As a parent, you enter – or rather re-enter – the World of Toys.
One of my favourite rediscoveries has been Playmobil. For those who aren't familiar, this is a range of plastic figures and playsets that allow kids to play at all sorts of things, from construction to hospitals. They're a bit smaller than your typical action figure (that's because of the 1970s oil crisis, trivia fans) and so they're just the right size for little hands.
I loved Playmobil as a kid, and Flea loves it almost as much. She can be entertained by herself for an entire morning with her Playmobil figures, lost in her own little world of dinosaurs, pirates and Egyptian skeletons.
However, if you're new to the world of Playmobil, let me be your guide. Let me tell you not to buy that little set where the two robbers steal the jewels because it has an unbelievably annoying alarm that goes off every time you move the toybox. Let me be the one o tell you that if you buy the lovely Playmobil hospital, you're going to lose eight hours of your life and possibly create life-long feuds with your partner as you try to assemble it.
Over at The Great Toy Guide, we have put together these reviews of 12 best-selling Playmobil playsets, for anyone who might be considering investing. If you're responsible for buying presents for a child aged 4 or over this Christmas, I urge you to click on the link above and go check them out – after all, where else can you buy your child a toy jewel thief or sarcophagus?
We have some Playmobil dinosaurs that get played with often even though Big E is not yet 3 years old.
I’m certain he’ll be getting more for his 3rd birthday in November.
I will look forward to the reviews.
Playmobil is a great toy in many ways but it annoys me because it has so many LITTLE BITS. Now you have a girl who probably doesn’t throw stuff around so much, but my children simply love to spread LITTLE BITS around the house – I am forever ferreting in the horrible gunk under cupboards and behind radiators to retrieve it.
I love Playmobil. And I am anal about toys ( see http://deerbaby.blogspot.com/2009/09/toy-snob.html) so I have effectively ruled myself out of reviewing any toys! I was sad when my son moved on from it. We had loads although we lost a lot down the cracks in the floorboards ( I agree with nappyvalleygirl it gets everywhere). But it is virtually indestructible. We have saved it all for my 20 month old daughter. It is unisex too which is another good thing. Looking forward to the reviews!
I only remember one Playmobil toy from when I was a child. We had a diver and he had lead boots. I loved that toy. Cannot wait until Piran is old enough to play with it.
Lead boots? Crikey, was that in the 70s?
Just don’t tell your child that the fire engine accessories can use real water. I never did, and I got away with it!