When we think about childhood toys there are some brands which immediately come to mind – Lego, Play Doh, Mega Bloks and of course Playmobil. Since its launch in 1974, it’s become a household name across the globe, and soon we’re going to be stocking even more of it!

Playmobil History

Playmobil was developed by a German inventor named Hans Beck, often referred to as the “Father of Playmobil.” Beck was a cabinet maker but also enjoyed building model aeroplanes in his spare time, and as it happens this was how he landed a job at Geobra Brandstatter (the manufacturer of Playmobil).

Beck originally pitched a model aeroplane design and instead was asked to develop figures for children – this was when Playmobil figures were born. Since the first Playmobil figure was released there have been over three billion figures produced, and the small shiny toys are distributed all over the world in around 100 countries.

TV and Film

Now, unfortunately there has not yet been a Playmobil movie as big as The Lego Movie; although we do hear whispers of an ‘untitled’ film being released in 2019 (we’re thinking it’s probably going to have Playmobil in the title, how about you?) but that’s not to say the powerhouse company hasn’t dabbled in Hollywood.

They’ve brought out a Pirates collection, a How to Train Your Dragon collection and more recently (our personal favourite) a Ghostbusters collection. Playmobil have brought out a number of video games, a TV series called Super 4 and they also have short films available on their website.

Why is Playmobil still so popular?

As Playmobil has been around since the 70s, it’s likely you played with it when you were a kid and it’s likely your kids will play with it one day. But in a world filled with gadgets, gizmos and new tech being developed every day, why is it that Playmobil is still such a staple in children’s lives?

Playmobil has such a large range of products covering history, pirates, princesses, the list goes on and on! They even have a Tooth Fairy and an Ice Sculptor; their products cover different cultures, time periods and magical realms and the collection is always expanding.

The unique playing principle encourages children to use their minds, create situations with their imaginations and from real life and drift off into their own worlds of adventure. The figures themselves have moving arms and legs to help kids come up with all kinds of stories and games, which promotes creativity and helps them to develop empathy! The multi-talented cherub-faced figures really can do anything!

Toy Street’s Playmobil Collection

At present, we have a range of puzzles and we’re constantly adding to our collection of figures. We’ve detailed below our Top Five Playmobil products to chase away those January Blues…

1. Petting Zoo

The perfect place for toddlers to experience looking after and feeding animals for the first time! There’s plenty of food for the animals to eat which can be carried and stored in the wheel barrow. And much like in real life, the child can ride the horse whilst the adult cares for all the animals.

2. Tooth Fairy

Who isn’t excited for the Tooth Fairy to arrive? The Fairy comes with a safekeeping tin for the teeth which can be named and decorated.

3. Alligator with Babies 

A fantastic addition for animal fans, this set features an adult with two baby Alligators, and is an ideal way to expand your zoo.

4. Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

With his move arms and turnable hands the Marshmallow Man is a great way to introduce your child to Ghostbusters. The set comes with Ray Stantz equipped with a removable proton pack and proton beam.

5. Pirate Raiders’ Ship

This arrrrrmazing toy comes equipped with a working cannon which can be fired at nearby enemies to protect the crew. Sail the see for gold with all your pirate mateys!

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