PlaymoFriends

General => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: Bolingbroke on August 17, 2010, 16:01:36

Title: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bolingbroke on August 17, 2010, 16:01:36
I've been married for three years now, and my wife's biological clock is ticking faster by the minute  ;D

What worries me about having children is: will it be the end of my precious collection?  :'(

You parents in here, how do you deal with this? Do you keep yours locked away? Do you let your children play with your PM sets ... only to regret it later?

 ;D
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Gis on August 17, 2010, 16:10:27
Our kids have clearly defined playmobl collections. Which makes three seperate collections in our house. They can borrow stuff from us if they really need it for something but other then that it stays with in our collection. So far so good. My little buggers are 7 and 4 :-)
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Martin Milner on August 17, 2010, 16:13:50
Like you Bolingbroke, I have no children yet but am hoping to start a family in the next few years.

My collection will be behind locked doors, except the sets I don't care about and are easily replaceable. Any kids will have their own sets bought for them.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Coyote on August 17, 2010, 16:16:43
My little ones are still small- the boy will be 1 in November, and the girl will be 3 in October.  I keep my collection in the basement, which is still off limits unless the girl is with me.  She has her own collection of 123, but she is starting to get introduced to "real" playmobil-  My wife and I do a lot of pre-teaching on how to play with "daddy's toys", and I generally leave out the really small bits- and I bring up one set at a time- the wedding chapel, the fairy tale castle.  By having very clear rules, she understands how special they are, and treats them with great care.  The nice thing is that my wife understands, so I'm hoping in the years to come my collection will be respected.  Like Gis, I am planning to get the kids their own playmobil, though I will continue to share mine.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: playmo1989 on August 17, 2010, 16:22:37
I've been married for three years now, and my wife's biological clock is ticking faster by the minute  ;D

What worries me about having children is: will it be the end of my precious collection?  :'(

You parents in here, how do you deal with this? Do you keep yours locked away? Do you let your children play with your PM sets ... only to regret it later?
  ;D

depends what do you collect and in what form you have them for dysplay ,at a table -  floor  you buy msib ? in my case i won't have a problem with that all my playmobil are at large display cabinets and the msib for dispay as well ,now yes if you have them around the house it would be a kind of temptation for them. i always loved my playmo as a kid and taken care of them i remember a kid was coming to our house once in a while and he destroyed everything and my friend was wondering what was the problem  :no: :no: :no: :no: :no: well ........... i don't want to scare you but kids are happiness go for it   :)

Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Andy R on August 18, 2010, 03:30:16
I let my kids play with mine, but they are mindful that the sets ARE mine, and must respect that.
They also have their own sets.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Heronimus on August 18, 2010, 03:46:00
What I worry the most is not them messing up my collection, but the young ones unintentionally swallowing the small parts. I dont have kid yet, but whenever small kids come over and visit my place, they often show interest of playing with my klickies. They are not my kids, and thank god their parents knew my meaning and distract them with other safer toys....like my trampolene  :wave:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Rasputin on August 18, 2010, 03:57:38
Hi

I just bribe them with legos  :lol:

(http://a.imageshack.us/img841/128/p1010009g.jpg) (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/p1010009g.jpg/)


Well for real what we have done in the past with our kids is as follows. Mind you we have a seperate building 480 sqft that is detached from the house. It was my "office" that had a shelving system all around it. Every shelf went from ground to celling . Then the floors were covered with train tracks, houses, building, cars, job sites you name it was going on. From the time our oldest was 5-ish he and his following brothers (each 2 years-ish apart, 3 of them) they have had access to it all at basically all times.

The super rare stuff was out but higher up. They had a stool and mini ladder to really get anything.

 Now the catch was that they always had to clean up EVERYTHING. That meant in its place and all proper. The Playmobil and legos do not go out side in the dirt. Concrete is ok but in limited amounts. If they did not they did not get welcomed back until they did clean up. Then they could take more out .

The way I figured it was that if i showed them the respect, they would show the toys respect that I demanded. It worked very well but I do have a German wife to thank for her  ??? magical powers.

I never worried about them swallowing parts & things as they really were not near me or the toys, all they did was follow the udder around.  :lol:

At times things were all over the place but it was well worth listening to them play and interact with the toys and each other. I wish now I had a video going at all times.   

Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on August 18, 2010, 04:02:58
This is a great topic! I've often worried about the same thing, because I am planning to start having children soon.

I was thinking, though, when I was a child, I din't have trouble understanding when my mom showed me her porcelain dolls and such from when she was a little girl that are rather delicate that they were "mama's toys" and that they were delicate and I had to be really careful. So I guess sometimes kids understand more than you think.

