PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: tlc on January 25, 2011, 19:29:38
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Does anyone else develop guidelines for deciding on playmobil purchases?
Now, I'm not a collector, just a parent who wants to provide high quality play options. So, this question is really for those who are buying for children who will play with the toys.
Today, I ran across a sticky note from 6+ months ago which stated pretty clearly my objectives with playmobil. I remember feeling, at the time, a little overwhelmed by the choices available. So, I drilled down to what I really value in a toy for my kids. Here's what it said:
1. portable (which also means that it will take up little space at home)
2. M & F (which means both male and female klickies in the set)
3. multi-race (my most challenging playmobil objective!)
4. animals (always fun!)
5. flexible fun (meaning that the set could be played with in a variety of different ways/scenarios)
It bears noting that I'm a playmobil minimalist of sorts. I don't like cluttering our living space; so, we tend to concentrate on much smaller playsets. For instance, the largest set we own is the Forest Lodge (4207). Predictably, I'm quite interested in the playmobil "take-along" line which I'd like to see expand. We have the Barbarian Fort and the Unicorn Castle which pack an unbelievable amount of play options into a small package. We also mix and match smaller sets together in a small glad storage container to take with us on trips (or even to make a 'new' playset at home). When seemingly unrelated things are together in a small container, imagination-magic begins to happen!
tlc
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Hi Tic! Please introduce yourself in the WELCOME board!! :wave: :wave:
Gaston :)
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Hi TLC,
As someone also buying for a child I tend to take a very different approach. For us I've tended, as much as possible, to stick to one theme. I think the advantage to this is that you accumulate lots of the little extras and that is what (for me) really brings the Playmo world to life. It also allows the imagination to take over. For instance my boy had a pirate dinner party the other night. It eventually degenerated into a battle ending in stolen treasure but for a while there it was quite civilized with food, wine, music etc.
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Hi tlc,
I wish I could tell you a way to keep to a confined amount of Playmobil. This toy is so detailed & trying to find a way to stay to a minimum is impossible for me! The toys are large and great for children to play with because they can feel & see the details so well. It's difficult to get just one set in a theme & not get the rest of them. This is a quality toy that will evolve with your children & if taken care of can be passed to future generations.
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Im doomed to buy all I can get my hands on! so... no guidelines :lol: :lol: :lol:
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In keeping with my minimalist tendencies, I have this dream for playmobil to create a Greek Mythology set that is really quite economical and inspirational for getting kids interested in the Greek Myths.
My daughter is a little bit nutty about the Greek Myths right now; so, that is what got me thinking about this.
The set could consist of:
2 male klickies (blond and dark haired) - dressed in general greek garb
2 female klickies (blond and dark haired) - dressed in general greek garb
1 child klicky
1 baby klicky
animals (e.g. cow, horse, serpent, goat, spider, scorpion, etc.)
tons of accessories (e.g. crowns, fruit, wings, scepter, lyre, trident, thunderbolts, swords, armor, boat, chariot, flowers, fire, helmets, single centered eye, etc.)
a booklet summarizing a dozen or so well-known greek myths
The accessories become the key here. The klickies would be personalized into one or another god/goddess with the accessories to make them mortal vs. divine, good vs. bad, human vs. animal. And the other klickies become the supporting characters in each myth.
Not only could kids be inspired to learn more about these myths, the very foundation of cultural literacy, but they could also act/play them out.
Maybe even a Norse Myths expansion pack.
There. I said it.
tlc
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I'm afraid "minimalist" is not in my vocabulary when it comes to Playmobil :-[ The best way we deal with Playmobil "clutter", if there is such a thing, is to set aside a small space specifically for Playmobil. For example, we have a display table (with storage) that we have much of our Playmobil collection out on at any given time. The rest is in airtight storage containers in the garage or a closet. However, I will warn you that Playmobil is extremely addictive. With themes tending to bleed into one another, it is difficult to constrain. Then there is the indescribable feeling of buying new Playmobil :yippee: that just feeds the addiction. It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want. Best of luck! :wave:
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I'm afraid "minimalist" is not in my vocabulary when it comes to Playmobil :-[ The best way we deal with Playmobil "clutter", if there is such a thing, is to set aside a small space specifically for Playmobil. For example, we have a display table (with storage) that we have much of our Playmobil collection out on at any given time. The rest is in airtight storage containers in the garage or a closet. However, I will warn you that Playmobil is extremely addictive. With themes tending to bleed into one another, it is difficult to constrain. Then there is the indescribable feeling of buying new Playmobil :yippee: that just feeds the addiction. It sounds like you have a good idea of what you want. Best of luck! :wave:
Agreed.
