LIKE IT'S LIGHT BUT IT IS'NT.THIS MODEL IS COOL AND THIS MODEL LOOKS JUST LIKE DARKSUNSHINE MY BLACK CLYDESDALE STALLION.I OWN 143 BREYER HORSES AND 63 OTHER ANIMALS.I'M ONLY 11 AND I OWN 789 HORSES.MY FAVIORTE IS MY OWN BIG BLACK MUSTANG STALLION NAMED SPIRIT WHOM IS JET BLACK.SPIRIT US TO BE A LEADER OF WILD MUSTANGS UNTILL I WRANGLED HIM.SPIRIT ONLY LET ME RIDE HIM.

One thing about Breyer Clydesdale's is that they are one of the most durable breyers horses avalible. They can go through a lot of wear and tear and come out with maybe a rub or 2 or maybe a scratch. I highly reccomend this toy. You can do anything with breyers because they are so lifelike you can even hold shows with them!

Flowergirl is a beautiful example of a Clydsdale mare and the only Breyer model horse I've actually met in real life. Of course watching her and her foal eat was fun, along with feeling the ground shake under the hooves of the other horses racing toward the barn. I'm not sure they got her color exactly right, remembering her a bit less red, but that doesn't change the quality of this model. She's a beautiful animal, in the flesh and as a Breyer creation.

After reading other great reviews here on the site I decided to purchase this both for my son (and me too). Even with high expectations before it arrived we were all still amazed and excited by all the nifty things this puppet could do once we got it out of the box, and how easy it is for even a 4-year-old to manipulate. We had no idea his mouth was movable too... all with just four strings. I get requests for the Wizard to read bedtime stories for my son (alas, Dad gets superceded sometimes) and I think I'm having as much fun as my son with this great toy. I'm sure we'll have the dragon and unicorn before Xmas...

The Bozart marionettes are the PERFECT birthday, holiday or even "baby" (or, "sibling") gift for a child of ANY age, of either gender, and the price: absolutely unbeatable. Frankly, Darwin and all the other marionettes should surpass beanie babies or, and this dates me, cabbage patch dolls. They are incredible gifts---they excite any child's imagination, encourage dexterity, are EASY to use, can be enjoyed for years, and kept forever. I consider these marinettes collector's items--after all, they are incredibly artistic (which is not surprising since they are designed by a renowned artist!), durable, and timeless (to be equally enjoyed by the next generation! ). I can think of no better gift for any age child-- even my college-age child took two from my stockpile and they are hanging like mobiles in HIS room! I sincerely recommend that every (too)busy gift-giver do what I did--buy a half-dozen; store them away so you have the perfect, unbelievably appreciated gift when you need one.

My 5 year old was insistant on getting a marionette for his birthday. I was sure it would be too difficult for him and the strings would frustrate him ...BUT I WAS WRONG! This toy was GREAT! The face and body is high quality, the string system is easy to use and my five year old had instant success with his first puppet. He's still playing with this birthday toy.

Star Swirl is a white pony with pink hair. Her mark is a circle of little pink stars.
Durability is only four stars because the straps on the hat broke on one of my ponies' hats and now the hat falls off all the time.
Educational is three stars because she can teach kids to water plants.

This toy is great! My daughter loves it. She really likes playing with the rain jacket.

I got this pony for my birthday. I am an older collector. I love her sparkly pink hair and how it has dark and light pink hair. Her symbol on her lip is swirling stars which is beautiful. She is even more beautiful without her coat and hat on.
The hat looks like it has to be gentle with or it might loose the band that keeps in on the pony's head, but something probably can be sewn in its place if you are good with sewing. The small flower pot and flowers look like they can be eaisly lost.

I think it is a good pony for collectors and children alike.

this is realy cute and fun. i love the magnet bone..you can make two dogs play tug of war and roll over with it. its a neat toy that -as most polly pockets have, alot of variety in activities and features. my only complaint is, once you pull the plastic tab for the barking dog platform, be prepared for super-sensitivity, non stop annoying barking. every time the wind blows,this thing barks! hope the battery dies soon.

i love this toy! it is sooooo fun 2 play with! all the dogs have magnets on there tummys and there mouths so they can put the bone in there mouth an stay on the unicycle. my fav part is how the dogs can launch off the purple thing and "jump" through the hoop! the polly is cute and i love how the dogs have same outfits as polly! i gave durabilite 4 stars because sometimes the dogs fall off the little pull out thing and the purple launcher sometimes falls off when you push the lever. overall its a great toy and it will entertain you for hours! you should really go out and buy this toy! P.S its worth every penny! [but it's really not pricey anyway] p.s.s really go out and buy this!!and i collect polly pockets[i have a whole box of them and the lid can't cose!] and i think they are great!!!! i should know!

This is very fun but where the dogs land when the jump goes off when you don't want it to. That is the only bad thing with it. Everything else is good.

My daughter really liked the movie and seems to pay particular attention to detail. It was wonderful not to have to add to this dress to make it look like the one from the doll and movie. Sleeves seem to fray fairly easily. I used Fray Check on them before they got too bad and that seems to have increased the durability. A yr after receiving it she still plays with it quite often.

I bought this costume for my 4 year old daughter who loves her Barbie Rapunzel doll and it was a tremendous hit! The dress looks just like the doll's dress and comes with a long braid, shoes, wand, crown, rings and earrings.

The dress is better made than most of the dress up costumes I have purchased and it is adorable. It fits well although you have to be careful not to stretch out the material too much. I also sewed on an extra velcro closure on the back near the skirt to make a little better fit. I've had no problems with any of ther other pieces (my daughter particularly likes the braid), except for the earrings which do pinch. This was definitely worth the price. I may even buy a second one for when this one wears out!

My daughter received this as a gift to wear as her Halloween costume. She looked like a true little princess. Within the first 30 minutes of wearing it, the dress pulled away from the seam at the waist. We fixed it but it continues to be a problem. My daughter wears this dress almost every day and she no longer cares that it is tearing at the waist. We have just about given up on fixing it because it is unraveling pretty badly now. I belive it is definitely worth the money spent on it as she has gotten so much enjoyment out of it.

I bought this one and the Emperor Penguin puppet for my baby... she loves them both.

The owl is awesome, soft... the head rotates all the way around via a stick inside. I can maneuver the wings and head at the same time with one hand, which really entertains my daughter.

This snowy owl is a part of my plush/puppet collection, and I don't regret the addition. The head can be turned and the wings flapped with your hand, and patches of velcro allow the wings to be folded back realisticly when not spread. The material is very soft, and the beak and talons are leather, not plastic. My only nitpick is that the feet have only three claws, when they should have four. However, this small inaccuracy shouldn't stop anyone from adding it to their collection.

This is one of my favorite owls and favorite puppets. You really need to see it to appreciate just how gorgeous it is. The only drawback that I have found is in trying to fasten the wings back into the "at rest" position. They seem to pull too tightly on the owl. Of course, that could just be on mine.

I got one of these tote bags when I was 13 (now 16). I have used it as a purse and the great thing about it is that every day, or whenever I feel like it, i can change it. the good thing about the good thing about that is that I don't have to buy a bunch of purses. I just have to redecorate my CLIKITS one. I think this is the GREATEST thing ever. I think everyone should have one!

I had so much fun with this toy! I love making different designs. I would definitly give it a 5 stars!

My daughter got this as a birthday gift (6 years old). It was her favortie gift. She loves it. It was a little hard for her to manipulate the pieces and click them together but once she got the hang of it, she was fine. Santa will definately be bringing more for Christmas!