OT-Skylanders and Lego Friends

[la79al]

Okay, someone needs to fill me in on Skylanders. What are they? What do they do? Would they be of any interest to a 5 year old girl with a Wii that she hardly ever plays?
Secondly, are Lego Friends basically just sets that include large pieces to build the building with and then a million tiny detail parts? My girls love legos but they are 3 and 5 and would much rather have the little lego blocks to just create their own buildings. They would love the tiny detail pieces though (flowers, pets, etc). Is there anyplace I could pick up just the detail pieces? Are any of the sets on lego.com a good choice? And is there any place that is better (cheaper) to get them?

 

[kellyjeanie]

Skylanders - A video game with external figures to collect that you put on a portal so you can play them in the game. My 5-year-old DD likes them but she also likes video games in general and has a big brother to get her excited about them. I have friends who has DDs who are also gamers (no brothers for them) but they are a bit older. You might be better off looking into the new Disney Infinity as a Skylanders alternative.

Lego Friends - They are a Lego set like any others, lots of blocks and small pieces. Plenty of room for imaginative play/free building. I saw some small sets at Walmart that included just a pet and a few blocks to make a small habitat - they were around $5, I think? Otherwise best place to get them is to watch for Lego sales at Toys R Us or stalk Walmart/Target for clearance.

 

[Mayhem1976]

My 6YO is into Skylanders. We don't have a gaming console, so no portal, but you can add the codes to the iPad apps.

Lego friends the only difference is the figures aren't like regulat mini figures. My nieces have both and play with them all together, but they do like the figures a little better from the friends because they look more like people.