The baby doll is such a fantastic toy that we hope ALL children (Yes, even BOYS!) will have the opportunity to own and play with during the toddler years. This is because baby dolls are packed with potential for teaching children about themselves and the world around them. Let’s take a look!
Baby dolls offer kids lots of opportunities for developing their cognitive, fine motor, and self-help skills. Kids often find it easier to practice these skills on someone (or something) else before they can apply them to themselves. And because boys often develop some of their fine motor and self-dressing skills later than girls, it’s important for them to be exposed to more opportunities for practice.
The baby doll is a toy that can really help open up and expand a child’s pretend play. Children learn a lot of language through their play and play offers them opportunities to use and practice their speech and language skills. Let’s look at just some of the language concepts that a baby doll can help teach and support:
Children use play to understand their world. Doll play helps children:
- practice nurturing and caring (socio-emotional)
- re-enact interactions with their own caregivers, family, and friends (cognitive reframing)
- prepare for a sibling (rehearsal)
Doll play is also a way for children to re-enact things that have happened in their lives. Doing so allows them to increase their understanding of the events. They can also take on the opposite role, which allows them to see things from another’s perspective (SUCH an important skill to acquire!). Many times children will enjoy taking on the adult role in order for them to feel a sense of control and power. This makes complete sense because children have very little control over their world (for some necessary and good reasons). Giving a child the chance to have some power and control in play allows them to give it a try in a safe way.
