Calico Critters...

They have a version at Walmart that is a little more reasonable price wise. They have several "animal" families. Very cute, I do not see them as exclusively girl toys. Having worked in Daycare and Preschool I can say that the home area / kitchen, dress up etc is always popular with both girls and boys. Boys grow up to be doctors and bakers and cooks and fathers...so why would it not be ok for them to pretend? Has always bugged me when someone said such and such was a boy toy and such and such was a girl toy.

I can see why their preferences are disturbing and you have made a good choice to include the receipt. It reminded me of an incident. I teach Sunday school for kids who are just starting 1st grade. Once when choosing crayons, a little girl teased a boy using a pink crayon by saying it was a girl color. The boy got quiet and then a mischievous smile crossed his face as he said "Pink is the new Blue!" And he happily colored with that pink to his heart's content! Create attitudes of resilience!

Back in the good ol' days they were called Sylvainian Families...
Both of my brothers had families. One had the Raccoons. The other the Foxes. And they had the tree house.
All of which my DD now is the caretaker of.

My son is already showing interest in them. Though some of that is that he likes to put them in his mouth. ;) But I am excited!

They are great toys! Perfect for encouraging brain building open ended play.
I say go for it!
You could take them out of their girly packaging...would that help?

My son got some for his 4th birthday and still plays with them! Granted they are usally the bad guys in his superhero games but hey who cares?! I would ask the little boys parents how they felt about a gift like that cause some parents are weird about gender specific toys. It's kinda sad that kids can't play with what they want because society tells them it's wrong.

I've never seen them before! :) I love them. Absolutely love them. I haven't bought enough toys this year to stay on track with my taxes. My kids have been very good about not breaking things. So thanks for the idea! I know exactly what our newest play set will be and a couple hundred dollars would make for a NICE set up.

I would get them.
My kids had them.
I have two of each.

Its cute, it is for any child.
I love em' myself.
Both my kids liked it at that age... I have a boy and girl.

Nicely made products.

Why not.

There are all different kinds of animals in those sets.

My son, also likes farm animal sets.
Or dinosaur sets.

Calico critter sets.... are for any child.
BUT... will his parents... treat him, negatively over it?
If so, that would be sad, for him.
What if they take it away from him?
If might create conflict... in the family and against the boy...

I am one of those parents who raise there kids to play with gender approperiate toys! Shocking I know. Calico Critters boarders on the line of being ok for boys too. I would let my son play with those. But most likely I would buy them for our daughter and if our son liked them too it would be fine. The best thing you could do is to call. Dont be snarky about it because it is there choice to raise there kids the way they see fit not the way you think they should. Ask her if it would be ok to get for her son and tell her how much your son enjoyed them. Otherwise stay in the boy toy section. As far a society telling parents to be gender conscious they arent. most people think its weird not to allow children to play with any toy they want.

I personally think they are great, but I have a strong feeling they would not be allowed by the parents. You can get them and give a gift receipt so the parents can make the decision themselves, or you can get another toy that includes little animals. Kids that age love little people, which also have animals. That might be considered more gender appropriate. I would definitely not get Calico Critters without a way to return them, you never know if your money would be wasted.