Do you think 7 year old girls are too old for Calico Critters?

[Disneyland1084]

For those of you who aren't familiar with Calico Critters, check this out:
http://calicocritters.com/home#/playsets/lodge I'm getting my 3 year old DD a set, but I'm wondering if my 7 year old DD would be too old for it. I was all set to buy her one, but then DH said he thinks she's too old. On a lot of their products, they say the age range is 3 to 7. DD will be 8 in April. I think she would like it, but not sure how long she'd be into it, if at all. What do you think?

 

[Schmeck]

My girls loved them for years, and have some displayed in their rooms as young adults. We never got into the accessories though, just the families. They were just so cute!

 

[coliebird]

My daughter will be 8 in January and she loves her Calico's. Even my 11 year old will play them with her (as long as it's kept quiet lol).

 

[antmaril]

I babysat for my six year old niece recently and she played very nicely with her Calico Critters. It didn't look to me like she was going to be bored with them any time soon.

 

[Katie Dawn]

Go for it! My DD is 3 & we have lots fun with these items but there's so many tiny pieces that require fine motor skills that my daughter sometimes gets frustrated (for instance, placing tiny muffins in the tiny muffin tin.) On that level the 7 yr old might enjoy it more. I feel like she is just starting to engage in real role play with these toys; for the longest time she's wanted you to have "conversations"with us through the characters (or she would feed the baby a bottle herself) but is just starting to have the Mama feed the baby,or have one of them cook, etc. I think she's got several years of "role playing" to go.

I remember continuing to play with similar toys through 4th grade. Get her a set!

Also, in case you didn't know, there is a compatible but much more affordable set available at Target (made by Battat) called Lil' Woodzeez. Calco Critters is better quality and so we have a mixture of the two. Would suggest these two items:
http://www.woodzeez.com/pages/houses/6089M-general_store.html
http://www.woodzeez.com/pages/houses/6088M-bakery.html
They run about $25/set.
Have fun shopping (and playing!)

 

[dbrn]

My daughter is 7, will turn 8 in August, and whenever we go to Toys 'R Us, she always checks out this aisle in the store. She loves them. I think they're still an appropriate gift at age 7.

 

[rodeo65]

My daughter who is 11, was around 6 or 7 when she was given her first critters and then went on to collect several families and a house and furniture. It sits on small play table in her room that she has outgrown and can't sit at comfortably anymore, but she won't let me take it down. I've tried several times over the past year or so to try to move it to the basement to clear some space in her room, but she says no she still plays with them. Not sure when because I don't see it happening, but she is still attached.

 

[meajuly5]

My seven year old has outgrown them

 

[wiigirl]

My daughter is 10 and she still plays with them...

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

My eight year old daughter LOVES her Calico Critters. They are one of her favorite toys, and most of her friends also play with them. I think they are a fantastic toy for children that age. I'd be more concerned about giving them to a three year old, since they are so small and easily lost (leading to mad searches of the house at bedtime), but you know your three year old better than we do.

 

[NY Disney fan]

My 7 year old loves them. But right now she is obsessed with Lalaloopsy minis.

 

[MarciaBrady]

No way!! I like Calico Critters, for goodness sake. (I don't have that many, though.)

 

[bjscheel]

Is she into pretend play? That may be your best indicator. And 7 is still really a little girl, if she likes to pretend I would do it.

Although my DD12 has always been into pretend play with dolls and stuffed animals and will still do it to this day, she never did get into her Calico Critters. But she hasn't wanted to get rid of them either.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Not at all!

I would think the best age range for these would be 5-10, maybe even up to 12, for collection purposes.

 

[skimama]

I don't think its too young, depending on her temperament. I played with dollhouses for a long time when I was young. Arranging and 'redecorating' the rooms, etc. I do think she might like the Calico's better if they were in a house or building. Might be fun to have an apartment style building, with one animal family in each unit.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Thank you everyone for your responses. My 7 year old is still into pretend play, but not as much. A poster mentioned with my 3 year old that losing pieces might be a problem. That crosses my mind with every toy I get her. I'm still undecided what I'm going to do,but am still curious to read more responses.

 

[skimama]

Thank you everyone for your responses. My 7 year old is still into pretend play, but not as much. A poster mentioned with my 3 year old that losing pieces might be a problem. That crosses my mind with every toy I get her. I'm still undecided what I'm going to do,but am still curious to read more responses.

Losing pieces will be an issue for sure with the 3 year old. We overcame that by storing away all the tiny tiny parts, and limiting the rest that it needed to stay inside the doll house. Then the whole thing is kept in a separate room from the playroom with other sets, such as Lego and board games.

 

[cari12]

For those of you who aren't familiar with Calico Critters, check this out:
http://calicocritters.com/home#/playsets/lodge I'm getting my 3 year old DD a set, but I'm wondering if my 7 year old DD would be too old for it. I was all set to buy her one, but then DH said he thinks she's too old. On a lot of their products, they say the age range is 3 to 7. DD will be 8 in April. I think she would like it, but not sure how long she'd be into it, if at all. What do you think?

Does she have any already and does she play with them? Also, if they each had a set then they could play them together.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

My daughter is almost 13 and I think she would love to have some of those if she saw them. However she is being raised by a mother that still collects American Girl dolls and accessories at 32 so I think we are more the exception than the rule.

 

[Disneyland1084]

Does she have any already and does she play with them? Also, if they each had a set then they could play them together.

No, and I was thinking the same thing.