Socially it has always been thought that dolls were for girls and cars for boys. Fortunately, that obsolete thought is getting further away, and it is currently understood that a child can play with the toys he wants regardless of his gender. In this sense, we want to explain to you how important dolls are for your daughter’s game, but also for your son.
Learning with dolls
Dolls are ideal and necessary for children to start learning to play symbolic games. Through the dolls they experience and “rehearse” social behaviors that they have seen around them. That is why it is so important to observe them while they play with them, because in this way, you could see behaviors that are out of place that can show you some kind of hidden emotional problem. In fact, while playing, your children can repeat words that you yourself have said during the day.
Dolls are inert objects, but children’s imaginations bring them to life. In addition, your children learn by watching you every day… they do what they see, they imitate you. Therefore, when they play with dolls, you should always be attentive in this type of representative game, and that it is necessary! for both boys and girls! You’ll be able to tell if what they’re doing while playing is okay or if there’s something you need to think about because they’re imitating you and you don’t want them to internalize those behaviors (like yelling too much).
10 benefits of playing with dolls
Next, we are going to explain some of the most notable benefits of both boys and girls playing with dolls. In this way, and once you understand the benefits of playing with dolls, it will be when you can give it the importance it really has and that your sons and daughters have dolls at home to play with.
1. It is educated in equality
Dolls help to educate boys and girls in equality. Just as a boy can and should play with dolls, a girl can and should also play with cars or building blocks… in the diversity of the game is the enrichment! Also, when a child cares for a baby doll or grooms and pets a doll, they are learning real life sensitivity and roles.
2. Affectivity is learned
Following the previous point, we cannot overlook the fact that they are affective dolls, that is, that boys and girls can hug them, give them kisses and feel emotions towards these dolls. If you realize that your child scolds them a lot when playing with the dolls, it is possibly because they are receiving too many reprimands at home… Or if you see that they treat them badly or hit them, it will be a sign of their emotional state.
3. They understand the rules better
Another benefit of playing with dolls is that boys and girls understand the rules better. In fact, they are able to repeat the house rules to their dolls, so it would be a sign that they have well internalized the rules that you have taught them at home. For example, when it’s getting late and it’s time to sleep.
4. Good for shy children
Children who are shy play with dolls without fear of what others will say. They are alone with their dolls and can invent as many stories as they want. Only their imagination is involved at that moment and they feel safe playing within their comfort zone. Plus, you can learn social skills.
5. They improve social skills
Playing with dolls solidifies the social skills that are acquired in the first years of a child’s development. When children play house, they learn to communicate kindly and cooperate. By caring for a doll, they learn to care for each other.
6. Increases your responsibility
At an early age when you acquire social skills you learn to be responsible. They also learn how to take care of a doll by playing with it. Learning this skill can help children to know how to take care of their pets, or older siblings to take care of their younger siblings, etc.
7. Empathy and understanding appear
Another important social skill that children learn when they play with dolls is how to process emotions such as empathy and compassion. Just as caring for their doll teaches them responsibility, it also teaches them to empathize with those around them and allows them to become caring people.
8. Powers Imagination
Pretend play, the type of play that occurs when children play with dolls, helps develop a child’s imagination as they encounter imaginative and creative scenarios with their dolls and other children.
9. Improves language
Playing both with dolls and with their friends, children encounter new and unique situations for their games. Communication between them can strengthen their vocabulary by filling it with language practical. By communicating in this way with their friends, children gain insight into routines at home that may be different from their own. In this way they discover the world around them.
10. Boosts their imagination
As with any other games or toys, children playing with dolls also boost their imagination and creativity. In addition to inventing stories that have nothing to do with reality, his creativity will allow him to play interactively both with the dolls and with other children.