February 18, 2025
Traditionally, designing toys has often focused on creating objects that entertain or engage children, which comes with limitations and constraints and certain expectations: cars for boys, dolls for girls. In contrast, Cas' approach is rooted in the belief that play is a fundamental way for children to explore, experiment and develop problem-solving skills. As Cas says at the beginning of the movie, “Children shouldn't be expected to play with toy buses, but should be able to create their own methods of commuting from home to school.” Rather than just providing finished products, the designs ask questions and create problem-solving tools that encourage children to design, build, and imagine their own worlds.
I partly agree with Cas that from an “educational” point of view, it seems reasonable to allow children a higher degree of freedom. On the other hand, I wish that not all toys were designed like Cas' toys. In my opinion, toys can also serve as a medium of expression for their creators. Part of the appeal of buying toys, both as an adult and as a child, lies in appreciating the creator's artistic vision. For instance, what I love about Lego sets is how the designers showcase their fun and skillful building techniques through the instruction. I would be disappointed if these instruction were removed from the sets—especially considering their price.
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Toys (My Definition)
a physical object or collection of objects that simulates or represents something real, providing amusement for a person.
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Cas's toys transcend mere entertainment—they are tools for exploration and creation. They come without explicit instructions or fixed forms, empowering children to use them in countless creative ways.
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Play (My Definition)
a self-directed creative activity focused on enjoyment rather than survival or financial gain.
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Cas views play as both a creative and educational endeavor. While enjoyment remains central to the definition, play serves as a vital pathway for learning and development. Rather than mere entertainment, it becomes a powerful tool for empowerment and creative expression.
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‘Play Value’
The word Play Value in this context means that toys remain engaging even after repeated use and offer new possibilities for interaction. Cas's modular building system allows children to create endless configurations and ensures that toys remain stimulating and relevant as children grow.
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As I mentioned earlier, Lego was one of my favorite toys growing up. This perspective is that Lego seemed to have an open-endedness that in theory allowed me to build anything they could imagine, from simple structures to complex machines (which of course required me to be rich enough). It seems to me that most of my spatial reasoning and creativity comes from Lego. Lego's rules are simple, easy to follow, and easy to get addicted to. I can get into a state of mind-flow while playing with Lego, forgetting about the passage of time and focusing on creativity. Growing up, when I found a similar feeling in the field of video post and motion graphic animation, I seemed to understand that I could do this for a living later on. In this way, Lego can be considered as the first skill I mastered.