As for when other kids come over, kudos to anyone who actually lets them play with their playmobil. It is TOTALLY off limits to kids who visit my house. They usually don't even know I have it because I know they won't be able to resist playing with it! But I guess with your own children it is different.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Wesley Myers on August 18, 2010, 04:21:28
I agree with the way Rasputin does it - I have a medium sized family, so far.  5 children and one more on the way in December.  The kids are all good around "my" Playmobil and know if something is not to be played with.  Yes, they are young.  In fact, the 19month old is very good around Playmobil and loves to play with her siblings.  None of them have ever tried to swallow anything - let alone stick it in their mouths. 

I am trying to show them what goes with what sets, but it is a constant sorting endevour.  It is kind of fun, though, even if frustrating and tedious at times.  LOL

I have worried about inhibiting their creative natures by limiting what they can play with too much.  So - I am letting them play how they want.  It's been a learning experience for me - LOL.  Playmobil is a great toy for children and with what else can a Princess get in her car and drive to the pirate ship to sail to the dinosaur island and then take a helicopter back to the castle and then hop on a bike and go riding a bicycle to go camping and then to visit a friends house and play there and then back home to sleep all in a short period of time?

All the accessories and how they interchange are what make the toy the most exciting, adventurous, expandable and the most fun.

By the way, like Rasputin, the kids are not allowed to take the Playmobil into the grass and if we have the train set up then just the people and not the small accessories.

They understand and consistency is the key. 
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Wesley Myers on August 18, 2010, 04:24:35

 i don't want to scare you but kids are happiness go for it   :)



I can't agree more!  When you realise how much happiness one can bring you, have as many as you are given.  They are all a blessing and the more you have the more happiness you will have.

Not to mention the more you have, the more reasons you have to get more Playmobil.  And when they have children just think of the joy you can help pass on to grandchildren and great-grandchildren!!!
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bolingbroke on August 18, 2010, 09:29:00
Mmm. I have mixed feelings about the issue: I GUESS kids bring happiness - no one would rant and rave about his children if it were not otherwise, but I don't know: I'll just have to do it and see for myself heh heh  :)

Most of my collection is in storage boxes stashed away in various bits of furniture. My ships are on display though - they're too bulky to put them away, and I hate disassembling stuff unless it's ridiculously large (roman arena etc). However I do have an action figure collection in a display case in the study. You know, try to imagine what it would've been like when you were a child, had your parents collected toys. I had some sets, but not many: I would have certainly gone bonkers had I known my father had a big collection of pirates hidden away in his wardrobe  8}

I guess it's hard to resist that sort of thing when you're six years old. But we'll just hope for the best. For the first few years I'll probably buy them the 123 stuff, and then they'll start getting spares until they learn how to take care of their own sets. The thing with PM, I hope, is that it'll get them interested in things like history. It's good for that sort of thing. Most of the time, anyway. 
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: socrates on August 18, 2010, 12:35:42
...I have a medium sized family, so far.  5 children and one more on the way in December... 

 :o

So it seems I have a nano-family with only one son. He grew up with lots of playmo around him and he learned that there is HIS playmo and MINE. And that there is a difference!
The cool thing is that he even can play with most parts and they are robust enough to withstand it. And after all there is DS.  8-)
When he was smaller, I just gave him the klickies without any accessoires, so there was not much to swallow... We skipped playmo1-2-3 with this and it was fine.

The good thing is that he is rather not interested in knights and pirates but more into city life.
So he has free access to all cars, construction equipment and onto all building boxes with SysX.
We started playing with new sets together, it is a lot of fun and pleases both of us.

Hey, for me its a family thing. And I love toys... ...so I love playing with them also. :)
And I love to see him playing with it. So much that he starts to turn to LEGO.  :o

MIB boxes should be just kept away, just as you have to do with your hifi stuff when you have kids. ;)

best,
socrates

P.S.: And never forget: Other adults think you are nuts but other kids think you are damn cool and endlessly rich, having all the sets their parents always claim: "No, we cannot effort these sets!"  ;D
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on August 18, 2010, 13:09:21
A very interesting topic! I myself starting collecting after my own children were grown. Now that I have grandchildren, I enjoy monitoring them as they play with my collection that is set up, & teach them how to respect others belongings. I carefully watch them, because they are only 3 & 4, & are allowed to handle everything, even the small parts. They have learned that at any time I see them start to put a small part toward their mouth, play time is suspended until they agree never to do that action again. I have only been required to suspend play time once since they learned very quickly & love Playmobil :love:.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: grangel on August 18, 2010, 13:52:13
I have two sons one is almost two months and the other one is 3 year and a half.the first is not a problem yet and the second is crazy with playmo like me.He can play with everything but he can not dismantle my klickies unless i 'm with him.Usually some part of my collection are in my office but he respects my playmo and ask me if he wants something.
In addition of this i 'm taking care of his collection and i provide him parts if he want to customise some klickies.

