Five year olds like to (1) run trains FAST. Thus at least one oval with maximum curves. (2) they also like to race two trains. Thus a double track oval. They like to make structures out of plastic blocks or lego, so one area should be flat and clear. Buy plenty of blocks. Another five year old treat is pushing toy cars around. They LOVE this activity. So you need a painted highway next to the edge that the child can reach and a variety of painted routes and a fleet of a half dozen of identical trucks or buses. They don't have to be scale. It is nice to have the layout close to the floor. Maybe twelve inch legs, and sturdy enough for them to get on the board. My layout at age five was on twelve inch legs. It was two foot away from the wall so I could walk around it. Painted roads and features so when they play on the board they can not break things. Low yard signals of the lionel type.. The changing colors as the train go by are interesting to a child. Also think exploding boxcar and missile launch car. This should be a play layout. Finally, think a large oval and a switch leading to the inside. You lay no track here, but have a box with four manual switches and lots of tubular track (cheap). Easy to put together. The child will change this area, with various combinations of track and switches. This track will NOT be tacked down. Forget scale and trees and detailed modeling. Changing the interior track layout sidings by the child will have play value. Think about a long runway for planes painted on with a sturdy metal fighter the child can imagine rolling down the painted runway and making it zoom in his hands! Another great five-year old activity. And a military area filled with toy soldiers and vehicles. How about a theme of a military railroad serving an airfield ?Remember for a five year old you are constructing a "play" activity. There should be no sharp corners. Round the four ninety degree angles at the corners of the board. Think "menards". They have six packs of flatcars with tanks for example, or helicopters. They have the best selection of five-years old play stuff of anyone at reasonable prices. The low yard signals of the type shown are five year old proof when they go on the board. Buy several. Cutting to the chase I vote no on buying a finished layout. It's a boring layout for a five year old. All you need is 3/4 plywood. I recommend five by nine. Forget about the foam top. They won't be running enough to worry about noise. In four years build a conventional layout. Your initial carpet layout with sidings was excellent for a five year old. When you paint roads you do the edges and let him paint in between.
Attachments
Images (8)
