What about these items?

[cheerfuldom]

Does anyone have a play barn and horses/animals? What is your experience with that activity? Any recommendations on brand?

What about castle and figurines (knights, princesses, etc.)?

[childcaremom]

I have gotten a lot of similar themed items from etsy sellers. All wooden, all high quality and the kids love them.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188639257/wise-wizard?ref=listing-shop-header-3

I've purchased a few of her toys. Best wooden toys ever!

[Josiegirl]

I just have a Fisher Price barn and animals, it makes noises and the kids love it. I bought it at a yard sale for 3 bucks. Then I bought a castle by Melissa and Doug, no pieces, for .50. That gets played with a lot with all our people and animals. Unless you can afford to buy new maybe wait for yard sales and see?

I used to have a LT horse barn with tons of horse but for some stupid reason I gave it away. With all my horse crazy kids now, I sure wish I'd kept it!

[SilverSabre25]

Schliech animals and a Melissa and Doug barn from Once Upon a Child.

[Chellieleanne]

I had a fisher price barn with animals, a tractor, and even a farmer but the barn was ignored along with the farmer, the tractor gets played with (while racing cars) and so do the animals(while playing with blocks) . So the barn is in a box to donate/sell when I decide what to do. Race tracks are a favorite here, I haven't had the chance to get a house/castle yet though so I don't have input.

[Leigh]

My kids love the Schleich animals. They get up to 2 hours of play per day. They get played with EVERY day by all ages. They're not cheap, but they seem to last forever. I try to pick up a new on every time I order from Amazon or when I go to the farm store every month to buy dog food. I really believe that they are the best investment that I have made as far as daycare toys go. I do have a barn set, as well as a set of farm equipment. They get played with sporadically, but no one seems to really love them-The silo is what gets the most use (kids love to see what they can fit inside there).

As far as the other figurines, go, my kids love the Imaginext stuff, too. Especially the firehouse and truck. I bought them the city rescue center and some accessories at Christmas time, and they're a hit, too.