Playmobil????

[ellairiesmom]

First off-at what age do we move from Toddlers to The Childhood Years?

Now, my toy question...I can't believe I don't really know...but what exactly is Playmobil? I looked them up, read up on wikipedia but still don't quite get whether it's something that is already put together or if it's like a lego thing that the kids actually build themselves & then play with?

DD1s 3rd bday is coming up & I am trying to figure out some more ideas for friends & family members. (we have a big fam) I have read on here that Playmobil seems to get a lot of love. Also Magnatiles & Duplo blocks? (Magnatiles are expensive so we may save that for christmas from us)

We already have the My 1st Dollhouse which gets played with and the wood Mushroom Fairy Treehouse which doesn't get played with (well, i play with that a little when I am cleaning up). We also have the Little People Fairy House which gets played with. The vintage Little People Farm & Caillou Treehouse (ebay finds) get tons of play.

We have some nice wooden blocks that she forgets about often but if we offer to build with her, she really gets into those.

Considering the above info-do we want/need Playmobil and/or Duplo blocks/Legos in our house???

[physmom]

We have a lot of the same toys as you do. Tons of Little people stuff that I was lucky enough to pick up used that DD uses all the time. She also has some wooden blocks that she's had since infancy but she's never liked them for building. Right now she mostly just uses them to color on.

HOWEVER, we bought her a set of megablocks and it was like we hit the toddler jackpot. She's constantly building stuff with them and she likes to test her constructions by sitting on them. The same kid that can barely stack 2 blocks on top of each other builds huge towers with these that her dolls play with. She's some what younger than your DD but if they have roughly the same interests I'd think a set of Duplos or Legos would be a big hit. I really don't know much about Playmobil... I think you do build some of the stuff but not much from what I've seen in stores. If you already have all that Little People stuff it doesn't seem necessary. I'd go more for the Legos that will let her build whatever she wants.

[weliveintheforest]

Playmobil is mostly figures and things, with a little bit of building to put things together. My son is nearly 3 and loves playmobil, but takes it apart. He is happiest just to to play with people and animal figures. I got him a playmobil pony and boy for only 4 dollars. It's the same with the lego, he doesn't build with it, but loves the little people, boats, cars, animals, etc.

[galincognito]

i think playmobil could be viewed kind of as little people toys but for the older kid; kind of like the next level.

my kids are similar to what you describe and i'd say that they get equal play from their blocks as their playmobil (which is only one set).

personally, i'd probably go with blocks in your case just because it seems like your dd has more toys (which playmobil would be another of). just a different option to play with.

gosh, i realize now that very little of this actually makes sense! i blame pregnancy and climbing toddlers!!

[ellairiesmom]

Which blocks???

Thx so much everyone!

I am going to hold off on suggesting any Playmobil for now. She just started a couple mornings of Preschool today & they have a bunch there so I am going to ask them if she shows any interest in them over the next couple months. It could be a Christmas idea or a next year type thing.

Blocks ?...should we do Mega Bloks, Duplos or dive into legos????

[marieangela]

I have a 7 1/2 year old, a 5 year old and a 19 month old. We've got playmobil, megablocks, duplos and regular legos in our house. They all play with all of these things at various times. For a three year old, I would probably start with duplos for blocks, though. Megablocks are very easy to take apart and put together and my older boys still have fun with them. So, if you think the slight challenge of duplos might frustrate her, then megablocks could be a good choice. I believe they also make more of a toddler version of playmobil, too.

[St. Margaret]

We LOOOOOOVE playmobil! DD got a nativity set when she was so little but didn't put stuff in her mouth, and was OBSESSED with it. So we got some other pieces (people, animals, etc-- no big strutures cuz no room and she has blocks--wooden standard measure ones from discount school supply-- to build with anyway). She still plays with them so much, and they hold up better than the cheap waldorfy type dolls that came iwth her wood doll house-- the wires in their limbs snaps eventually, but playmobil at worst gets a little loose-limbed.

[Mal85]

There are Playmobil things for younger kids too. What I like about Playmobil is that they are based out of Germany and do not make of their toys in China. So you can be sure the plastic is safe and wasn't made by small children.

Here are a few of their things geared towards younger kids.

http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-123-...257072&sr=1-13

http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-123-...257072&sr=1-21

http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-123-...257134&sr=1-11

http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-6750...257134&sr=1-12