Saturday 20 April 2013

Wonderworld Eco-House


I fell in lust with the Eco House from Wonderworld the very first time I saw it. I loved the solar panels and windmill, and the sheer gorgeousness of it. Unfortunately that was at the end of last year and our Christmas budget was spent in September.


I've continued to spot it everywhere, it's been taunting me and showing off it's little recycling bins and water butt. During the Christmas period we had already bought boy no.4 a selection of smaller items for his birthday this March and didn't think we could justify getting him something big to go with it, but then a wondrous thing happened - he got birthday money!


Without consultation we spent his money, fortunately we know him quite well and he adores small world play and has a great imagination, he spends most of his time playing with 'figures', so we knew we'd be safe.


The open plan layout means this is ideal for more than one child to play at the same time, or just for one younger child who isn't so precise with their play, and the size is a good fit for Playmobil and lots of other little character ranges and vehicles. 

Dolls House Eco

It is a brilliant tool for teaching children to think about the world around them and why we do certain things? Where does electricity come from? Why would you collect water in a water butt? It encourages them to think about materials - which things are glass, plastic, paper? What can we recycle?


Next Monday is Earth Day 2013 and a day when we are encouraged to think about greener and more sustainable alternatives. I fully believe that education should start when our children are very young, and consideration of everyone and everything within our environment should be something that is second nature to them.

boys doll house


This is a really accurate depiction of an ideal eco-house. Our teenagers have spent months doing projects designing eco-houses and the open plan, glass walled, fireplace in the centre of the house layout is spot on. The scooter is electric, the house creates it's own energy, water is collected and waste recycled, they shower - no baths and they grow their own veg. 




The Eco-House is currently on special offer at The Toadstool for £98, which is I feel is a very fair price. It is fairly traded, made in Thailand from sustainably forested Rubberwood and painted with water based non-toxic paints. It should easily outlast your child, it is really robust and has huge scope for play. It is totally appropriate for either girls or boys and has so many fantastic little details which are just not available or thought of usually. We love it!



18 comments:

  1. Bud loved playing with this today. I was surprised at how he enjoyed putting the dolls to bed and, of course, rolling the scooter. I think some kind of dolls house may be in our future!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I realised after you'd gone that you didn't play with it enough - I wasn't even sure if you'd had chance to look at it properly. We should have taken it out in the sunshine with us :)

      Delete
    2. We were looking at it when you were getting ready to leave. Bud was putting the dolls to bed and moving the furniture around. It is amazing quality. I really liked it.

      Delete
    3. Apparently he was playing with it earlier too - he was spotted :)

      Delete
  2. That really does look amazing and it is so nice to see boys playing with a play house. Love that it teaches at the same time as being amazing to play with! Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks hon! I agree that there's no reason boys can't play with a house - it's really nice that this one isn't 'girly' in any way :)

      Delete
  3. It's a winner in this house too< Monkey just loves it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know, you can tell that from your pictures, he's very sweet :)

      Delete
  4. It looks brilliant! I do find it quite expensive though, but if it ever comes on sale then I may be tempted ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a big expense, but we decided it's worth it because it'll last forever - even with 2 rough boys 'playing' with it! It'll go in the loft for our grandchildren :)

      Delete
  5. Love the look of this. Always hate how small the space is in doll houses for manoeuvring the toys. This looks perfect

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't like to say but the boys *whispers* aren't so gentle as the girls, and they tend to thrash the people about a bit more, so the high ceilings and 'glass' walls are brilliant. There's been no frustration at all :)

      Delete
  6. That is a gorgeous house! love the people too! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are so sweet, lovely little faces and really easy to make stand up or lie down etc. We need some more though! :)

      Delete
  7. What a lovely detailed review :) x

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I read every one and try my best to reply!