Topic of this paper is gender roles and play. It should be mentioned that play is a very wide concept which includes certain definitions, but in this paper the focus is only on some of its aspects. Goal of this paper is to present in which way children's play, as well as toys they're playing with, affect learning and acquisition of gender roles. This paper tries to answer the question how children's play and structure of a toy, its tehnical particularities and design influence the acquisition of gender roles. Beginning of the paper includes terminology regarding concepts like sex, gender, stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. They are followed by more complex concepts like gender roles, gender identity and gender stereotypes, which are all very important for understanding paper itself. Main part is focused on boy's play and girl's play, what they teach children and which gender roles they foster for each sex. Important element of play is also a child's toy, whose design, material and advertising may encourage traditional gender roles by making anticipated projections of an ideal consumer. Child's surroundings, including parents, peers, preschool teachers and media, also have a great impact when it comes to selection of play and toys as well as development of specific gender role. At the end, the paper indicates how parents and preschool teachers can have a positive impact and contribute to strengthening child's overall identity development