Fisher-Price Little People Toy Play Sets For Fun and Collecting

!±8± Fisher-Price Little People Toy Play Sets For Fun and Collecting

Fisher-Price Little People have been entertaining young children for over 50 years. These charming little playthings are some of the most well-recognized toys ever created. What started as a peg shaped set of a few characters has evolved into an empire of Little People characters and accessories. The older pieces and sets are now collector's items and the recent versions are more popular with children than ever.

The first Little People figures were introduced in 1959 with a Safety School bus that included six peg shaped children that could be removed, and a driver that remained inside, and who's head moved as the bus was pushed or pulled. From 1959 until 1990 Fisher-Price continued to make the peg shaped Little People characters with various improvements in design and materials. These are called the "Original Little People" by collectors. The first complete play set was the Play Family Barn, which began selling in 1968. The barn doors made a moo sound when opened and the farm and family figures could be stored inside. It was an instant hit and a wide range of play sets followed.

After 1990 the Little People line of toys went through a few transformations leading up to today's characters. In 1991 Chunky Little People, or Jumbo Little People as collectors call them, appeared in toy stores to address the need for safer children's toys. They were wider than the originals and had more facial details. Then in 1997 articulated Little People were introduced with moving arms and legs instead of the previous peg bodies. These had even more details such as molded hair, and extra vibrant colors. And in 2000 electronic sounds and lights were added to some sets.

The Fisher-Price Little People toys available today look very different from their ancestors. Some of the animals have fur to simulate real animal textures. There are musical and talking accessories, lights, and interlocking pieces. Many of the same original play sets are still entertaining the children of today, but with modern enhancements and character roles. For example the Play Family Farm and Play Family House are favorites with toddlers and pre-school children today much the same as they were generations ago. Now there are dozens of packaged Little People sets that coordinate together and encourage creativity and imaginative role play in young children.