I hope this to stay with my second son!!!
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Gis on August 18, 2010, 14:42:44
Basically all our playmo was stashed in our attic until I joined Playmofriends. Since then we have been working making our playmo den, but there is lots to sort and so we havent been really been ready to share that much yet. I really like some of the suggestions made and we'll see what is going to happen in the coming weeks :-)

Thanks a lot for starting this topic Bolingbroke.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: playmo1989 on August 18, 2010, 14:52:49
Mmm. I have mixed feelings about the issue: I GUESS kids bring happiness - no one would rant and rave about his children if it were not otherwise, but I don't know: I'll just have to do it and see for myself heh heh  :)

Most of my collection is in storage boxes stashed away in various bits of furniture. My ships are on display though - they're too bulky to put them away, and I hate disassembling stuff unless it's ridiculously large (roman arena etc). However I do have an action figure collection in a display case in the study. You know, try to imagine what it would've been like when you were a child, had your parents collected toys. I had some sets, but not many: I would have certainly gone bonkers had I known my father had a big collection of pirates hidden away in his wardrobe  8}

I guess it's hard to resist that sort of thing when you're six years old. But we'll just hope for the best. For the first few years I'll probably buy them the 123 stuff, and then they'll start getting spares until they learn how to take care of their own sets. The thing with PM, I hope, is that it'll get them interested in things like history. It's good for that sort of thing. Most of the time, anyway. 

 
what will happen in a children's party that you may have to do in their birthday have you thought of that? :hmm: :hmm: :hmm: :hmm:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: skypurr on August 18, 2010, 15:48:01
A lot of my Playmobil started off as the boys' Playmobil so I can't really complain about them using it. :lol:
I am too old to have had Playmobil as a child so it was only when I started buying it for the boys that I became interested in it.  Some stuff such as the medieval is just mine but they aren't interested in that.
They are now 13 and 15 and still 'play' with Playmobil; Junior with jungle and space stuff mainly, but he just uses it for setting up dioramas.  Although I do complain if when he dismantles them he doesn't put things away in the right boxes. 
My eldest boy has some special needs and his interests range from Postman Pat to Harry Potter, Pop Stars and celebrities.  He will use klickies as different characters from whatever TV programme or film he is into at the time. 
When he was younger I used to be obsessive about putting the right hair/hats back on the klickies before they were put away, and worried about parts going missing but I don't bother so much now, so long as any accessories etc. are back in the relevant 'spares' drawers.   
My pirate ships have this summer been on loan to the John Paul Jones Birthplace Museum where my husband works and he says it is great to see youngsters' faces light up when they see they are there to play with, and nothing has gone missing or been broken while they have been there.
(see  http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=2130.45  )
I've just lent all my Fairytale klickies to a friends' visiting grandchildren, but I'm not worried, I'm sure they will all come back, and in the end they are toys so are there to be played with.

Elaine  :)
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Wesley Myers on August 18, 2010, 18:34:27
Mmm. I have mixed feelings about the issue: I GUESS kids bring happiness - no one would rant and rave about his children if it were not otherwise, but I don't know: I'll just have to do it and see for myself heh heh  :)

Nothing anyone ever said about the "miracle of life" really sunk in for me until I had my first child.  It will be the same thing with you.  Then you will be able to see the wonder in their eyes and remember what it was like for you as a child and want to give them the best you can.

Then as more come along you realise that the love you have for the first one is not divided up at all, but multiplied exponentially by the more you have.  It is something that can not be explained properly but experienced.  Do not worry, it is only natural and nothing to worry about - that's how things are meant to be.



I guess it's hard to resist that sort of thing when you're six years old. But we'll just hope for the best. For the first few years I'll probably buy them the 123 stuff, and then they'll start getting spares until they learn how to take care of their own sets. The thing with PM, I hope, is that it'll get them interested in things like history. It's good for that sort of thing. Most of the time, anyway. 

I have found that little kids like the regular Playmobil figures much more than the 123.  I have just taken away the small accessories so they do not get lost. 

