Dolls are your children's best friends
At what age do children play with dolls? Why do children play with dolls? And how do dolls become the best friends of many children? Already in the first months of life are dolls popular gifts for babies, for example as loyal and super-soft cuddly dolls. When the little ones are a bit older, the favorite doll always present and accompanies them from morning to night. There they play together, laugh, romp, but also sometimes cry and are comforted. Because that's exactly what makes time together and playing with dolls special – experiencing everyday life together, learning new things and to have their favorite doll as their best friend by their side in every situation.
Our 30 cm tall HABA fabric dolls with their cheerful faces have for decades been among the most beloved companions of many generations of children. They have the perfect size for playing and having adventures and can be taken anywhere – whether for a walk, on holiday, shopping or for an afternoon of play in the children's room.
What goes on inside a child when they talk to their doll? That is explained to us Ines Frömelt, toy designer at HABA and the one who has been significantly shaping the development of our HABA dolls for three decades: "The doll is for many children a being with 'a soul'.Children can entrust a doll with their worries and fears and share joy and fun with it. It is a companion and playmate or is mothered. On the one hand, the doll is the image of the child, that is, your children reflect their own experiences and wishes in play. On the other hand, the doll can also itself become the child of the child."
How long do children play with dolls?
How long children play with dolls, depends entirely on your kids' play habits and preferences. After the curious little ones have already come into contact with dolls during infancy and toddlerhood role-play activities such as dressing, feeding, or playing family bring great joy to many doll fans aged about 2 to 4 years. Later, at the age of four to six years old,playing with dolls becomes increasingly complex – At this age, children often act out situations from daycare, the playground, or, for example, a visit to the pediatrician. Dolls can be interesting to children up to an age of 8+ years – depending on interests and environment, their doll play expands and is complemented by additional play elements, such as the play kitchen or the play shop, are added. You may be wondering: How long do girls play with dolls, how long are dolls interesting for boys? That too is individual and depends entirely on your kids – as long as it brings them joy, dolls are great playmates that accompany children year after year in their development.
Playing with dolls strengthens important skills
Dolls are among the most popular toys in a child's room and have accompanied children for centuries in the most diverse forms and variants through everyday life. At HABA, the first dolls were made of wood and were called Anna and Paul. Even then, they were loyal companions of many children. Today our dolls are made of soft materials such as fabric – perfect for helping the very little ones fall asleep and accompany older children carefree in all adventures. You may be wondering: What benefits does playing with dolls have for children's development? So many! Playing with dolls strengthens important skills from the start, such as:
Fine motor skills, for example when reaching for their very first favorite doll – already with the littlest ones. And later also when dressing and undressing doll clothes, when holding, changing, or feeding, when your little ones play as doll parents.
Language development & narrative skills: Older children chatter all day with their dolls. In doing so they practice free speech, practice the sentence structure in dialogues and gradually expand their vocabulary, to embellish exciting imaginary worlds.
Empathy, social skills & emotional intelligence: When playing with dolls your children take on other roles, they learn compassion and consideration and strengthen their social skills. At the same time they learn to understand their their own and other people's feelings and to express them while playing with dolls.
Creativity & imagination: With dolls, children go on fantasy journeys, invent stories, reflect on experiences and thus repeatedly come up with new, stimulating ideas.
Self-awareness, self-confidence & problem-solving skills: When children play with their dolls, they also learn a lot about themselves. They try out new things, become braver and also master difficult situations in role play.
In which situations dolls can be especially helpful
Dolls provide children with support and stability in everyday life – whether as a large doll or as small play figurines, explains HABA designer Ines Frömelt. „Children act out current situations in play. They process conflicts and reflect on experiences step by step”, Frömelt adds. And not only for the children, but also for the parents, playing with dolls can be helpful, emphasizes the expert: „When interacting with the little play companions, parents can observe and understand their children's emotional world well. And perhaps even recognize worries or problems early on.”
Are boys allowed to play with dolls?
Many parents still wonder whether boys, just like girls, are allowed to play with dolls. Our answer is clear: dolls are for everyone! dolls are suitable for boys, but the answer is obvious, when you watch them play. Ines Frömelt's son was also enthusiastic about dolls, she recalls: "Dolls have been part of our family's everyday play from the very beginning. For my son's doll I once also made a football T-shirt in his club's colors sewn – that was a big hit!" With a doll every child explores exciting imaginative worlds and strengthens important skills – regardless of gender. Children decide for themselves, which toys bring them joy – that can be a cloth doll like the cool Bruno or Lilli-Lou with pink hair be. It can just as well be the role-play with play kitchen, pretend shop & co., which doing puzzles or the toy racetrack that excite boys and girls. What's important is that children can freely explore play worlds and decide for themselves, which toys are their personal favorites.
How can I support my child's doll play?
You can support your little ones with small details to help accompany and support them well in doll play. From Ines Frömelt's perspective it is important, to approach play with dolls gently, including when choosing dolls for girls and boys. You can accompany them and stand by them with advice and practical help. And also for the suitable doll accessories Frömelt has tips to offer: „You can buy a small doll bed for the dollhouse, get a doll stroller or clothes for the dolls, perhaps even a dress similar to your child's. This helps children move from one play world to the next. Or you can craft a gift for the doll together. The possibilities are endless!”
