Calico Critters: Dollhouses and Dolls for Imaginative Play

Calico Critters features a complete line of dolls, houses and furniture from the imaginary world of Cloverleaf Corners. I found these toys to be a great alternative when looking for a first dollhouse for my daughters. I try to look for toys that will encourage them to use their imagination and thought a dollhouse might be a good choice. I knew traditional dollhouse miniatures were expensive, fragile and difficult for kids to take care of. I also had a hard time finding dolls for a dollhouse that were affordable and cute. The Calico Critters, made by International Playthings, were exactly what I was hoping to find.

I originally decided on the Calico Critters because the dolls and furniture would also work in a regular dollhouse. I planned to upgrade to a fancier wooden dollhouse but the girls have ended up enjoying their Calico Critters even now that they're older. The sturdy construction was perfect when they were younger, but now that they're older they love all the little details of the furniture, the teeny tiny accessories and all the cute new animals. They still ask for Calico Critters for birthday and Christmas presents. We learned recently that Calico Critters used to be called Sylvanian Families.

I had a dollhouse as a child, but it wasn't until I watched my kids playing with their own that I realized how much kids benefit from playing with a dollhouse. Their Calico Critters allow them to act out their ideas about relationships and sharing household responsibilities. If they have a problem with friends, they often go play dollhouse and work out a solution to fix the situation. As their Calico Critters collection grows, they are creating their own special world of animals and homes.

Kids don't have much control in real life, but they are in complete control when playing with a dollhouse. They can move all the furniture, put the dolls where they want and make the dolls do whatever they say. I think this is one of the most appealing things about a dollhouse for kids, they get to be in charge of everything. It also provides a great creative outlet. My girls love to create new miniature items for their Calico Critters to use.

Kids of all ages love Calico Critters. Boys seem to enjoy playing with these toys as much as girls do. All the Calico Critters dolls are adorable animals. They come in sets, usually as a family or friends. Kangaroos, puppy dogs and even hedge hogs all live together in Cloverleaf Corners. The dolls have such cute expressions and furry bodies with arms and legs that move. They come with clothes kids can change too.

One of my favorite things about the houses for Calico Critters is how colorful they are. Although the houses are made of plastic, they are so sturdy and well-made with lots of extra details. I know the girls will be able to hand their Calico Critters down to their children one day. There are many different options for houses and even shops. We started small with the Cozy Cottage. It came complete with furniture and Hopscotch Rabbit, so it was an easy way to get started. We eventually upgraded to Cloverleaf Manor. The mansion has nine rooms to decorate and arrange. There's even a cute terrace on the roof! This house opens up in the back so two kids can play together.

Furniture sets can be purchased separately and used with any of the houses. They're also the right size to use in a regular dollhouse or with the Melissa and Doug dollhouse line. I was surprised by how many accessories come with each furniture set. The deluxe kitchen set comes with over 40 pieces, including canisters, baking pans and even miniature carrots and muffins.

The girls are hoping to add to their Calico Critters collection soon. The Treehouse is so different with lots of ways to have fun. It has a water slide, little hidden rooms and lots of inside space for rooms in the tree trunk. The Luxury Townhouse is filled with cute details. The house has working lights and four big rooms to decorate. There's even a balcony and a moveable staircase. It's going to be hard to choose just one. If you are looking for toys that will inspire your kids to use their imagination, take a look everything the Calico Critters have to offer.