What dolls do

Rebecca likes Molly so much, she says, "because she looks like she'd be fun to be my friend if she were real. Molly is not the only doll Rebecca enjoys.

The nine baby dolls and bride doll that line the window seat in her bedroom, and her 14 Barbie and three Ken dolls, are also important playmates. Just as adults have different friends to meet different needs, so, too, do assorted dolls meet a girl's moods and need.

With baby dolls, Rebecca and Fiona pretend to be the mother or schoolteacher or big sister. Name required. Follow Following. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress. Log in now. Loading Comments Email Required Name Required Website. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! In dressing his baby doll, your son is improving his pincer strength and precision the strength and accuracy of the thumb and index finger as well as toning other fine motor muscles.

Similarly bathing his baby doll, reinforces his own bathing routines. Doll play is important for both boys and girls. Understanding, compassion, kindness and caring are qualities we all want to see more of in each other—as children or adults. Begin early and encourage doll play with your children! Hi Gloria—Thank you for your comment.

Good question Dorene! However, social skills are gained just as much when a child observes how people deal, and then repeats these actions […]. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. For infants, dolls are comfort objects in the same category with stuffed animals, says Leach. These dolls need to be soft and cuddly, yet washable and sturdy. Dolls made of cloth are fine, as long as they can withstand frequent laundering.

Dolls with rattles inside provide auditory stimulation and allow infants to experience cause-and-effect: shaking the doll causes noise. Realism is important, Leach says. It ought to be clear that the doll represents a person, and not a cartoon or fantasy figure. For infants, this can mean a simple body form made of fabric as well as a plastic baby doll. Children 3 to 5 typically prefer dolls that look like real babies and those with moveable arms and legs that can be posed in different positions.

Even drink-and-wet dolls pose a problem: mold and mildew can grow inside. Realism includes diversity. Beginning at infancy, dolls ideally represent various ethnic groups and cultures.

Even in classrooms in which all children are from the same ethnic or racial group, dolls need to represent the diversity of the community. They need different kinds of hair and facial features. Dolls for preschoolers can introduce diverse abilities as well, through the use of props such as a doll wheelchair, hearing aid, and eyeglasses. Both Leach and Speranza advocate anatomically correct dolls, beginning at infancy. In some communities, however, parents may find these dolls objectionable, particularly if a school or center has never had them before.