Dollhouse-type toy for a boy? Any ideas?

[lecach]

We were at a local toy store tonight and DS (almost 3) spend most of the time playing with a little mouse (not Mickey ) dollhouse. He loved the furniture, etc. But it was pink. And he's already getting a microwave and coffee pot (toys of course) for Christmas. And even though he really loves trucks and dirt and stuff too, I really don't want to buy a pink dollhouse for him. Are there any other comparable toys that are more suitable for boys?

 

[Oh Kay!]

Well, I am getting my youngest DS a Lego Duplo farmhouse. A nephew is getting a small Little People playhouse. Playmobile has an extensive collection of houses and furnitures.

Hope that helps.

 

[rwrocksme]

If he doesn't care if it was pink, then you shouldn't either. I know it sounds contrived, but it's true.

 

[kat3668]

This is a really nice house that is appropriate for boys and girls..
http://www.etoys.com/genProduct.html/PID/4729613/ctid/17?cpncode=11-38617302-2&srccode=cii_9324560

 

[Charleyann]

My son loved doll houses too when he was that age. All I could find him was a pink and blue one. He loved it. He also loved all things boys. Don't worry about the color!

Charleyann

 

[MSSANDRA]

Ds had a doll house at 3 and it was his favorite toy!!! It was also pink and blue but he did not care. Funny he hates pink now at 15 and though most of the boys wear pink shirts, he will not. I however LOVE the wood houses. Nothing to do wtih the color i just think they are wonderful, toys that last forever. We have one at our preschool and both sexes love it. The above poster found a beautiful one.

 

[tinkandpan]

this one has a little pink on it- but it doesn't bother my ds. We actually bought it for my dd2 but my ds5 likes to "play with his sister" with it.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2903064

 

[eburg]

I got my son the imaginext castle ,he is 2 1/2 and both him and my 4 yr old daughter love it

 

[tiggger1]

what about Ryan's room. My dd has one and it is very neutral, mainly plain wood with reds and blues. they have all kinds of accesories, from girlie stuff to tee-pees
http://www.smallworldtoys.com/product_list.asp?cl=rr

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

This year, we got my son the Imaginext Castle as well - he's 2 1/2. My dd has the Dora house and also the castle, and my son plays with that as well.

 

[irene_dsc]

Ds always played with the big Playmobil dollhouse at my MIL's, and sometimes with my old wooden miniature dollhouse. I've seen some really cute gender neutral ones by Ryan's Room and Plan Toys, and I think Playmobil has some small gender neutral ones, too.

Btw, the Ryan's Room furniture tends to sell out fast - but it is very sturdy, unlike most miniature dollhouse furniture. Dd got some last year for my dollhouse, since ds broke some of my old furniture, wah. (I had considered getting some for him a few times, but there was always something he wanted more...)

 

[WantToGoNow]

We picked up one of the Little Tykes dollhouses at the consignment shop for nearly nothing ($6 I think) -- it has a purple roof which I understand is very rare and hard to find. We filled it with furniture from the Fisher Price Mr First Dollhouse line. Ds6 loves to play with it as much as dd3.

I have no problem with him playing with the dollhouse, her kitchen or babies nor do I when she's play army, Hot Wheels or Thomas. I think kids should be allowed to play with what they like - why does it matter if they are "boy or girl" toys.

Oh, my ds did have a pink/purple kitchen that we got him for his 2nd birthday until it fell apart. That's when we bought dd the nice Step 2 one for her 3rd birthday.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Playmobil is excellent. They have a line for younger children.

And then when he is old enough, they have the most wonderful variety of 'boy toys'. My son loved the farm sets & outdoors/adventure sets. They have zoo themed, castle, and pirates sets! (We have the largest pirate ship set, and it is really amazing!) Very detailed. DS used to spend hours setting them up and then engaging in imaginative play.

 

[r4blessings]

Step 2 just came out with a really cute line of toys like a dollhouse, farm, community buildings, etc. They are all in neutral beige colors. I'm considering that for my ds2. He loves my dd3's dollhouse, but I think he would like his own and I liked step2's version. Take a look on their website!

