DUPLO

Most toddler sets get built once by a parent and then live as scenery. The LEGO DUPLO 3in1 Tree House 10993 is designed around being taken apart again, which changes how long it stays interesting.

Three builds, one box

The same bricks make three different tree houses. In practice this matters less as a feature list and more as a reset button: when interest fades after a few weeks, rebuilding it into another configuration brings the set back without buying anything. Few sets at this age range offer that.

Eight figures do more work than the house

The house is the frame. The eight figures are what the play actually runs on - toddlers narrate with characters, not architecture. Having eight rather than two or three is also what makes this work when more than one child is playing, which is the situation it is most often bought for.

What parents should know

DUPLO bricks are large and there are no small parts, so it suits the age it is sold for. The three-build promise does depend on an adult being involved - a toddler will not reconfigure it alone, and the instructions assume someone reading them. Budget for sitting on the floor with it, at least the first time through each version.

Verdict

A sensible pick for a first larger DUPLO set, particularly in a household with more than one small child. The rebuilds give it a longer life than single-structure toys at the same size, provided someone is willing to do the rebuilding.

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