Tic you must be the first and only minimalist here. We'll convert you! >:D >:D >:D >:D
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Your minimalist ideas are very interesting! As Gaston said, I'm sure you're the first minimalist here. But i like your philosophy when it comes to buying for kids. I guess it keeps them from getting too spoiled with too many toys, or from being overwhelmed.
But we adult collectors love to spoil ourselves! :love:
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I just look, and if I like what I see, then the wallet comes out! ;D
Damo :)
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TLC
I admire your resolve. We started with pirates but moved into Knights and modern stuff. Although we dabbled with Vikings I think we stuck to these. (There is plenty there to keep a person busy.) I think we have more than my kids know what to do with but they are attached to it.
With regards to you could liking for Greek myths I think you could adapt the Romans to some of your needs. The Roman galley could be used. There are suitable accessories to meet your needs.
Playmofirth
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Does anyone else develop guidelines for deciding on playmobil purchases?
Now, I'm not a collector, just a parent who wants to provide high quality play options. So, this question is really for those who are buying for children who will play with the toys.
Today, I ran across a sticky note from 6+ months ago which stated pretty clearly my objectives with playmobil. I remember feeling, at the time, a little overwhelmed by the choices available. So, I drilled down to what I really value in a toy for my kids. Here's what it said:
1. portable (which also means that it will take up little space at home)
2. M & F (which means both male and female klickies in the set)
3. multi-race (my most challenging playmobil objective!)
4. animals (always fun!)
5. flexible fun (meaning that the set could be played with in a variety of different ways/scenarios)
It bears noting that I'm a playmobil minimalist of sorts. I don't like cluttering our living space; so, we tend to concentrate on much smaller playsets. For instance, the largest set we own is the Forest Lodge (4207). Predictably, I'm quite interested in the playmobil "take-along" line which I'd like to see expand. We have the Barbarian Fort and the Unicorn Castle which pack an unbelievable amount of play options into a small package. We also mix and match smaller sets together in a small glad storage container to take with us on trips (or even to make a 'new' playset at home). When seemingly unrelated things are together in a small container, imagination-magic begins to happen!
tlc
Well, you can toss number 1 right out the window.
I falsely believed that the smaller sets were the better value at one time too. However, I have come to realise it is the largest sets that have the best value - both money-wise and play-wise.
It might not want to be something you were thinking of initially - getting the largest sets - but if you think the small ones have play value to them, you really need to get the big ones!
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Well, you can toss number 1 right out the window.
I falsely believed that the smaller sets were the better value at one time too. However, I have come to realise it is the largest sets that have the best value - both money-wise and play-wise.
i must agree with wesley, when my children were younger (in the 70s and early 80s) the bigger sets seemed so extravagant, so i focused on the little sets. my son has since told me that he wished we would have bought the bigger playmobil sets ( the knights and castles) and not so many legos. he told me his knights never had a place to defend or invade. no place to call home. at least i was a good mom and didn't throw out or tag sale any of his good toys, so we have all of the original knights, but no castles, and oh yes, the legos.
kaethe
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HI
As a parent of 3 sons I must say I am forever impressed with what our boys can create with the amount of Playmobil we have. Currently they have in the middle of our living room a large fenced off area that is a makeshift zoo protected by an army of Zulu warriors. The zoo is stocked by a roving gang of construction trucks and treasure hunters. There is a large castle with knights that is forever battling them to free the animals back to nature.
This scene has been an ongoing event for 2 weeks and is forever evolving into new dimensions. My wife and I have learned to encourage their creative outlet that has taken over our living spaces. I know their time playing like this is limited to maybe 8 years. I encourage them and play with them but I see no point in trying to control creativity. There will be plenty of that in adult hood.
As far as purchasing goes we buy all themes so I have to prioritize purchasing sets that are being discontinued. We may have a bit of playmobil and I too do not want to overwhelm them so I now keep most of it in our barn. They go and get what they want and when it gets crowded in the house they have to take back the less used sets.
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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I agree that bigger sets must create even more opportunity for play -- especially with playmobil's incredible attention to detail in the accessories.
I am more concerned with instilling in kids that they have to have more stuff to make the older stuff worthwhile. Imagination is unlimited and free but the acquisition process never really ends. My wise spouse often says that everything that you own sits squarely on your shoulders.
The kids (and I, for that matter) love to look at the dizzying array of options in the playmobil catalog. And its fun to plot the next additions. But I'm glad that we carefully choose.
The Mies van der Rohe axiom of "less is more" lives on! Now, if my dream Greek Mythology set ever comes to fruition -- Watch Out! : )
tlc
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My first sets I bought or got as a present when I was 10, back in 1980 (yep, I personally saw the Wall fall and the Web rise 8-)). Here in Brazil PM was at the time made by Trol, under license, and back then the options we had were crummy to say the least. Well, maybe there was a lot to have, at least the catalogs had an extensive variety, but to have to depend on small stores (no web, remember?) and worse of all, my very finite allowance, there wasn't much to choose ::). But beggars can't be choosers, so the first one I bought myself was that silly banker that came with a desk (for crying out loud... (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/luwerner/gif/hittinghead.gif)). Eventually I did manage to score some cool sets, like the policeman with motorcycle, some western sets and even - to my absolute delight - even some medieval clickys.
