Ah, bendable figures. They almost seem quaint in this age of robotic Legos and Wii Sports. Bendable figures are a favorite throw-back toy, a classic that reminds us of the classics, with the occasional foray into the modern. They're great to collect, and even better to play with, especially for your kids.
Classics and New Classics
Gumby is easily the most iconic bendable figure. The odds are good that if you have ever owned a poseable toy, it was Gumby or one of his friends. Mr Bill and Betty Boop, two characters many youngsters have never heard of, also remain popular in bendable form. Other classic characters that are still going strong as bendables include Mickey Mouse, Felix the Cat and Snoopy. Elvis is also pretty popular, which makes an odd amount of sense considering his famous hips. More modern toys include characters from Coraline, the Simpsons and Family Guy. Some of these are collectibles, but by and large, they're just fun toys.
Not interested in merchandise for your kids or yourself? There are loads of generic bendable toys, in little kid, broccoli and streaky bacon form.
Imaginative Play
Bendable figures lend themselves especially well to imaginative play. While Barbie and her ilk are generic in such a way that your child can project anything on them, bendable characters help kids be specific. Instead of playing the role of "Doctor" or "Mechanic", poseable toys can make your kids think about how other characters would react and behave, and tell a story about that. Like making Popeye and Garfield go on a quest to get to the candy dish on the coffee table. They also tend to have fewer launch-able parts or easily lost accessories, making them popular on road trips.
As always, be sure any toys you pick are age-appropriate. Some bendable figures ''do'' have moving parts that can present a choking hazard to kids under the age of three. Also, when the outer layer of a bendable toy is broken, the inner wire is a potentially dangerous stabbing hazard.