 

[Sugardimples]

Why does the color matter? If he like to play with it, let him play with it. He won't catch anything from the pink.

 

[WendyinNC]

My DS 22 mos. recently discovered my DD11's wooden treehouse. Everyone in the family DD11, DD9, DS7, DS 22mos plays with this toy and we've added some wooden items to it. It would be a great toy for a boy if they still sell them. I believe we have used the Ryan's Room accessories to go with it.

 

[r4blessings]

I don't have a problem with my son playing with something that is pink, or his sister's dolls, or with her playing with his hot wheels or star wars toys, like a pp said. But I was trying to answer the OP's question of a brand of dollhouse that wasn't being marketed towards girls.

I think that too many toys are geared specifically towards a particular gender, and THAT I do have a problem with. Of course there are some things that are pink and purple and frilly and what not, but toy manufacturers could definitely be more gender neutral. My ds9 and ds6 will often play with my dd3's dollhouse with her (loving family twin time dollhouse) but both my son's have asked why all dollhouses are pink. And I don't think I've ever come across a purple or pink pirate ship!

Its like all the new strollers and baby swings and pack and plays that are done all in pink now. What happens when baby#2 is a boy? I don't think anyone would really want to put their new infant son in a high chair or baby swing all done up in pink. We expect neutral colors in order to get more use out of it. So I think it is reasonable to expect the same when it comes to toys. But that is just my 2 cents! And the bottom line is kids will play with whatever is fun!

 

[rt2dz]

I don't have a problem with my son playing with something that is pink, or his sister's dolls, or with her playing with his hot wheels or star wars toys, like a pp said. But I was trying to answer the OP's question of a brand of dollhouse that wasn't being marketed towards girls.

I think that too many toys are geared specifically towards a particular gender, and THAT I do have a problem with. Of course there are some things that are pink and purple and frilly and what not, but toy manufacturers could definitely be more gender neutral. My ds9 and ds6 will often play with my dd3's dollhouse with her (loving family twin time dollhouse) but both my son's have asked why all dollhouses are pink. And I don't think I've ever come across a purple or pink pirate ship!

Its like all the new strollers and baby swings and pack and plays that are done all in pink now. What happens when baby#2 is a boy? I don't think anyone would really want to put their new infant son in a high chair or baby swing all done up in pink. We expect neutral colors in order to get more use out of it. So I think it is reasonable to expect the same when it comes to toys. But that is just my 2 cents! And the bottom line is kids will play with whatever is fun!

I AGREE!! As the mom of 3 boys and the aunt to 8 girls, I get sick of everything being pink that should be gender neutral. It's not that I have a problem with my boys playing with pink, but it isn't "for boys". And I say that because my oldest decided in pre-k that "Pink is for girls" and would no longer have anything to do with the color. And my middle son did the same thing shortly after turning three. They did not get it at home. As a matter of fact, they got it from girls they played with. Who wants to buy your child a toy and then have him ignore it because it is the wrong color. And then feel the whole activity isn't for boys? We still want our boys to play with kitchens and dollhouses. Heck, our toy kitchen has seen more action than the tool bench.

OK, now that is said...My boys have the Little People everything--farm, house, castle, etc. They also have Playmobile castles, imaginext castles, and some generic tree house. The nice thing about Little People is you can really get a whole town going. Even still, sometimes I go upstairs and all the kids bedrooms and gameroom are covered by a carefully laid out city. They have construction going on, the airport, trainstation, farm, amusement parks, etc. It is so limitless on what they can do with it and even my boys couldn't wreck that stuff if they tried.

 

[Aliceacc]

My yougest got the Dora house a few years ago; why not get Dora and Diego an put them both into it?

And I can see your point about the pink. We, as adults, know that it doesn't matter. But at some point, some child is going to make fun of a boy who owns a "girls" toy and will make him feel bad about it.

 

[lovin'DVC]

My 10 and 8 yo daughters, and my 6 yo son LOVE playing with their Calico Critters (made by International Playthings). They have assorted cute houses and buildings. My kids say they are more fun than playing with a regular dollhouse b/c the dolls are animals instead of people.

Terry