Back in the sixties, Patrick Rylands invented the iconic British made toy Playplax. By 1970 it had sold over one million copies. The creative and imaginative game consisted of vibrantly coloured interlocking squares which are used to create all manner of objects from towers to castles to planes to ships. As a child I coveted Playplax, but never got to own my own set. That is until now.
Playplax has been brought back to a whole new generation by Portobello Games. In a world of technology it is nice to see a toy which requires no battery, no buttons and has no electronic sounds. It works purely using a child's imagination. Manufactured to replicate the first edition, it has been lovingly recreated using British manufacturers and suppliers, making a game that is as relevant now as it was back in the '70's.
The gorgeous, see-through, coloured squares are packaged in a box designed by design guru and friend of the inventor Brian Webb. It has been such a labour of love bringing back Playplax. Founder of Portobello Games, Lucy Baring calls Playplax "the best designed toy ever" and is a big fan of the timeless, iconic construction game.
Playplax is an open-ended toy that does not dictate how it is played with, it fosters imagination and has the potential to be different each time it is played. It is suitable for girls and boys aged 3 and up (and is perfect for design mad teens and adults too). It is as simple or as complicated as the child wants it to be.
My husband was very excited by the arrival of our box of Playplax that we received to review. He remembered it fondly from his childhood. He set to work with Kizzy and Ella to build some models using the chunky, colourful pieces.
A colourful tower. |
Geometric shapes. |