If they have a tendency to put things in their mouths a lot then be careful.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Wesley Myers on August 18, 2010, 18:37:52
My eldest boy has some special needs and his interests range from Postman Pat to Harry Potter, Pop Stars and celebrities.  He will use klickies as different characters from whatever TV programme or film he is into at the time. 

I've just lent all my Fairytale klickies to a friends' visiting grandchildren, but I'm not worried, I'm sure they will all come back, and in the end they are toys so are there to be played with.

Elaine  :)

This is where you get to make him some custom Playmobil figures that match those characters!   :)

You could also introduce him to some good child friendly movies of various themes (pirates, etc).  Backyardigans have very good episodes that deal with Playmobil themes (although this may be way too young for him).  There are other good movies out there for kids.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: playmo1989 on August 18, 2010, 19:46:51
Nothing anyone ever said about the "miracle of life" really sunk in for me until I had my first child.  It will be the same thing with you.  Then you will be able to see the wonder in their eyes and remember what it was like for you as a child and want to give them the best you can.

Then as more come along you realise that the love you have for the first one is not divided up at all, but multiplied exponentially by the more you have.  It is something that can not be explained properly but experienced.  Do not worry, it is only natural and nothing to worry about - that's how things are meant to be.


 
oh i want to have a child too some day  :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: :cloud9: well i still have years in front of me ....... :)
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Coyote on August 18, 2010, 19:58:37
Also, there is nothing cooler than sitting back and watching little ones play-  the imagination is amazing, all I can really do these days is set up my toys.  Maggie and her cousins act out amazing adventures with a building and a few accessories. 
Also, Playmobil is ridiculously durable- it just doesn't break that easily.  The worst thing that can happen is that pieces get lost, and it sounds like most of the parents here have developed solutions to minimize that.
Oh, and I have to say having kids has been the coolest thing I've ever done.   :love:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Lindama on August 18, 2010, 22:17:20
I have bought most of our Playmobil for my 6 and 5 year old, but I know deep down that I bought it because I wanted it  :-[

I have a few sets put away that they sometimes find and drop hints about wanting or outright ask for and I have to tell them these are mine  :)

I am really anal about their Playmobil and spend some time picking it up, grouping it into sets etc. I really stress too much and this probably takes some of the enjoyment out of playing with it for them.

I think our problem is that we have no play room to store toys in at present, so it is all over the place.

It does make me happy to see them playing with it, they have such wonderful imaginations.

I must admit too though, my 6 year old son probably likes lego more.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on August 19, 2010, 11:35:41
You know, try to imagine what it would've been like when you were a child, had your parents collected toys. I had some sets, but not many: I would have certainly gone bonkers had I known my father had a big collection of pirates hidden away in his wardrobe  8}


Well, what is normal in the mind of a young child is whatever he grew up with. So if he is your child and growing up in your house, it will seem perfectly normal to him that daddy has pirates hidden in his wardrobe!  :lol:  At least while he's young enough not to be trusted with it.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Coyote on October 31, 2010, 19:20:30
My daughter and my nieces with part of my collection...

(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs468.ash2/74159_1627534055693_1456818788_31605503_4130177_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs833.snc4/69365_1627534175696_1456818788_31605504_6722516_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on October 31, 2010, 19:58:39
Awww.. they're so cute! Playmo-addicts in training. Looks like they're having a wonderful time. Can i come over and play?  :lol: :lol: :lol:

Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on October 31, 2010, 23:52:39
                                       Can i come over and play?  :lol: :lol: :lol:




Sure, but only if you put things back where they belong :)9, no fighting over the toys :yup:, & when it's time to go home, you get on your return plane without having a temper tantrum :hissyfit:! :no:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Coyote on November 01, 2010, 00:15:04
The girls can now recite the Playmobil rules- "share, no yelling, if anything falls on the floor, pick it up." 
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on November 01, 2010, 00:35:28

Sure, but only if you put things back where they belong :)9, no fighting over the toys :yup:, & when it's time to go home, you get on your return plane without having a temper tantrum :hissyfit:! :no:

Oh, I'll get on the plane, but you might need to check my pockets!  :evilplan:

 :lol:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on November 01, 2010, 00:58:22
Oh, I'll get on the plane, but you might need to check my pockets!  :evilplan:

 :lol: >:D


We have the Playmobil airport screening set 3172, & animal X-ray clinic 4346 for full body scans ;)! Plus the old surgery set 3459 for cavity searches :omg:! So play nice >:D!
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on November 01, 2010, 01:21:16
okaaaaaaaaaaaaay.  ::) I'll play nice.  :P
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on November 01, 2010, 03:11:55
okaaaaaaaaaaaaay.  ::) I'll play nice.  :P

