Toys are a child’s first and main gateway towards interacting with their environment. What toys they play with changes over time – kids in higher developmental cycles will seek out more complex toys and games that can meet their new cognitive demands. What age do Kids like Action Figures? Action figures have always been loved by children of all ages and have different meanings.
Why your kid should play with figures
Figures are definitely a top banana when it comes to encouraging creative play. Kids love to dream up fantastical stories for their figures – anything from taking their toy fox on an imaginary romp through an imaginary forest to caring for their collection of farm animals. Once I asked my son what he was doing with his horses and he sighed and said, “Just doing my work. They’re so hungry today.” Figures + a child = instant imagination explosion.
Toys are simply objects that children use to entertain themselves while simultaneously exploring the world around them, educating themselves, role-playing, and learning to express their emotions. Toys are oftentimes used as symbols for other things and there in lies their great potential for helping children grasp bigger concepts.
Figures appeal to a wide variety of ages – even adults! We have many adult collectors of figures (one woman used to buy Holztiger figures for her spouse to use as good luck charms when they played card games together).
A cute little elephant figure perched on a book shelf or a sweet little deer beside a flower arrangement can add a touch of whimsical fun to any home. I brought this chimpanzee mother and baby home after I had my son – it’s become a symbol to me of those early days with him where my whole world fit in my two hands.
Movie action figures became popular
Movie Action Figures for Play and Display, Television shows, cartoons, films, video games, and pop culture all make for creative molds for action figures. What has surprised me most over the years is the shift toward more video game–themed figures—from classics like Mario and Sonic to newer games such as Fortnite and Minecraft. Some toys even come with a unique code that can be redeemed for corresponding digital content for that game, a trend that’s been seen in Pokemon TCG and Roblox figures.
Another trend is to include extra pieces that allow the user to build an additional, often much larger figure. This is particularly found in popular toy lines, such as the Marvel Legends, DC Multiverse, and Dragon Ball Super’s Dragon Stars series of characters. Of course, this is a way to spur on completing a series’ collection, but the large figures themselves are typically awesome.
Think about how you will use the figure. If your only purpose for purchasing a particular figure is to display it on a shelf with the rest of your collection, you may be willing to spend more money, not only for a premium toy, but also for higher quality packaging or a base to hold the figure in place.
How to Make Your Own Action Figure
A good action figure is hard to find. Some ultra realistic action figures can cost hundreds upon hundreds of dollars. Sometimes the less pricey well done figures are hard to find on store shelves, sometimes poached by greedy, money hungry figure hunters. 3D printing has had a huge impact on all kinds of objects… even action figures. Big brands like DC Comics have even signed deals with 3D printing companies to print some of their figurines. But since 3D printing is all about customization it is also the perfect technology to create your own action figure.