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Rainbow week, Day 7: Sylvanian Families Review & Giveaway!

I was beyond excited when Sylvanian Families expressed an interest in collaborating during Rainbow week, having been a huge fan as a little girl. I never had Sylvanian Families myself but my best friend Rachael did and they were something I looked forward to playing with every time I went to her house. I was fascinated by the different characters, the houses and cars, and how we could play for hours on end and never get bored. I had no idea they were still going until my girls spotted them on an advert and asked for some of the figures for Christmas. And for the first time in my life I had some of my very own….even if I did have to share!

So for those of you without young children, or for whom Sylvanian Families bypassed your youth, what are these toys I speak of?

“Since 1985, Sylvanian Families has been loved by many people around the world. It is a nostalgic toy range that attracts people from different age groups. Based on three concepts, Nature, Family and Love, children can explore the power of imagination and learn to care and share with one another. Sylvanian Families are there to help children acquire key social skills.”

I think you will agree that the concept of Sylvanian Families is one we can all relate to and for me, as a parent, the kind of toy that I am more than happy for my children to play with.

The girls were very lucky to be sent the new Sylvanian Families Secret Island Playhouse and  an exclusive character. And to say they were excited would be a massive understatement.

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The Secret Island Playhouse is a seaside hide away, over two floors, in the ocean. I was pleased to find that it was very easy to assemble when removed from the box, unlike some toys that seem to take forever to build, and with two very impatient little girls waiting to play with it, it’s a good job too!

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Once assembled The Secret Island Playhouse measures 38 x 21.5 x 33 cm and was plenty big enough to accommodate several Sylvanian Families figures.

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There are over ten high quality accessories, ranging from a snorkel and flippers, to wooden furniture and a treasure map. The attention to detail is very impressive and with it being rainbow week our favourite feature was this beautiful rainbow fish!

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It was lovely to see the girls playing together, very much like my friend and I did at the same age, and it took me back to a time when life was simple. There are so many toys these days that I feel are not age appropriate, where as Sylvanian Families are just really lovely toys, promoting the kind of values that we as parents instil in our children, and quite simply, let children be children.

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When I asked the girls what they thought of their Sylvanian Families Secret Island Playhouse, their response was a resounding, “We love it!!”. Megan actually gave me the biggest hug and told me, “Thank you so much Mummy! It’s beautiful!”, and I have to agree.

Although Sylvanian Families is priced a little higher than some toys, with the Secret Island Playhouse retailing at £39.99, I think that you get exactly what you pay for. You aren’t just buying a toy, it’s more like buying into a whole new world of imagination, and a world that I am more than happy to enter.

The lovely people at Sylvanian Families are offering my readers the chance to win a Secret Island Playhouse of their own, along with an exclusive pack of characters. To enter simply follow the instructions below. Winner will be notified by email on the 27th November.

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375 Comments

  1. My little girl is four and I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before she becomes mad about Sylvanian Families! I’m actually looking forward to it! Loved reading your review. #KCACOLS
    ShinnersandtheBrood recently posted…A very 80s HalloweenMy Profile

  2. Oh how I adored them! Although from a distance because of the price, hopefully I will be able to live out my childhood dreams through my son 🙂

    1. Yes! Same here! I loved going to my friends house to play with them, I’m so excited my girls want them now! xx

  3. My nieces loved playing with these they had loads of the sets Kaitlin was the cousin who loved to go over and play we never had our own.

    1. Oh a Christmas set sounds fab!! I’m going to buy the girls some more for Christmas now, I cant wait! xx

  4. I’m thinking of getting my daughters a Sylvanian Families set for Christmas – I love how innocent / wholesome they are. This set looks like fun, we already have a doll’s house and several Happyland houses so a different type of house would be good. I’m too old to have had these as a child but I can remember younger friends / family having them.
    #MMBC

    1. They really are a lovely, innocent toy aren’t they? When I compare them to some of the other toys these are just so much more age appropriate! xx

    1. Totally agree, I have some friends who moan that SF are expensive but actually when you look at them compared to other toys, they are amazing quality! xx

  5. Oh this was a lovely trip down memory lane for me I loved playing with sets like this when I was little and had many. A castle, a camper van, a treehouse – and these sylvanian family sets look so cute. I would have loved these characters. Thank you for linking up your great giveaway to #EatSleepBlogRT
    Catie recently posted…Best of a Blogging Good Time OctoberMy Profile

  6. This is so cool. I remember these from my childhood but never had any cos I was just a bit too old. Lovely to know my daughter will be able to play with them when she’s a bit older #bigpinklink

    1. I never had any either, although I was obsessed with them, I think they were quite expensive when I was younger, my friend had all of them though and I was super jealous! xx

    1. Ive been looking at getting the girls Beechwood hall, it looks amazing! The options are endless! xx

  7. I LOVED them as a kid. I seem to remember I got the free ones from the tokens on the side of the washing powder. I think my son would love them. I’m going to enter. Thanks! #KCACOLS

    1. Haha I loved a free giveaway on the washing powder or the side of a cereal box! My youngest son LOVES them, they are such a lovely toy! xx

    1. Thanks Jeremy. I imagine they are something all children would love, little girls especially, my two haven’t put it down since they got it! xx

    1. They are fab aren’t they! I don’t know why I didn’t have any despite being such a huge fan, I think Santa missed the memo! xx

  8. they are so adorable and would make a wonderful Christmas present, the kids would be over the moon.