I knew we'd persuade you to see it our way :lol:! Good girl :)9!
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on November 01, 2010, 03:29:22
 0)
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Giorginetto on November 11, 2010, 14:44:42
No kids yet , when they arrive they will have toys to play with always. However , access to my playmo room and collection....  hhmm perhaps the key  to my playmo room will be given to them when they open my  will ...  :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on November 11, 2010, 15:28:30
Yeah, I'm not sure how I will feel when I have my own kids, but right now I am not generous with my playmobil. My husband's nephews have never seen it and probably never will, but they do not come to my house really. And my brother's niece and nephew are at the house all the time and have no idea I have playmobil!
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on November 11, 2010, 16:14:47
Yeah, I'm not sure how I will feel when I have my own kids, but right now I am not generous with my playmobil. My husband's nephews have never seen it and probably never will, but they do not come to my house really. And my brother's niece and nephew are at the house all the time and have no idea I have playmobil!

That will change as your collection continues to grow! It will eventually be like stuffing 10 pounds of poop in a 2 pound bag :lol:! I actually think Playmobil figures really are able to reproduce ;)!
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on November 11, 2010, 18:00:52
That will change as your collection continues to grow! It will eventually be like stuffing 10 pounds of poop in a 2 pound bag :lol:! I actually think Playmobil figures really are able to reproduce ;)!

Wow, I wish they did! It would save me a lot of money.  ;) Right now, if I work at it, I can get all my playmobil in one closet (about 7 feet by 2 feet, and stacked to the ceiling), except for some larger things I hide in my bedroom. But the collection has been growing fast. It's slowly beginning to infiltrate every room of the house.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Wolf Knight on November 11, 2010, 18:15:04
Wow, I wish they did! It would save me a lot of money.  ;) Right now, if I work at it, I can get all my playmobil in one closet (about 7 feet by 2 feet, and stacked to the ceiling), except for some larger things I hide in my bedroom. But the collection has been growing fast. It's slowly beginning to infiltrate every room of the house.

Mine has alreasy filled every room of the house ...  :lol: :lol: :lol: ....

Seriously though, if i ever have children I don't thing I am going to let the touch my collection...all the more excuse to buy two or three times the same set...for my collection and for the kids.... :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: bonniebeth on November 11, 2010, 18:41:52
One for me, one for my four kids, one for me...  :yup:
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: Bill Blackhurst on November 11, 2010, 20:24:33
Ya all are learnin' fast ;)!
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: BlackPearl2006 on November 11, 2010, 22:45:56
I bring my kids with me when I shop for myself them and they help me pick out new stuff.

Both my son and my daughter as well as a family friend's daughter who comes over quite alot play with the the victorian and pirate playmobil stuff.  I'm not afraid of anyone breaking anything, just losing parts, especially wrist cuffs from klickies that are notorious for falling off even under adult care (so I have hot-glued most of my wrist cuffs directly to the klickies).  Other than that, I do have to forego any diaramas I had arranged in just the right way if they play with it and "mess" it up.  But I don't mind because it just gives me excuse to set up new ones.

The only "restricted" playmobil I have are the customized ships which usually stay up on the shelves away from less-careful hands when I can't supervise closely, but I do let my son play with the custom ships under strict supervision. He is 4, but usually knows to treat the custom ships with a special care compared to the stock factory ships.
Title: Re: Your children vs your PM collection.
Post by: cowabounga on November 16, 2010, 21:46:05
Hey! Nice interesting topic!
I have three kids, the eldest boy is 8, the other ones are "Irish twins": an almost 3 y-o boy and a 14 months-old girl. I still buy one figure of every new special for my eldest, and more for me. I bought 20 Mongol warriors, kept 19 for me!
The second boy just doesn't care about playmos but he does sometimes throw them into the paper bin! I always need to check the bin before I empty it. My daughter likes to open my drawers and take all my new figures out. The klickies I most care about are on the shelf above my playmo desk and they can't reach them. My eldest son played with his playmos until the DS came (Not that DS! The Nintendo DS!), now he doesn't play so much with it. The other boy knows that the toys on the desk are "à Papa" (Daddy's), and whenever my daughter wants one I always the same big belly figure without its hair and she's happy with it.
Kids are OK, Bolingbroke, and they're the real goal of life, BUT, careful with others'kids!!! They're the real danger, pure evil possibly, and they need to be kept far far away from your collection!
Cheers,
Arnaud