With not much to play with, I even played with the silly banker, and since I didn't have any wagon, a wheel chair from my sister's doctor set was used to haul around my weapons and equipment when my medieval knight was on his travels. What I'm saying is that kids can make lemonade out of lemons. Of course we cane give them a nudge in the right direction, but that's the great thing about PM, it's a VERY versatile toy.
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I agree, the versatility of Playmobil is one of the things that sold it to me as a parent, along with my fond memories of playing with my brother's playmobil as a kid. I thought he'd had a lot, but when I visited my parents a few weeks ago the sets I discovered (mostly complete) were the rather large Esso gas station, Construction Workers and Scaffold (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?setnum=3492), Forklift (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showinv.pl?setnum=3506), and 3 sheriffs, 2 umbrella girls, 2 farmers and 1 sheriff's horse from MacDonald's along with the mail order MacDonald's teepee/canoe/Indian chief set. Those 4-ish sets were more than enough for hours and days of play and a wide variety of stories.
I love your idea of the minimalist Greek myth set, tlc -- as a not-so-minimalist I'd want more optional add-ons male and female clickies so that you could have a great big family dinner with all the gods or, sticking to the myths, you could have Hera, Athena and Aphrodite racing for the golden apple. But I would definitely want to buy the set you describe.
And I share your concern about instilling a more-is-more philosophy, I'm also trying to avoid having so many toys that my son's overwhelmed by them. Several of the sets I've got for him because they were getting discontinued and were on sale are hidden in a closet. I haven't come up with totally formal purchasing guidelines but yours work for me, except for the portability one, though I am considering getting the puppet show one partly because of its portability.
Other things that have influenced purchasing decisions since I started buying Playmobil for my son (but sometimes he's just the excuse) back in October:
- I'd rather buy safari animals than zoo animals, which is the only reason we don't have any penguins yet. Wild animals in captivity make me sad (sorry, bonniebeth!), so I feel a bit guilty about the baby elephant circus set I bought even though it was so discounted I couldn't not get it, and I won't be getting the Animal Trainer Set 4233
- He got the ambulance partly because there was a female paramedic, and I picked up some figures from Craigslist primarily because there were a mix of both men and women who were dressed for jobs and men and women who were more just family figures
- Any sets with guns have the guns removed for now before he plays with them, he's only three.
- Fun sets that encourage discussion of how modern life works (recycling truck, plane) are great for now. I've also got some sets stored away that encourage cultural/historical knowledge: the roman arena and some supporting roman characters, and I'm probably going to get the pyramid at some point.
- Desired props for creating stop motion animation/music videos in the future are hard to resist (this one is pretty much entirely self-serving), as are sets that align strongly with his interests (fire trucks, recycling trucks, Cinderella -- I'm still on the lookout for that one.)
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- I'd rather buy safari animals than zoo animals, which is the only reason we don't have any penguins yet. Wild animals in captivity make me sad (sorry, bonniebeth!), so I feel a bit guilty about the baby elephant circus set I bought even though it was so discounted I couldn't not get it, and I won't be getting the Animal Trainer Set 4233
No worries! :)9 I know a lot of people feel that way.
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Yep, me for one!
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Primus - I can't get the image of the cargo-transport wheelchair out of my mind. Most Excellent use of resources!
Christina - your little guy sounds pretty lucky; kudos on the thoughtful futuring that you put into your decisions!
tlc
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A boy does what a boy has to do... :P
Still, even though I lusted for a wagon and horses (I only got horses after I got a Western set), I had tons of fun with my adventurous kngiht pushing his wheel chair.
My kid will sure get it easy with the sets that I have now :-\.
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Oh my. I sometimes feel like there should be a place called "Playmobil anonymous". I want so much of the stuff it would probably be cheaper to be addicted to drugs!
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:lol: :lol: Yeah, definitely in 2012!
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Oh my. I sometimes feel like there should be a place called "Playmobil anonymous". I want so much of the stuff it would probably be cheaper to be addicted to drugs!
But when that clock strikes midnight & I'm all by myself,
I work that combination on my secret hide away shelf,
& I pull out my Playmobil toys, the best in the world I cannot lie,
then I sit back in glorious expectation of a genuine Playmobil toy junkie high! ;)
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:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Oh my. I sometimes feel like there should be a place called "Playmobil anonymous". I want so much of the stuff it would probably be cheaper to be addicted to drugs!
Very true ;D