The article presents toys as meaningful reflections of culture, which, while being a tool in the process of culturalisation, transmit some cultural content, meaningful to the society that has produced them. The role a toy plays in the process of internalisation of gender roles is an important aspect of its ideological character. The studies on toys and play reveal some general characteristics of the process of culturalisation — e.g. the differences between what is expected of girls and boys. They also show some inconsistencies between the declared and real awareness of gender equality.