Schleich Wild Life: Sea Life

Where sea life fits alongside a land collection

Ocean animals don't get the same attention in most toy collections that land animals do, so this is usually the set that surprises a child who assumed Wild Life was only about the savannah. A great white shark or an orca tends to be the figure that starts it off, since both are instantly recognisable and dramatic enough to hold their own next to a lion or an elephant on the same shelf.

Because ocean animals move so differently to land animals — floating, diving, schooling — this collection tends to get played with differently too: laid out across a blue towel or paddling pool rather than marched across a rug. Worth keeping in mind when choosing a first figure: a whale or shark reads well from a distance, while smaller, detailed figures like turtles and seals reward closer, quieter play, and are easy to overlook in favour of the more dramatic animals.

As a gift, this collection works best added onto an existing Wild Life set rather than given cold to a child with no other animal figures. A single shark or whale is a strong standalone present for a child who's shown any interest in the ocean, and tends to be the figure that pulls the rest of the collection in behind it.

Bath time and dry-land ocean scenes both work well here — a simple blue play mat or towel lets a child play with these figures far more often than water play alone, particularly for younger children not yet confident around water. If figures do go in the bath, a quick rinse and dry afterwards keeps the hand-painted finish looking its best, since it's designed for general play and cleaning rather than prolonged soaking.