Names known to many, these toys offer bright and colourful items that help children's imaginations soar. There's certainly no limits to what a child can do when playing with Playmobil or Mega Bloks, and each has its own features that makes them unique and favoured by children across the globe.

Playmobil is small plastic figurines and accessories that are about 3 inches in height. Recommended for ages 4 years old and up, Playmobil has dozens of lines that appeal to both boys and girls. One of the greatest features of Playmobil is that its designs are made to meet the current trends and interests of young children.

For example, Playmobil has shifted their focus to the modern, suburban dollhouse to reflect modern times. These accessories include pull-out sofa beds, big screen TV's and modern kitchen appliances. For boys, the experience with Playmobil is the same. While cowboys and Indians were once the popular focus, boys can now use their imaginations with Playmobil's line of pirates, deep sea diving and zoo animals.

Not only does Plamobil do a great job in making their toy sets manipulate the existing world, but they also allow young children to dabble in the things they love. A child interested in construction or trains can use Playmobil toys to identify and act out these objects.

Mega Bloks are large plastic blocks that are ideal for children 1 year and up, yet some sets are made for children even younger. These brightly coloured blocks are sold in sets that are used to build whatever the imagination allows. Mega Bloks grow with the popular trends and feature licensed characters such as Dora the Explorer or Wonder Pets.

It is often times these very licensed characters that inspire new ideas for Mega Bloks sets. Kids love being able to interact with their favourite characters, while also using their motor skills and creative niche to build gadgets. While most Mega Bloks sets are made to interest both boys and girls, some sets are designed for a specific gender. Examples include Disney Princess sets for girls and Xtreme Sports sets for boys.

While there are many similarities between the creativity and imagination that Playmobil and Mega Bloks allow, there are many things that sets these toy products apart.

The pieces in Playmobil sets have their own functions and set up a scenario for kids to play with. Playmobil sets also feature sets that date back to years ago, allowing kids to experiment with things that once existed. Mega Bloks on the other hand, are designed to be built with, so pieces can be used to make just about anything. Mega Bloks sets introduce the latest characters and come in a variety of sizes and colours, interesting a variety of ages.

Furthermore, Mega Bloks tend to focus on the present-day characters that children enjoy, while discontinuing older lines. Playmobil keeps producing many of the same lines of toys, but with new updates and expansions.