When I was a little kid, I loved toy soldiers more than anything else. This is a little bit strange to some people because I wasn’t a big fan of military toys. I had toy guns, a soldier costume and a water pistol, but I rarely used any of them. On the other hand, you could not get me away from those toy soldiers. I would sit down with them every chance I got. I would bring them to the dinner table, smuggle them in my pockets into the classroom with me, and even play with them on the way to and from school.

My very favorite toy soldier models were called “Knights of the Sword”. They were medieval toy soldiers and they were absolutely spectacular. Although they were made of plastic, they were some of the most dramatic and well designed soldier toys I have ever seen to this day. They were all in these great poses.  They would have their sword arms ready to swing, the shields raised fiercely in front of them and their standards blowing in the breeze.

They also had a lot of toy soldier play sets. One day, my parents bought me an actual toy catapult that went with the set. It came complete with two knights to load it and plastic stones to fire. Although I did not actually have a toy castle to fire the siege engine at, I would set up blocks and knock them down whenever I wanted to pretend to have a siege.

Of course, I had many other toy soldiers as well. I must have had hundreds of green army men, but my parents would have taken them away if they knew what I did with them! The great thing about green army men was that they were so cheap to buy. My parents a buy them for me whenever I wanted. As a result, I could actually play war with them. Some of them would get broken to pieces, other ones I would melt with a lighter that I found in my dad’s study. I would get together with my best friends and we would play toy soldier games for hours on end. We would set up elaborate outdoor battles, complete with land mines and bullet wounds. Few of those toy army men survived more than a few battles and it is strange that my parents never wondered where they all went!

One must see for many young girls is Barbie in the Nutcracker. Parents agree that this is a very entertaining and enjoyable film for girls. In addition to the movie, parents can also include some wonderful toys and accessories that go with the Barbie in the Nutcracker theme. Following are some great ideas for your child.

The foundation of the Barbie in the Nutcracker movie is music and dance. Children have an opportunity to learn a little bit about ballet while enjoying this classic tale retold though the classic doll’s character. Teaching music and dance can pose some challenges for parents and it’s nice to know that there is a valuable tool like this that will help young girls become interested in this art form.

Not only does the child have an opportunity to become familiar with classical music and ballet, she also has an opportunity to follow a lovely story. The Barbie in the Nutcracker takes a classic holiday tale and retells it in a magical way that is appreciated by all. The story line adheres pretty much to the original tale.

The introduction of Barbie in classic tales is a welcomed trend for many parents. Getting kids to enjoy cultural events like ballet and classical music poses some real challenges. The Barbie doll character is an ideal tool for getting a child’s attention and it is a wonderful approach to building an appreciation for these kinds of productions.

My daughter is so wound up in the Barbie in the Nutcracker movie that she continues the experience by playing on her own. We have a nice collection of toys and accessories that go with the theme of the movie. Her favorite toys are related to the Nutcracker Barbie and the characters in this great film for girls.

I love watching her play with the various items in her little collection. She has even begun to dance around like the characters in the movie. This is just as entertaining as the film in my perspective. I think that she has gotten more exercise through dance than through any other means.

The Barbie in the Nutcracker movies is one of a number of different films that integrate this well loved doll with a classic theme. You can find movies like Barbie in Swan Lake as well as this new classic in children’s films. The wonderful thing about these movies is that the dolls come to life for your little one. They make for magical experiences for a child.