Dolls are your children's best friends
At what age do children start playing 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, dolls are popular gifts for babies, for example as loyal and super-soft cuddly dolls. When the little ones are a bit older, the favorite doll is always there and accompanies them from morning to night. They play together, laugh, romp, but also sometimes cry and are comforted. Because that's exactly what spending time together and playing with dolls is all about – experiencing everyday life together, learning new things and having 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 been among the favorite 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 vacation, shopping or for an afternoon of play in the children's room.
What goes on in a child when it talks to its doll? That is explained to us Ines Frömelttoy designer at HABA and the one who has significantly shaped the development of our HABA dolls for three decades: "The doll is for many children a being with a 'soul'. Children can entrust to a doll 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 the image of the child, that means your children mirror 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 in infancy and toddlerhood are, role-plays like dressing, feeding or playing family provide great joy for many doll fans aged about 2 to 4 years a great joy. Later, at the age of four to six years, the play with dolls increasingly complex – At this age, children often reenact situations from daycare, the playground or, for example, a visit to the pediatrician. Dolls can be interesting for children up to an age of 8+ years – depending on interests and environment, their doll play expands and is supplemented by additional play elements, such as the play kitchen or the play shop, supplemented. 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 by 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 throughout everyday life. At HABA, the first dolls were made of wood and were called Anna and Paul. Even back then they were loyal companions of many children.Today our dolls are made of soft materials like fabric – perfect for to help the very young fall asleepstrengthens important skills from the start, such as:
Fine motor skills, for example when reaching for their very first favorite doll – already in the very young. And later also when dressing and undressing doll clothes, when holding, changing, or feeding, when your little ones play at being doll parents.
Language development & narrative skills: Older children chatter with their dolls all day. In doing so they practice speaking freely, practice the sentence structure in dialogues and gradually expand their vocabulary, to embellish exciting fantasy worlds.
Empathy, social skills & emotional intelligence: When playing with dolls your children put themselves into different roles, they learn compassion and consideration and strengthen their social skills.At the same time they learn to their own and others' feelings
and to express them during doll play. Creativity & imagination: With dolls, children go on imaginative journeys, invent stories, reflect on experiences and come up with new, inspiring ideas again and again
.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, and become bolder /magazine/parenting-psychology/child-psychology/role-playcome up with new, inspiring ideas again and again
In which situations dolls are particularly helpful
Dolls give children support and stability in everyday life – whether as a large doll or as small toy figures, explains HABA designer Ines Frömelt. "Children act out current situations in play. They process conflicts and reflect on experiences step by step", adds Frömelt. And not only for children, but also for 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 maybe even recognize worries or problems early."
Are boys allowed to play with dolls?
Many parents still wonder whether boys just like girls are allowed to play with dolls.dolls make sense for boys is self-evident, when you observe them playingInes Frömelt's son was also enthusiastic about dolls, she recalls: 'Dolls have been part of everyday play in our family from the start. 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 explore exciting imaginative worlds and strengthen 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. Equally well it can also be the role-play with play kitchen, toy shop & Co., that puzzles or the car racetrack that excite boys and girls. What matters is that children can explore play worlds completely freely 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 accompany and support them well in their doll play. From Ines Frömelt's point of view it is important, to approach play with dolls gently, also when choosing dolls for girls and boys. You can accompany them and support them with advice and practical help. And also for the appropriate doll accessories Frömelt offers tips: „You can buy a doll's crib for the dollhouse , a doll stroller or clothes for the dolls , maybe even a dress similar to your child's. That helps children move from one play world to the next. Or you can make a gift for the doll together. The possibilities are endless!”