  9. I always look at these and think they are super cute! I never actually had them for my children, not that they missed out as they had and still have so many toys. But it is adorable! Thanks for sharing #mg

    1. They are adorable aren’t they? I just love what they represent and the way the children play with them, they are so innocent! xx

  10. My daughter is mad for sylvanian families. I’d love to win to surprise her at Christmas x

  11. Oh my goodness, I LOVED Sylvanians when I was little. I had a whole little town built up over years of birthdays and Christmases. They were the only toy I really ever wanted. I saw they were still going a few years ago and was super excited to know I’d be able to get them for my children. This new house is brilliant. I’ll definitely be getting my daughter something like this when she’s older. Glad your daughters have been enjoying it! #MarvMondays
    Angela Watling recently posted…What Little H did – 21 monthsMy Profile

    1. Oh you were so lucky, I never had one!! I’m hoping my girls will want more and more, gives me an excuse to relive my childhood! xx

  12. They look adorable. My son would love some. He has not got any yet but always points them out in the shops

  13. i would love this for my nieces as I used to have one when I was younger and I loved it so much!

  14. my other half has always said he would love to get my daughter the sylvanian family, this would be a good start.

  15. lots of fond memories from when i was little and would love this for my little girl to enjoy 🙂

  16. I have four grandchildren who would all love this. The house has so many varied elements to it that make it perfect for creative play and the storytelling games they love, especially the 4 year old who will spend hours moving the little animals around and giving a commentary on what they are doing
    Jane Willis recently posted…Bespectacled SantaMy Profile

  17. I don’t have any children but would love to win this prize to donate to charity, to go to Romania.

  18. Would love to win for my daughter, Isla she adores Sylvanian Family they are top of her Christmas list x

  19. I loved these when I was younger. I had a few but nothing big. My friend had loads of them with a boat, a house… everything! I’d love to get my niece into them, think she’d love them 🙂

  20. I think my girls would love this, I think I missed out on them the first time around so we could all play together!!!!

  21. Would be a wonderful present for my little Granddaughter, she would get hours of fun and amusement with this

  22. A lot of our friends have little children, but with ours having all grown up, we have VERY little for them to play with. This (apart from being adorable) would be the perfect thing to have for the next visitors that roll up.

    Thanks for a wonderful giveaway 🙂 x

  23. i always used to play with sylvanian families and created some good memories would love to create that with my kids x

  24. I’d love to win this for my niece as she’s a huge fan of this line. Thank you so much for the lovely chance 🙂 x

  25. I loved Sylvanian Families as a kid and just started collecting again for myself and my daughter! She’s only a toddler and already hooked. The bunny families are her favorites. 🙂

  26. I would love to win sylvanian-families as my daughter as seen these on adverts and asking for them for christmas!

  27. I loved playing with these when I was a little girl and love how now my little girl loves playing with them

  28. I used to love these when I was younger and would love to start collecting them again for my daughther

  29. My daughter Heidi has always admired the sylvanians she often looks at them when we are in a toy shop! 🙂 They are so so cute!

  30. i used to love my sylvanian family toys when i was a kid, id love to win so i could gift to my cousin 🙂

  31. Have entered! My daughter is really getting into imaginative play alone so i think she would love this one. I bet your girls were so happy. It wasn’t one I played with as a child but I was quite boyish! Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst hun xx
    Sarah Howe @runjumpscrap recently posted…Best and Worst Week #72My Profile

    1. Haha I was quite boyish too but I was desperate for some of these, I had to make do with playing with my friends! Good luck! xx

  32. My autistic son loves Sylvanian Families 😀 he plays with them at my friends house, he never really played before…but recently starting to have a imagination which is so wonderful to see
    Thanks for the chance
    <3 <3 <3 <3

  33. I always wanted some as a kid but never had any, so I’d love to win some for my daughter 🙂

  34. i loved these as a child but my parents could never afford them for me. id love to win for my daughter x

  35. What a blast from the past! I had Sylvanian families sets and figures when I was a little girl and was absolutely besotted with them for years. I’ve recently seen adverts for them on the tv too and was surprised, but very happy to see that they are still made. My little one would love this little set, shes into anything role play, imagination and make believe like this 🙂 Fab giveaway for Rainbow Week, thanks for sharing it on #MarvMondays. Emily

    1. I was surprised they were still going too, but they really are timeless aren’t they? I’m really enjoying playing with them a second time round, ha! xx

  36. My daughter loves Sylvanian families , imagination is endless with them and there’s so much fun to be had , a lot of the play sets are portable too . My daughter would love the rainbow fish they look so adorable!

