• How to use vintage iron on transfers
    crafts - vintage

    How to use vintage iron on transfers

    July 12, 2017 - By 

    My 5 year old loves Sylvanian Families and when I was looking for vintage SF things on eBay I came across a set of transfers from an old issue of Prima magazine from June 1990. I’d been looking for some Sylvanian Families t-shirts for a while but couldn’t find any so this seemed like the next best thing – the perfect way to make my own! The listing for the vintage transfers had ended but I managed to find another set on eBay. They were part of a bundle of vintage magazines and embroidery patterns. They arrived this week and…

  • Sylvanian Families Secret Island Playhouse
    Friends of Sylvanian Families - parenting - playing - toy review

    Sylvanian Families Secret Island Playhouse

    June 18, 2017 - By 

    Little Sis is a very lucky little lady. She’s been quite poorly lately and seems to keep picking up the same tummy bug which is passing through her Reception class. She’s had quite a few days at home with me (which I secretly enjoy and I think she does too!). Last week she was at home, sick again, when we had a very special delivery. As Friends of Sylvanian Families we were so lucky to receive the Sylvanian Families Secret Island Playhouse to review! Take a look at our unboxing video before I tell you a little more about it.…

  • Christmas small world play
    Christmas - Friends of Sylvanian Families - playing - toy review

    Christmas small world play {Sylvanian Families Christmas Set}

    December 15, 2016 - By 

    My 5 year old loves small world play. She always has done and I love getting her toys to support this. She has a lot of Playmobil and Sylvanian Families toys, both of which are perfect for this. Small world play is really important as it encourages a wide range of skills, including language and literacy, understanding of the world and working together. It encourage children to use their imaginations, express thoughts and experiences into their play, whilst exploring the world in which they live. I’ve noticed that my daughter’s play has taken a decidedly festive turn recently. I often hear…

  • Bento - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Sylvanian Families bento lunch

    October 2, 2015 - By 

    I have one very tired 3 year old at the moment. This is her second week of pre-school and as much as she loves going, she is also tired and grumpy after each session. To cheer her up at the end of the week I thought I would make her a bento lunch inspired by her favourite Sylvanian friends. She has to have an early lunch for her afternoon sessions so bento is perfect for filling her up and making lunch time fun.  Sylvanian Families bento lunch My daughter’s favourite Sylvanian, Freya Chocolate Bunny, helped me decide what to include.…

  • Autumn scavenger hunt and sensory tray
    Autumn - Crafts for kids - Friends of Sylvanian Families

    Autumn sensory tray with Sylvanian Families

    September 18, 2015 - By 

    Now my son is back at school Little Sis has been taking an interest in her own toys again. During the holidays she was happy to be directed by her older brother but I’m pleased to see her going back to her own toys now. This week she has been playing Sylvanian Families a lot so I though it would be fun to go on an autumn scavenger hunt and have some nature play. There are plenty of outdoor spaces near us so every day we have looked for conkers, acorns and different leaves. The leaves are changing colour really…

  • how to store Sylvanian Families toys
    Kids crafts - playing - toy review

    Aquabeads Sylvanian Families

    September 8, 2015 - By 

    You know we love crafting with Aquabeads so we were quite excited to see an Aquabeads Sylvanian Families set when we were in Hamleys toy shop last week. I know my children have plenty of toys but I couldn’t resist buying this set. My 3 year old really enjoys crafting with Aquabeads which surprised me as I thought she would find them too small. However, she’s really good at finding the correct colour and placing it in the right place and I knew she would love this set. Aquabeads Sylvanian Families The Aquabeads Sylvanian Families set is a refill set so…

  • 10 Sylvanian Families crafts
    Friends of Sylvanian Families - Kids crafts - playing

    10 Sylvanian Families crafts

    March 20, 2015 - By 

    My 3 year old has fallen in love with Sylvanian Families, just as I did when I was her age. First made in 1985, Sylvanian Families is an adorable range of distinctive animal characters set to turn #30yearsyoung today (20th March 2015). I love to bring crafts into our play and when I saw an egg box boat craft in the latest issue of prima makes I knew we should make it. It only took 10 minutes and kept my 3 year old occupied for an afternoon. We used the bottom of an egg box as a boat, added a knitting…