| Playsets have a unique place in toy culture. Any kid | | | | dozens of accessories large and small. For example |
| or adult who has ever played with toy figures knows | | | | Set 4190, The Horse Farm, comes with 136 separate |
| how cool it can be to place that figure in a detailed | | | | pieces, and includes just about everything you would |
| and scaled environment where everything is "figure" | | | | need to run a successful horse stables. Playmobil are |
| sized. Playsets can take the form of houses, vehicle | | | | the masters of detail! |
| interiors, jungle temples or alien locations from a | | | | Another company, KidKraft is well known for their |
| galaxy far, far away. | | | | children's role play toys as well as a range of large |
| While it is fun to play with toy figures and more so | | | | "wooden" (MDF) playsets. Their playsets include |
| to put these figures in specially designed vehicles and | | | | figures and a number of accessories, but not in the |
| move them around, a playset is where the real fun | | | | league of Playmobil as the wooden figures are very |
| happens. They are usually large, being made to fit the | | | | simple and unable to hold tools. Nevertheless the |
| figures and generally contain a number of elements | | | | sheer scale of the playsets is amazing. They are |
| to interact with, whether it be a simple seat and | | | | colourful and full of painted/stickered details, definite |
| table or a complex system of tunnels, traps or water | | | | fun for kids of all ages. Current playsets include a |
| elements for the figures to explore. | | | | spaceship, a submarine, a rescue station and a very |
| So what are the best playsets available in 2010? The | | | | cool glow in the dark space train station. |
| king of toy playsets has to be Playmobil and they | | | | As an example the rocket ship stands about 30 |
| have a number of large sets available this year. | | | | inches tall and contains four levels of play and a |
| Playmobil has been around for decades and are | | | | working lift to move between the floors. It also |
| known for the distinctive look of their small figures | | | | comes with 25 colorful pieces, including astronauts, |
| and detailed accessories. The Playmobil playsets can | | | | robots, aliens, vehicles, craters that glow in the dark |
| be very large and come ready to play with figures | | | | and more. The KidKraft sets are full of playable |
| and a whole heap of related accessories. | | | | elements and will occupy kids for hours. |
| This year their most popular large sets include an | | | | Of course, there are more playsets, particularly those |
| Ancient Egyptian Pyramid, a pony farm, A Huge | | | | within particular themes from television and movies, |
| Holiday Home, A Forest Lodge, Castles and Pirate | | | | but these two options are wonderful to allow kids |
| Ships. Generally the sets come with 3 or more figures | | | | the option to let their imaginations flow without a |
| and a number of animals (depending on the set) and | | | | preconceived storyline. |