  37. My daughter would love this it’s adorable and mummy will have loads a fun to. Be a amazing gift for christmas .x

  38. It evokes memories of my own cardboard dolls house. I know my niece would love it. I bought her the Sylvanian Families Seaside Camping set, she had coincidentally just be camping. It turned out to be her favourite toy and it was really reasonable.

  39. My best friend when I was little had a whole collection of Sylvanian Families and I remember being so envious! Now my little neice has started to want her own too and I would love to win this for her so I could take a play down memory lane!

  40. I jkust love all the little animals in the Sylvannian Family, so does my little granddaughter

  41. Jorgie has just started collecting Sylvanian Families and I love watching her play with them. This would be a lovely addition to her collection

  42. My niece collects them and plays with them a lot, this prize would make a great christmas present for her

  43. I really want to donate some toys to our local food bank this year who does a collection at xmas of toys for families who don’t have a lot, and i’d love to win and donate this

  44. My daughter would be over the moon if I won, she adores Sylvanian Familes. I have to admit, so do I!

  45. I would love to win for my youngest daughter. She loves to dissapear into a world of make believe.

  46. Hi Laura, when the Sylvanian Families were created I was a little old for them and my daughter never had them either, favouring Pet Shop instead. You do get what you pay for and I’m guessing that for the Sylvanian Families to have remained popular for so long, they have to not only be fun, but be child friendly too.

    Thank you for linking up to the #MMBC.

    xx
    Debbie recently posted…Giri, Zakynthos – Through My Lens #3My Profile

    1. I totally agree, they are a little more expensive than some toys but their longevity and popularity speaks for itself. I know my friend still has her entire collection thirty years later and her children now play with them too, and they are all in complete working order. That’s the sign of a fab toy! xx

    2. I totally agree, they are a little more expensive than some toys but their longevity and popularity speaks for itself. I know my friend still has her entire collection thirty years later and her children now play with them too, and they are all in complete working order. That’s the sign of a fab toy! xx

  47. I’d love to win them to treat my daughter – they look so adorable and I think she’d play with them for hours and hours

  48. I would love to win for my little one because I was in exactly the same boat as you when I was little, I never had any of my own but one of my friends did, and I thought they were the sweetest, most magical little characters ever.

  49. I loved Sylvanians as a child (still do!) and would love my little daughter to play with them and love them as much as I did

  50. This would be lovely for my 4 year old. She just had some friends over for a small party and was finding sharing a bit difficult. A toy like this would be great to help her practice.

  51. Sylvanian Families were my favourite toys when I was little and now my 5 year old has discovered them and loves them, too. We love playing with them together and this would really update her collection- from my tired originals! Her imagination would be fired by the ocean play set.

  52. I always wanted SF as a child but my mum said it was too dear. I have bought some pieces for my daughter and love SF for her and me!

  53. Perfect for my little girl – her eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw this advertised!

  54. I used to play with these when I was a little girl. Now my little girl is about the right age to play with them too!

  55. My daughter adores sylvanian families. She already is the proud owner of the Beach house, this would make a fantastic addition.

  56. My nearly 8 year old is called Freya and we also have a laugh when the advent comes on the television and it’s “Freya” that they use as a character in it. I just know that would love this as much as I would love to see her playing with it. Best of luck everyone x

  57. Oh my word, this is a blast from the past My whole world was Sylvanian Families when I was a little girl…so great that they are still around…hope I can introduce Emma to it! Thanks for linking up to #DreamTeam, apologies for the late commenting this week! xx
    Bridie By The Sea recently posted…#DreamTeam #28My Profile

    1. No apology needed, you have so much to juggle each week! I loved SF too, I love that they are still going! xx

  58. I still remember the advert for Sylvianian family from when I was a child, nostalgically I would love this for my daughter to treasure

  59. As a child, I always coveted but never owned Sylvanian families, so when 20 years later when my own daughter asked for them, I had as much fun buying and opening them as she did! A few years further on, my youngest daughter also plays with these with her sister but has begun requesting her own set, so this would be perfect!

  60. I would have loved this myself when I was little so know that my niece would love it and I would have the joy of playing with it with her!

