Christmas gift for a 7-year-old: build the station, then play the story
Many seven-year-olds know exactly who they want to be in the game: the one who drives out to put out the fire, or the one who catches the thief. So a gift works well if it can be built and then used for role play. A station in Crateit Town can do both. The range is recommended for ages 5-9, so seven is right in the middle.
The stations come in uncoloured wood, and the parts click together without glue or tools. First the child builds, then the child colours, and then the play begins. Whether the gift is for a boy or a girl is up to the child's own interests, not the set.
The Fire Station
The Police StationThe Fire Station: a call-out with three vehicles
The Fire Station has 72 pieces and 3 wooden vehicles and measures 60 × 28 cm assembled. There is room for a call-out, and the alarm can go off whenever the game wants it to.
The Police Station: jail, lookout tower and patrol
The Police Station has 80 pieces and 3 wooden vehicles and measures 74 × 29 cm assembled. The station has both a jail and a lookout tower, so there is plenty to build and plenty to play with when the patrol gets back.
How to get the game going
Our blog about role play with firefighters and police suggests, among other things, that an adult calls in a fire in the living room, or that a teddy has gone missing and the police have to find clues. Swap roles along the way, so the one who was the firefighter becomes the one who needs rescuing.
The stations fit into the town
Both stations fit together with the rest of Crateit Town. The City Gas Station is somewhere to fill up after the call-out, and the road signs put rules along the road. Small cars such as Turbo Racer and Thunder Truck can become the thief on the run or the lorry that needs a clear road.
Let the child do the colouring
The wood is uncoloured, so put a set of Crateit markers with the gift. Our blog recommends markers with a 3 mm tip for the large surfaces and 1 mm for the details, and you can read more in how to colour wooden toys with markers. A seven-year-old can give the fire station its own colours and the police station a completely different look.
How to choose
- The child who loves call-outs and alarms: the Fire Station.
- The child who loves solving cases and patrolling: the Police Station.
- Siblings who have to share: both stations, so there are two teams in the game.
See all of Crateit Town, or read about toys for 5 to 8-year-olds and find more ideas in the Christmas gift guide and on the page about screen-free toys. For a younger child: gifts for a 5-year-old or gifts for a 6-year-old. From grandparents: gifts for grandchildren.
Frequently asked questions
What age are the sets for?
Crateit Town and Crateit Roomies are recommended for ages 5-9 and suitable from age 3. The age is shown on each product page.
What is the difference between the Fire Station and the Police Station?
The Fire Station has 72 pieces and 3 wooden vehicles and measures 60 × 28 cm assembled. The Police Station has 80 pieces and 3 wooden vehicles, has a jail and a lookout tower and measures 74 × 29 cm assembled. Both click together without glue and come in uncoloured wood.
Can a 7-year-old assemble the sets alone?
The parts click together without glue or tools, and an assembly guide is included. The product pages recommend that children up to age 5 assemble together with an adult. From age 5, many children can assemble them alone, perhaps with a little help with the first ones.
Do we need markers?
Yes, the sets come in uncoloured wood. Crateit markers go on layer by layer, so you can colour over them again when the play changes.
When should we order before Christmas?
We ship from our own warehouse in Odense with GLS, and delivery takes 1-3 working days. For delivery in Denmark before Christmas, order by Thursday 17 December.
Can we return the gift?
Yes, there is a 14-day right of return.
