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Carina Antonia Udrea

Daniel Darvay

Essay Writing EN A

14 November 2023

Barthes, Toys and Child Development

The standard way of thinking when talking about toys, is that they are innocent

objects that keep a kid entertained. Children absorb information from their surroundings, so

toys stimulate concentration, memory and children’s skills. In Barthes essay ‘’Toys’’, he

talks about the deeper meaning toys have and how they are an ‘’adult microcosm. Their

impact can be both positive and negative, depending on the types of toys children are exposed

to and how they interact with them. The right selection of toys can support cognitive, social,

emotional, and physical growth, while age-appropriate and engaging toys can help children

and develop while having fun. These conclusions which Barthes disscuses in ‘’Toys’’ add

weight to the argument that toys influence children’s mind. True fact, considering these days

production and consumerism, there are many ways different toys can be used which leads to a

different brain development. If we are right about the fact that toys have an important

influence, even if we talk about production or play attribution, then major consequences

follow for a child’s mind. Their creativity and way of thinking can be affected which results

in poor intelectual development.

Toys have long been an integral part of childhood, providing not only amusement but

also shaping the development of young minds. The influence of toys on children’s is

profound and Roland Barthes highlights this importance in his ’’Toys’’ essay.

In the essay ’’Toys’’, Barthes claims that toys are made to prepare children for life,

that they are an essential component, which can be either a good or a bad influence along

their growing up process. The author, supports his claims about how toys restrict young ones
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creativity by dividing toys in two categories: wooden and french, and giving examples on

how it affects children’s skills and brain development. His purpose is to reveal the deeper

meaning that toys have in order to spread awareness on the effect that toys have on children’s

mind. Barthes seems to have a more mature audience in mind because he seems to take this

as a real issue, and he wants a change and let people realise what is the outcome of producing

more french toys.

To link my essay to another of Barthes essay I chose ’’Soap&Powders Detergents’’,

because there is a connection by deviding what is good and what has a long term effect upon

various things.

In his essay ’’Soap&Powder Detergents’’, Barthes talks about the differences between

cleaning peoducts. The author supports his claims on showing how different types serve

different purposes: some damage and some just gently clean, by giving examples some

cleaning brands and some similar types of products. His purpose is to highlight the big

difference cleaning products have between them, and letting people know this fact. He also

associates the cleaning products with the real world and shows how the types of cleaning

products compete against each other, that is what people do in real life. Barthes seems to have

a more mature audience in mind, because they are the users of these products and it is an

issue they should be interested in, and eductae themselves on this topic. I chose this as an

comparation essay, because he splits the two categories in each essay. My perception is that

the wooden toys are the soap detergents and the french toys are the powder detergents. Both

of them are good, useful and do their job, but here it is not about doing their job, is about the

effect they have in time. For example the soap detergents are good, they eliminate the dirt,

but in time it can damage your kitchen tools, such as french toys, that limit your creativity

and your capacity to see beyond a simple toy. On the other hand, powders just erase the dirt,
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they do not completely damage your tool, such as wooden toys do not limit your imagination,

so they do no ’’hurt’’ your brain and your artistic sense.

Toys have always been a part of my life. I have had toys since I was little, all kind of

toys. Barthes summarizes perfectly the two main categories: wooden and french. It is true,

that the french toys do not give the kid that much liberty to build and play. But these kinds of

toys can be used to create new stories. For example when talking about dolls, the toy is

already created, but using that kids can make stories and do role-play. When talking about

cars, the little boys can pretend they are on a formula one race. They indeed limit their

imagination, but do not take it away from them. There are recent studies that say ’’keep in

mind that sometimes toys are not meant to be just for fun, but various educational learning

toys can help your child learn something about themselves and the world around them too’’,

this is what french toys do. They have the fun, colorful shape, but at the same time they can

be useful and children can actually learn something.

One of the most important ways toys influence toddlers is through cognitive

development. Which is a fact descovered in the new times. Before, toys did not represent that

of a big concern. They were seen purely as enjoyment and relaxation. In time toys started to

be recognized as having an important place in the skills and creativity development as well.

Here is where educational toys (wooden toys) such as building blocks, puzzles stimulate your

brain by trying to find new ways to use it, when talking about blocks, or by trying to make a

big picture from small pieces (puzzles). These toys encourage children to think creatively,

fostering an environment where they actively engage their minds to solve and keep them

active. These challenge little ones mind in a fun way which leads to a proper development.

Furthermore, toys can be considered even books and art supplies, that provide a

platform for developing language and communication skills. Reading and drawing help
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children expand their vocabulary, express their thoughts, and kindle an interest in literacy,

which constitues a healthy recommended way of development.

Toys play an instrumental role in nurturing a child's imagination and creativity. Dolls,

action figures, dress-up clothes, and imaginative playsets encourage children’s to create their

own narratives, explore dfferent scenarios, and engage in role-playing. These activities enable

children to think outside the box, invent new worlds, and develop storytelling skills.

Imaginative play, including toys that are already built (french toys) do not fully limit

children’s imagination and creativity, they are made to give the little people a base from

where they can build whatever they want.

Toys can also serve to the emotional development of the child, so that board games

are a more appropriate approach. They impose the team work in which the children test their

social skills and build emotional maturity.

Toys that facilitate reading, storytelling, and role-playing contribute significantly to

language and communication development. Books, puppets, and toys with text or sound can

help boys and girls build their vocabulary, improve their articulation, and enhance their

listening skills. As children engage in conversations during imaginative play, they enhance

their communication abilities, thereby building a foundation for effective interpersonal

relationships in the future.

Toys provide not only learning opportunities but also entertainment and relaxation.

Obviously, all these statistics and experiments were studied in time, by making hundreds of

researches.

Things have changed, but despite the time Barthes lived in, he saw ahead in time. He

did not took in consideration all kinds of toys, and judged by only what he had at that time.

These days cognitive development is something children learn since they are very young. For

example more arts and crafts and home made toys are promoted instead of the ’’french toys’’
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Barthes talks about. Children do play with dolls, cars, cleaning toys and so on, but only when

they are older. They start with simple fidget toys when they are little, so that gives them time

to develop their creativity. Parents started making more fidget toys at home, by being aware

of these days consumerism. They found a way to let children have fun, be creative and save

the planet. Eventhough Barthes saw ahead time, he did not take in consideration that the

french toys can be made from recycled materials, which solves a part of the consumerism

issue. All things aside, nowadays children are encouraged to use more ’’boring’’ toys in their

early ages, and are given more complex toys such as dolls, babies, imaginative playsets, as

they get older.

In conclusion, toys hold a significant influence on children, shaping their cognitive,

social, emotional and physical development. The right choice of toys stimulate learning,

creativity and build essential life skills. Parents, teachers and babysitters should be mindful of

the types of toys children are exposed to, considering these days production and variaty,

ensuring they are safe, supportive and positive into children’s life. Barthes recognizes the

profound meaning and impact toys have in little humans’ life, and spread awareness to the

present and future generations.

Bibliography

Mythologies, The Complete Edition, in a New Translation, Barthes

https://blogs.iadb.org/desarrollo-infantil/en/toys-from-recycled-materials-a-good-way-to-

learn-through-play/

https://www.assignmenthelp.net/blog/homemade-toys-versus-store-bought-toys/