WHAT IS PLAYMOBILE?
BY KIM, BROOK AND AMY
We have been asked this very question many times. Parents of our children’s friends come over and ask to see the toy their child begs to own. Here is a sampling of what we’ve heard:
“Griffin and I have been waiting all day to play with Playmobil.” (boys, ages 10)
“My daughter has been asking for a Playmobil dollhouse. What is she talking about?”
(girl, age 5)
“My son loves the PBS show Liberty’s Kids. He likes to re-enact the program with his Playmobil figures.”
Playmobil is a European toy that came to the United States in the 1970’s. It is a very durable, high quality toy that has exquisite detail and endless play value (play value is indicative of how much a child actually plays with a toy.) Playmobil is an “open-ended” toy (the kind Jane Healy recommends for brain connections). It does not release new sets to accompany the latest movie; however, it is based on many themes: farm, adventure, police and fire, modern living, Victorian living, vacation, fantasy, castle, etc. So why is this toy so great? Why do children phone and invite themselves over to play? Because it does NOTHING! Children use their imaginations to create the scene. They can interact with one another or they can play alone, contentedly. Children set up scenarios involving rescues, car chases, baby sitting, camping, town life, castle sieges and farm life. This allows them to be heroes, adventurers, care givers and risk takers. At our homes we often find several children, varying in ages from 4 to 12, playing with Playmobil.
Playmobil is also a great investment. It is made of very durable plastic. Lost or broken pieces can easily be replaced with a phone call to Playmobil. Playmobil publishes a beautiful, full-color catalog every year. It’s organized by themes and makes gift shopping a breeze for grandparents, aunts and uncles. All the themes have several pieces that can be purchased to accompany the main pieces. It’s great fun to see children interchanging pieces from different themes. You could observe a modern day police officer patrolling the centuries old castle. Farm life can be a welcome addition to the Victorian home, modern living, or the gothic castle. Every child has a preference, and there is something for everyone!
Playmobil also has extra pieces called “Add-ons”. These are handy when you need that one extra race car fro little brother or those 3 extra horses for the farm. Every year Playmobil develops new themes and adds pieces to established themes. This is a widely anticipated event for those of us that love Playmobil!
If you’re getting started in Playmobil, here are a few tips:
-Bring home a Playmobil catalog and enjoy it with your child. Some people tell us their children spend hours with this catalog.
-Discover the theme(s) that your child loves best.
-Purchase enough to allow for 3 or more children to play together.
-If you are purchasing a large set, allow 3 hours for assembly. First time buyers can become overwhelmed. The sets are easily assembled and stay together once assembled. Include older children in the assembly process. The staff at CLT are always happy to help.
-If you are purchasing for a younger child (under 6), consider putting away some of the smaller pieces. Many times they simply like to place a person on a horse or in a car, and drive them around. Later on, you can bring out the tire changer, toolbox, tools, etc. This way it will be more enjoyable to your child.
-Store your Playmobil in a plastic container. Your child will be able to easily identify their Playmobil set and bring it out to play. Smaller pieces are best stored in smaller plastic bins.
-Keep all directions on file. If you lose or break a piece, it can easily be replaced by phoning Playmobil. Most parts cost less than 50 cents.
-Give grandparents, aunts and uncles Playmobil catalogs. This makes it easy for everyone to purchase the perfect gift.
-Play with your child. You may find you enjoy and love Playmobil as much as she does. WE DO!
-By Kim, Brook and Amy (who work at Creative Learning Toys partly to support their Playmobil addiction)
Back to Current Articles.
|
