Roland Barthes: Toys

Roland Barthes is talking about how french toys of this generation and how they are made as miniature versions of the adult world. These toys are perfect examples of what is important in the adult world such as phones, hair styling products etc. He also says that these types of toys keep a child from being their own creators. That they basically corrupt a childs mind. I have to say I disagree with him I believe these types of toys help a child become more prepared for their adult life and provides mind stimulation, that not only building blocks and doing puzzles can do that type of stimulation. I’m majoring in child development and from what I have experienced when I have oppurtunities to interact with children and use things adults use I have noticed that not only does it prepare them for their future it also helps them become confident.

When they see adults using these things it makes a child more curious to know what these thing are and why they are used in that way. So thats why I think it is very important for children to have a oppurtunity to be able to play with these type of toys. He also refers to the child as a homunculus which means small human. In other words saying we treat children as little adults rather than children when we give them these toys. I also disagree with this because the only thing in my opinion that we are doing as a parent myself is preparing them for when they become adults.