Christmas Toddler Toys.. dolls houses and playsets

Creating worlds they can control is an important part of a young child’s play time and doesn’t end with girly dolls’ houses.

Many playsets are labelled as suitable for 3 years and over due to their small parts, but if you want to buy one for your toddler use your judgement to decide if you think your child will be safe playing with a set before this age (with your supervision, or with the smaller parts removed for safe keeping for the time being).

Additionally, don’t presume that a boy will shun a kitchen set or that a girl won’t be amused by a garage – if you join their games from time to time, both sexes will enjoy these micro worlds.

Oldfield Farm Set £45, 3+ Farm sets are great for boys as well as girls. This set includes a farmhouse, barn, loft and ladder plus animal shelter. It all stacks into itself for storage and comes with animals. www.next.co.uk	Mike’s Auto Garage £55.16, 3+ This lovely Le Toy Van wooden garage includes two vehicles, four signs, four traffic cones, a working wind up/down lift, helipad and spiral ramps. Add cars as extra. www.soup-dragon.co.uk	Lundby Stockholm Dolls House £85, 3+ There are a few modern dolls’ house sets on the market but this Swedish one is particularly stylish. The swimming pool, mosaic terrace and room lighting (which works!) add to the luxury villa experience. www.kidsen.co.uk
Peppa Pig World of Playsets £19.99, 3+ Create your very own Peppa’s world with this stackable 6-in-1 playset. Look inside Peppa’s yellow house to discover a vet’s surgery, cafe, toy shop, den, doll’s house, and of course a Peppa Pig figure to play with. Peppa’s house also closes into a convenient carry case, storing all playsets for easy play wherever you are. www.johnlewis.com	Rosebud Village Cafe £20, 3+ This pink and blue cafe comes with over 26 accessories, including cash register, coffee machine, chairs and tables, and more. Help the rag doll owner serve coffee to other favourite doll guests. www.elc.co.uk	King Arthur’s Castle Wooden Toy Castle £58, 3+ The drawbridge can be raised and dropped, there is a courtyard trap door, an underground dungeon, and working doors and windows. It comes with six flexible wooden figures, two warhorses and two different flags for the battlements. www.honeybeetoys.co.uk