Kids just love to take care of their very own baby!
From a very early age, children begin to explore the world around them and imitate actions and behaviours they have seen through pretend play. They start adopting roles of characters they have observed and one way of them doing this is through doll play.
Is Doll Play Really That Important?
Yes! Playing with dolls is a popular way of young children implementing imaginative play – which is vital for a child’s development.
A doll is more than just a toy for kids – they can also be a friend and companion. Doll play allows children to express their creativity and can inspire shy children to join in with circle time. Children use pretend play to practice future roles as adults and when they care for dolls like babies, it encourages them to obtain a nurturing attitude towards others.
Imaginative doll play is important for developing young children’s confidence in their ability to solve problems and interact with their environment. It encourages them to practice language and also helps children develop fine and gross motor skills – so it is essential that you positively promote doll play in your early years setting to enhance a child’s development and learning.
There are many different types of dolls available today, which come in varying materials and sizes, but realism has become a particularly important theme for dolls. Research has discovered that most children prefer their dolls to look like real babies with anatomically correct features, authentic characteristics and moveable arms and legs, so it is essential to offer a diverse selection of realistic dolls in your school.
Multi-Cultural Doll Play
Children become very self-aware at a young age, so it is important to encourage the celebration of diversity. Multi-cultural doll play helps promote the celebration of cultural differences, similarities and diversity. Having a cultural variety of dolls in your school also encourages a child’s self-acceptance, self-identification, self-esteem and confidence – which are all vital for a child’s development.
Reflect the diverse world that we live in with our loveable collection of soft vinyl and soft bodied Ethnic Dolls. Oriental, European, Indian and African Dolls are included in our multicultural doll range and all feature authentic characteristics.
Dolls with Downs Syndrome
You can further inspire the celebration of diversity in your early years setting by enhancing your school’s doll collection with dolls with Down’s syndrome as well. Children enjoy having toys that they can identify with and these dolls allow children with Down’s syndrome to experience having a doll “just like me”. By adding dolls with Down’s syndrome to your early year’s environment, children will also be able to gain a better understanding and acceptance of those with disabilities.
Dolls for pretend play should be inclusive and offered with equal respect as part of all children’s similarities and differences.
Our popular range of beautiful, soft-vinyl Dolls with Downs Syndrome are anatomically correct and feature moveable arms and legs. They are a great learning resource for any primary school, nursery or early years setting!
Dolls at Early Years Resources
Our diverse selection of dolls range from rag dolls and soft-bodied dolls to baby dolls and soft-vinyl dolls. We also stock a wide variety of accessories for dolls – which includes doll clothing, doll prams and strollers, doll carriers, doll beds, doll houses and cradles, doll baths, doll high chairs and much more!
Take a look at our extensive range of Dolls and Accessories and Diverse World Resources and enrich the collection of imaginative play resources in your nursery, primary school or early years setting today.
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