Games used to be multi-generational, but not anymore. Why do you think that is?
In the past, people did not live in a consumer society. It was harder to get anything. Therefore, objects had greater respect. On the one hand, there was a need for something to last longer, and on the other hand, toys were made of materials, primarily wood and then metal, which were much more durable than the materials of many toys today, I am thinking primarily of plastic toys.
Because objects had value, they were taken care of, and it was only natural that toys, just like tableware or furniture, were passed down from generation to generation.
Of course, the situation is different today.
Retro came into fashion a few years ago, how much has this improved the acceptance of classic games?
Classic toys, by which I mean traditional toys made of natural materials, have always been around. Fashion wasn't invented today either. The interest in retro items is also a kind of fashion: from time to time, people rediscover older styles.
Francibaba doesn't sell antiques, we only have new toys. It's simply a case of old big companies, even companies with a history of over 100 years, re-launching old designs because there was interest and demand for them.
From this perspective, the retro fashion has naturally contributed to the rediscovery of classic games, but not only because the old became fashionable, but primarily because many people understood that the old ones, these games and these companies knew something that we may have forgotten by now.
How relevant are classic games in the modern age of digitalization?
It is probably nothing new that digital devices should not be given to children under a certain age, I am thinking here of smartphones, tablets, and games with digital displays, because their nervous systems are not yet developed enough to process the amount of information and stimuli that these devices convey. So, digital devices are downright harmful under a certain age. Various electronic games, with their sounds, lights, and automatic movements, also overstimulate children. As a result, certain abilities of the child do not develop properly. For example, their imagination and creativity do not develop, because they are given everything ready-made. Likewise, their concentration and patience do not develop.
What developmental psychologists also talk about a lot, and it's very interesting, is that certain classic toys that children have played with for centuries, I'm thinking of simple things like building blocks, are essential for acquiring certain skills, such as manual dexterity, fine motor skills, or spatial orientation - a lot of things that will later affect children's cognitive and intellectual development. The fact that there are so many children with partial disabilities today can be attributed, among other things, to the fact that children don't play with the right toys. Because play is fundamentally not only fun, it also teaches. In early childhood, we learn through play. It doesn't matter what we learn, and it doesn't matter how.
- How can you get children used to more creative, classic games?
The child plays with what is put in his hands. A small child cannot yet go into a toy store alone, he cannot choose what he likes. Now, just like when it comes to food, for example, he gets used to what he eats a lot. So if someone always lives on French fries from a young age, he will like vegetables less. So it does not matter what we put in the child's hands. Let's be demanding about this!
How important are quality and tradition?
There are so many toys on the market these days, and you can get almost anything. From this huge selection, we wanted to choose certain toys. What were the main criteria? It should be a good quality toy. It should be made of natural materials. And it should be very beautiful! And of course, this may be a matter of personal taste, but I personally find things that are made of natural materials and have a high-quality finish more beautiful.
The French Doll did not want to make you nostalgic. And if someone looks into the store, they will see that these toys are still perfectly suitable for today's world. It is more about the fact that there are values that simply do not go out of fashion. To give a specific example: one of the French toy factories, which is now officially part of the French cultural heritage, was founded in 1911. This company has so much experience, so much technical knowledge behind it that it is reflected in its toys. But of course, they also move with the times, in the sense that they always renew their offer. They work with renowned toy designers, who launch new models and designs on the market every year. But what they always insist on is excellent quality and natural raw materials.
Of course, there are trends among toys, even among natural, classic toys. For example, a few years ago, pastel-colored toys were all over the market, which are very pretty by the way, but I personally think that this more satisfies the current taste of parents. Young children are more conservative in this regard.
Besides wooden toys, we also have toys made of metal, fabric, and even paper. Among the paper toys, we also find some truly special ones, which come from a company that produces perhaps the most beautiful party supplies in the world.
What can the future bring in this area?
The dumping of cheap plastic toys is a big challenge for manufacturers of classic toys. For many people, cheapness is a consideration when buying toys. Toys made from natural materials are more expensive. Plastic toys, on the other hand, wear out faster, break, and you have to buy new ones more often. And if we look at how long a wooden toy lasts, they are certainly not more expensive. A durable wooden toy can really be passed down through generations, and certain classic toys really never go out of fashion. And if someone is also interested in the environment, then they can obviously think about how much unnecessary waste you save not only money in, say, 50 years.
In addition, a durable toy also has emotional value. It has emotional value, for example, if I can give one of my favorite childhood toys to my own child or grandchild.
And finally, I would like to talk about aesthetics, because taste can also be cultivated. Our adult taste is often influenced by childhood memories and experiences. Just as certain tastes and smells are imprinted in our memory, so are shapes, materials and colors, and later this represents the measure, the ideal for us. The toys we choose are very beautiful. That is why they can regularly be featured in interior design magazines, and that is why we also have adult customers who buy these objects for themselves for decorative purposes.
So I think these games will become increasingly valuable in the future.
If I had to summarize Francibaba's future goal in one sentence, I would say that we want more and more children in Hungary to be able to play with not only interesting but also truly beautiful toys.