We know that boys and girls start playing with dolls from the first months of life...but when do they start doing it specifically? According to various studies, it is most common for children to show greater interest in these toys before they are 15 months old.
But it is important to know that not all types of dolls are suitable for all ages: for the first five years the correct thing is to give the little ones rag dolls, which do not have hair or anything so small or hard that they can be put in their mouth. . Remember, at this age touching, throwing things and bringing them to the mouth is normal and necessary for babies!
Now, if you have come here to have a somewhat more exhaustive answer about what type of dolls to buy at each age and why, stay because this is your post. You will see that playing with dolls is not only entertainment but also a relevant stimulus for boys and girls to develop basic learning skills, regardless of gender.
Go for it.
Reasons why boys and girls need to play with dolls
Dolls feed the imagination of children as they see them as a representation of themselves. By playing with dolls they can learn values such as empathy and respect , in addition to taking their first steps towards the development of socialization. A recent study, in fact, has confirmed the influence of the game on future leadership characteristics, according to information detailed by The country .
Boys and girls see in dolls the opportunity to imitate behaviors taken from their environment, as well as comment on, reproduce and interpret experiences they have with parents or other people in the environment. This encouragement occurs even if the child plays alone, allowing them to form either a alter ego , an imaginary friend and in any case, a filter of reality appropriate to the distinctive circumstances of childhood. Yes, all this through the game! Isn't it amazing?
For this reason, offering them the ideal dolls for their age according to their interests, needs and behaviors, will allow them to nurture the tools that will help the cognitive-motor development of the infant.
At what age do you stop playing with dolls?
There is no defined or correct age where boys and girls do not "have to" play with dolls. Although it is increasingly common for traditional toys to be abandoned in favor of technology, it is important to make this transition natural and adapted to the growth of the boy or girl. They should not feel different for continuing to use dolls at seven years old and it is not healthy for them to spend a lot of time behind screens.
As we have explained in our blog, dolls (and by extension, all types of traditional games) play an essential role in the development of the child, both in learning basic concepts of size, color and emotions, and in creating self-hygiene or communication skills. . The important thing is always to respect the needs of the child and not force them to grow "faster." If you have a doll at age 9 or even at age 70, there is never a reason to judge anyone!
Dolls for 3 to 6 years old
At three years old, boys and girls begin to play with having responsibilities with dolls, they pretend that they can talk to them and need to be cared for. What does that involve? Well, in this process they do things like undress the dolls, feed them or put them to sleep.
The performance consists of imitating the behavior they see from adults towards them, which helps them naturalize experiences that at first are uncomfortable and will soon have to be done by themselves: when it is time to take off the children's clothes to bathe them, give them to eat or a remedy when they don't feel like it, etc.
A great plus for dolls can be that they are water resistant and include safe accessories such as a mini house where the doll lives, as is the case with our Nadurines , who bring a recyclable and colorable box that becomes your home.
A talking doll can help nurture a child's language skills, although their imagination may also be enough, especially if they are over five years old. In any case, a non-speaking doll or a little house is usually more than enough, since they can imagine everything. Using your imagination is essential!
From approximately five years old, children play with a different dynamic: they imagine that they are responsible for a child, or in the same way they can play with dolls as if they were their own age.
For this new age range, it is best to abandon baby dolls and implement those that already have more versatile and complex characteristics, such as doctor dolls, engineers, etc.
A solid reason why the use of baby dolls from the age of six is still recommended is when children are expecting a little brother or sister. Thus, through play and accessories such as cribs and bottles, they can adapt to the baby's arrival.
In any case, to choose the right doll, not only the criterion of age but personality is enough : if the boy or girl likes to dream big, it will be great to offer him dolls for this purpose: to take care of them, to feed them or dolls with professional and artistic themes, which serve as travel companions for their imagination. Enjoy and learn to the fullest!
Why dolls for boys and not just "for girls"?
At Fun Surprises we think that the cliché distinction of dolls for girls and cars for boys It is a sexist stereotype that should be reduced and even eliminated.
Through something seemingly as innocent as play, we can teach the little ones to take care of the environment, as well as to be more respectful of others and equalize opportunities and jobs between the two genders.
For example, cleaning a toy baby or feeding it should not just be a game between girls, since boys could later be exposed to the same responsibility. You can learn more about our point of view through our educational and entertaining videos on Fun Surprises from YouTube , like our blog Fun Surprises and how our toys promote equality and respect for all living things.
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