The Sims 4: Growing Together is a highly anticipated expansion pack that introduces a new world with a focus on social and family interactions, as well as the journey of growing up. This expansion is a welcome addition to The Sims 4 series as it offers unique and meaningful interactions. To align with this vision, the Growing Together pack provides players with a diverse and functional selection of Create-a-Sim (CAS) items for all ages and genders. The pack includes new clothing options, hairstyles, skin details, and accessories to provide even more customization and enhance each Sim's appearance.
The base game of The Sims 4 introduced a new life stage, infants, and with it came a range of new Create-a-Sim (CAS) items. The Growing Together expansion pack expands upon this collection, offering even more CAS items for all life stages, including infants. The new items focus on practical, modern, and casual looks, similar to those found in the Parenthood pack, allowing players to create Sim families to their liking. Along with the CAS items, this expansion pack also introduces new aspirations for child Sims. In CAS Screen, players can also choose household relationships, which now adds different family dynamics as well.
Sources for this article and its images include EA.com and Growing Together Trailers and Official Livestream.
Infant CAS Items
Growing Together may not have as many items specifically designed for infants as the base game, but it does offer a new selection of clothing, hairstyles, accessories, and skin details for all age groups. The skin details are suitable for all ages, and for infants, players can choose a new heart-shaped birthmark that can be placed on either the right or left side of the forehead.
The infant items in this expansion pack are practical and cute, with an up-tied hairstyle, a knitted hat with cat ears, fancy sunglasses, and adorable onesies that are appropriate for different seasons and temperatures. These new items enable players to create even more unique and charming infants for their Sim families. However, the expansion pack does not include any new shoes, socks, or separate top and bottom items.
Toddler CAS Items
Growing Together offers an extensive selection of adorable clothing options for toddlers. As they did not receive any new additions in the base game update, it's exciting to see that toddlers are thought to be on par with infants in terms of cuteness, hence plenty of items are included with the expansion pack. In addition to the forehead birthmark, the expansion pack introduces new skin details, including a set of realistic-looking freckles, mouth scars, and eye scars for ages toddler and up. While there are no new hats, the pack features three new hairstyles, and the accessory section includes eye-catching sunglasses that resemble the colorful heart-shaped sunglasses from the High School Years expansion.
The clothing options for toddlers include tops, bottoms, and full outfit options, as well as shoes and socks that cater to any occasion, from casual playtime to formal events. With these additions, players can create unique and stylish looks for their toddler Sims. Additionally, there is a new styled look for toddlers.
Child CAS Items
In addition to the new aspiration, Growing Together expansion pack introduces various customization options for Child Sims, including outfits, hairstyles, accessories, and skin details. As for the hairstyles, players can choose from four new options, including three styles that are also available for toddlers. The expansion pack also includes additional skin detail options for both the face and body, expanding on the existing scar and birthmark options.
In terms of accessories, there is a new bicycle helmet and a range of necklaces to choose from, giving players more options to personalize their Sims. However, there are no new shoe styles or other body or face accessories introduced with this expansion pack. Nonetheless, with the abundance of new customization options available, players can create unique and diverse Child Sims to suit their preferences.
Teen And Older CAS Items
Growing Together, like other expansion packs and the base game, does not offer clothing options that are exclusive to specific age groups. The clothing options are still categorized into masculine and feminine, but players can mix and match them as usual. The pack includes a larger variety of items for these age groups, and although players can use skin details from younger age groups, it also introduces new mole skin details for older Sims. In terms of hairstyles, the pack offers a plethora of options, including new hats and earrings, but no new makeup options.
The clothing section includes an extensive collection of tops, bottoms, and full body items that reflect a stylish, practical, and casual look, suitable for many age groups. However, there is only one legging item for feminine Sims in the body accessory category, and no new shoe options for either masculine or feminine styles. For male Sims, there is a new beard in the facial hair category. Below is a list of items from all categories separated into Feminine and Masculine filters:
Child Aspirations (MultiSkill)
The base game of The Sims 4 provides four child aspirations that correspond to the primary skills that children need to work on before moving on to adult skills. However, Growing Together takes a unique approach by grouping all four aspirations into one category named Multiskill. Unlike the previous aspirations, these do not require children Sims to focus on one skill, but instead encourage them to develop multiple skills to a mid-level.
Multiskill features four different aspirations: Playtime Captain, Creative Genius, Mind and Body, and Slumber Party Animal. Each aspiration includes three levels with various tasks and goals, including leveling up the Child skills to a certain level, but also incorporating a new activity into the gameplay. For instance, building and staying over at a treehouse, playing at a splash pool, and biking are just a few of the examples that Multiskill aspirations include.
The new approach of this category allows players to focus on developing their child Sims' multiple skills and encourages them to explore and have fun through different activities. This way, players can feel more invested in their child Sims' growth and progression as they navigate through the various aspirations and tasks.
The Sims 4 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S