Pirate Playset, Figure and Ship Gift Ideas
Present Suggestions for Children Who Love to Play with Pirate Toys
Dec 8, 2008
Thanks to the popularity of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies, children of all ages are interested in playing with pirate figurines and pirate playsets. Some parents, however, would rather not purchase toys from the official line of Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise, either because they find the movies too violent and PG-13 for their children or because they want to foster creativity and open-ended play by providing their children with unique, unbranded pirate items instead of licensed toys and character figurines that come with predetermined names and storylines.
When looking at pirate playsets, parents should consider the age of children (whether they can safely and responsibly handle small pieces) and what accessories (lantern, mop and bucket, treasure chest, treasure map, barrels, sea gulls, cannons, etc.), accessory sets (rafts, islands, docks, fortresses, etc.), and features (moveable planks, sails, decks, secret compartments, ramps, wheels for “sailing,” etc) are available and/or desired. A final decision to be made is whether a toy will be played with for a couple of years and then broken or resold at a garage sale, or whether a family wants to invest in an heirloom quality wooden toy that can be passed down from generation to generation.
Here, then, are some suggestions for pirate dolls, playsets, and figures that boys and girls can use to create their own, original piratical scenarios!
Recommended Pirate Playsets, Figures, and Dolls for Babies and Toddlers
- For a pirate toy that is safe even for babies, look for a plush or soft fabric pirate playset such as the Ahoy Pirate Playset by Baby Gund (which consists of a pirate ship that unzips to reveal playing pieces like a stuffed pirate and a treasure chest) or the My Pirate Chest Playset by Aurora (which consists of four stuffed animals dressed like pirates that can be stored in a soft treasure chest)
- To develop fine-motor skills, present babies 6 months and up with the soft Gund Baby "Teach Me" Pirate doll or babies 18 months and up with Manhattan Toy's Dress-Up Pirate Doll, both of which are covered with zippers to zip, laces to tie, buttons to button, buckles to buckle, and so on.
- For kids ages 1 and up, the Play Town Pirate line is safe and sturdy.
- For preschoolers and toddlers interested in pirates, try sets from Fisher-Price. The pirate ship and accessory sets from the Little People line (with large, chunky plastic pieces that are easily grasped by small hands) are suitable for ages 2 and up, while items from the Imaginext line are safe for ages 3 and up.
- Ages 3 and up will enjoy pirate finger puppets, hand puppets, and marionettes from brands such as Manhattan Toy, Melissa and Doug, Kathe Kruse, and Folkmanis.
Recommended Plastic Pirate Playsets and Figures
Some plastic pirate sets are poorly constructed or unsafe, with pieces that break easily or do not stay assembled. Avoid such sets and look for quality plastic sets instead, such as:
- The Playmobil pirate line. Small pieces make these toys suitable only for ages 4 and up, but the many detailed accessories also make the sometimes high price worth it for the valuable imaginative play these toys encourage.
- LEGO pirate sets. Children can practice following step-by-step directions or create their own pirate ships and play environments such as forts and islands.
Recommended Wood Pirate Playsets and Figures
Wood is a durable and eco-friendly material for pirate playsets and figures.
- For buccaneers ages 3 and up, Odyssey Toys offers a Pirates Legends line of handcrafted and detailed wooden ships and playsets, plus sturdy, poseable wooden figures with fabric clothing and hands that can hold props.
- Plan Toys offers a very simple wood pirate ship with basic wood figures that is suitable for ages 3 and up and is made from eco-friendly and nontoxic materials.
- Le Toy Van's line is also suitable for ages 3 and up and consists of detailed all-wood pirate ships with many moving parts and themes such as a Phantom Ghost ship and a Shanghai Warrior ship. They are designed to be compatible with Papo's realistic, detailed hand-painted vinyl figures.
- Maxim's The Venture Ship and their Pelican's Landing Dock Set (both ages 4 and up) are both made of wood and cotton, are sturdy, come with accessories (like barrels, treasure chests, and simple poseable figures with fabric clothes), and have many moving parts like ramps and rigging.
- A much more expensive option for families looking to invest in heirloom quality pirate ships is to buy a ship from Kinderkram or Holztiger and pair it with Kinderkram or Holztiger solid wood Pirate Figures. These ships and figures are large, hand-crafted from good quality wood, and painted with nontoxic paints.
- Other brands offering wood pirate ships include HaPe, Yukon Express, KidKraft, and Step2.
With age-appropriate pirate toys, children can enjoy hours of enriching imaginative play.
For more fun pirate playthings, check out Pirate Costume Gift Ideas for Boys and Girls; Pirate Art, Model, and Craft Kit Gift Ideas; and Pirate Puzzle, Board, and Card Game Gift Ideas.
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