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What Are Real Parents Saying About This Toy Company? Find Out Here

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ByChristen RussoAug 20, 2024In Partnership With Schleich

If there’s one consistent truth about my parenting style, it’s this: I leave room for spontaneity. 

I revisit this core value constantly—am I overscheduling us? Do I have snacks ready and packed? And, a big one: does this toy invite imaginative play? If it’s an end-goal-oriented toy, it’s going to have finite use and limit my daughters’ potential for growth.

That’s why I’m telling everyone I know about Schleich toys. Schleich creates play worlds that tick the boxes for both focused and relaxed play styles. Bonus points for the nostalgia factor! 

Let’s get into why Schleich are turning out to be my favorite parenting hack:

Here are the Schleich toys we chose

I wanted to set my family up for success by creating a play environment that would occupy my girls for long stretches. So I ordered each of them a large barn with animals, plus two additional farm animal bundles. 

The addition of the 10-Piece Farm World Super Farm Set ensures my kids have enough classic farm animals to create families and imagine complex barnyard dynamics. The 7-Piece Farm Animal Bundle rounds out our collection to include a few different characters, like the dalmatian, rooster, and goat.

The day our Large Barns arrived officially marked the longest peaceful sibling play under our roof. My six-year-old and three-year-old sat together with their barns for three entire hours, seamlessly switching between collaborative and independent play. Nobody asked for screen time or distraction. It was amazing.

The setup was surprisingly rewarding

Schleich has play worlds for a range of young interests, including dinosaurs, some mythical creatures, wild animals from around the world, and even some movie characters. The modular sets don’t arrive assembled, but they do have clear instructions and come together easily. 

When our Large Barn kits arrived, we immediately started putting them together. I wasn’t sure how that would look with my three-year-old involved. But with some patience and guidance, it went surprisingly smoothly. It gave my littlest a chance to participate as an equal in something I would’ve perceived as above her development level. It was wonderful to see them both learning.

All types of play have a place here

Now that our barns are built and used, I can say for sure that the quality is top-notch and the attention to detail is impressive. For my older child who is very specific and loves realistic scenes, the toys that actually work, like doors that latch, a wheelbarrow that rolls, and a feed carousel that empties into a trough, are deeply satisfying. Her fine motor skills are active, and she’s learning how various farm animals would really interact in a shared space. I’m so impressed!

But there’s also opportunity to enjoy the larger concepts with the barn! My younger child has hers stripped-down of the movable parts like buckets and flower boxes and pitchforks, and she’s been having fun inventing make-believe scenarios for her animals. She comes up with voices for each animal and makes us all laugh. 

Our farm animals come with us everywhere

Our Large Barns have been all over our home, from the dining room table to the front porch and backyard. It’s amazing how different settings, and even changes in lighting, ignite different ideas. Because of their modular nature, there’s potential to add different sets down the line. 

The farm animals are our constant companions. They’re a great icebreaker when my kids are trying to make friends at the playground. My girls’ current favorites to share are the dove (so tiny!) and the bunny from the 10-piece animal set. As a parent, I love that they’re waterproof and washable. 

Let’s get your family’s story started with Schleich

It seems too simple to be true, but these comprehensive farm sets have massively reduced screen time in our family and boosted the imagination and curiosity in my kids. Opportunities for problem-solving, storytelling, and learning are abundant with our Schleich toys. It’s time for your family to ditch the technology and experience the possibilities!