  61. This set is just gorgeous! We adore the Sylvanian Families. All three of my kids asked for different houses, cars & animals last Christmas. I’ve entered every giveaway option & have my fingers crossed as I know they’d love this set! Thanks so much for joining us at #BloggerClubUK x
    Becky, Cuddle Fairy recently posted…Our Visit to Dublin Zoo 2016My Profile

  62. i would love to win for my daughter Lily, she recently discovered some mismatching Sylvanian animals at a local Car Boot sale, and adores them, She would love a little home for them to live in x

  63. My daughter has informed me that she asked for the Sylvanian family when she was a little girl and she never received one. Now that she has her own child I am absolutely sure she would be over the moon to receive this gift so that they could spend many hours playing with this toy together

  64. Wow this is a brilliant give away! My daughter absolutely loves Sylvanian families. It’s just so expensive! This would be a great Christmas present. Thanks for the chance to win!

    1. Good luck to you! I agree, when you start with something like this it just keeps going and going! I’m hoping my children will be happy with a small collection! xx

  65. fantastic giveaway our foster children love playing with Sylvanian families, would be lovely to give them there own for christmas to take with them. fingers crossed.

  66. I loved playing with them when I was younger and still have a few items to give to my daughter. They are such good quality.

  67. My littlest munchkin has just discovered Sylvanian 🙂 and she loves them. This would make a fantastic Christmas gift for her x

  68. my little granddaughters have just starting asking for sylvanian families and I know they would love them as mucha s their mum did

  69. Sophie my God-Daughter has asked Santa for any Sylvanian Families so I’d love to win her this & I want to play with it too!

  70. My children played with Sylvannian Families when they were young and now it’s come full circle and my little grand-daughters love them.They’re still as sweet and so collectable x

  71. I remember really wanting a Sylvanian Family treehouse when I was younger, but this brand was so expensive I never got any of them. I my niece would love this for her birthday in February.

  72. They were my favourite toy growing up and now I get to enjoy watching my friend who is 4 playing with my ones again and I know she would love to grow her collection,

  73. My girls love their Sylvanian Families sets, hours od dun playing together with the houses and little school, this looks lovely to add to their collection

  74. Aw…these are gorgeous. My daughter had Sylvanian families when she was little and it would be so nice if her children could share the fun.

  75. Thanks for the lovely giveaway. I would love to win this for my little niece as she would be made up with it.

  76. I would love to win your Sylvanian Families giveaway for my daughter. I used to play with Sylvanian Families when I was little and that was a long time ago. I had lots of fun with them and i want her to too 🙂

  77. Fantastic prize!! What kiddie wouldn’t want one of these?! 😀 Fingers, toes and everything else crossed! x

  78. Loved sylvanian families when I was a kid and now my little girl Megan now loves them. She would love this to add to her collection as has the house , restaurant and nursery. She plays for hours with them.

  79. I’d love to win as Sylvanian Families are top of my daughters Christmas list this year 🙂 We’ve quite a collection, but not this!

  80. Always wanted some when I was younger, but now my great-niece has asked for some for Christmas, so we are getting her some. One of the toys which has stood the test of time and they are still as cute as they were then. This would be an amazing prize. Thanks for the chance. 🙂

  81. My niece has just discovered them and we have all been instructed to purchase a family each for Christmas. I have been tasked with buying the chocolate rabbit family, and I would be the best auntie ever if I won this

  82. I loved Sylvanian Families as a child and this would be perfect for my grand-daughter who i know would love them too

  83. i loved them myself as a child and dint have that many and now my youngest daughter collects them and i love to play with her with them

  84. My children love sylvanian families. I even passed on my old sets from when i was a child to them so this would be a great addition.

  85. I’d love to win this for my daughter. I loved Sylvanian families when I was growing up and my daughter plays with those now, so this would be a lovely addition 🙂

  86. My daughter absolutely loves Sylvanian Families, they are so beautifully detailed and wonderful for inspiring imaginative play.

  87. my girls love playing with these, they have a few and have hours of fun with them. i never had syvanian family’s as a child but love playing with my girls with them

  88. I would love to win because Sylvanian Families are so timeless, and this would be amazing to add to our collection 🙂

  89. I would love to win because I never got one when I was a kid and would love to give this to my niece and play.

  90. I would love to win because my great niece in South Africa loves them, her family has been going through a hard time so this would make a fantastic gift for her – I love sending special gifts to help them out and this year Christmas is going to be hard, but hopefully each little I can help I will to make it extra special.

  91. My two nieces would love to play with this! I remember playing with Sylvania families when I was younger!

  92. Oh I remember my 1st Sylvanian Family I won it in a colouring competition would love to win my daughter 1st

  93. My daughter got the cosy cottage for her birthday and since then she has wanted to collect more. I’ve got her beechwood hall for Christmas and this set would be a lovely addition.

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