Sam Wan comments that “the coolest toys are the ones that give users the freedom to find their own uses for that toy.”
In Vygotsky’s Mind in Society, he notes that “play is the realm of spontaneity and freedom.” However, in his studies of imaginative play in children, he observes that children will subordinate their own wants to the greater pleasure of following the rules. He concludes that “the essential attribute of play is a rule that has become a desire.”
Rules provide freedom. The really fun toys give you just enough constraints to inspire creativity and make it easy to create great stuff.
2 Comments
This I think this is the basis for the dynamic success of Legos. Not withstanding the corporate behemoth that it has become, Legos are the types of toys that have no end to unjoyment for kids. Unlike battery powered mechanical toys that sell well to parents, but become boring to kids in just a few moments.
From a very young age we are taught about rules, structure and consequnce. I beleive without at least even the suggestion of rules, we are a little lost. There has to be some outerboundary to the toy/activity. The notion of complete freedom is ironically stifling.