What are the Benefits of Playing with Baby Dolls?

You might think of silicone baby dolls just as a toy, but they are far more than that. Besides playing, they offer a large number of benefits including emotional wellness for kids as well as youngsters. Along with the caring and social abilities development, doll play takes part in developing basic life skills like creativity, problem-solving qualities, and a sense of responsibility. So, in the world of digital games and screens, engage your child more and more in doll play as the benefits they offer are magnificent. Let's find out together why playing with baby dolls is much more than just a pastime!  

• What is the Concept of Doll's Play and Pretend Play? 
• When Do Infants Start Playing with Toys? 
• What are the Developmental Benefits of Pretend Play? 
• How to Play with Dolls Creatively? 
• What to Look for When Buying Dolls for Toddlers? 
• FAQs 

What is the Concept of Doll's Play and Pretend Play? 

Pretend play means children, at some point of their age, assume things during play. For example, they can pretend to drink from an empty cup or feed a doll. This normally begins at the age of 18 months when every child observes things around it very attentively. And this becomes more powerful as the child grows.  

Doll play really plays a serious role in pretend play. These days kids prefer to play digitally instead of with playthings. And the leading cause of their losing interest in toys or dolls is their caretakers. Parents don’t provide their children with a proper environment and toys. But there is something that can’t be ignored. Research has shown that the child may not get any benefit from playing with a doll right now, but the doll play will definitely benefit in the future.  

To unlock the secret, let’s look into how many areas doll play can benefit your child.   

What are the Developmental Benefits of Doll Play? 

 It might seem that doll play is nothing or it’s just a common practice. But the truth is, unintentionally your child will learn things like empathy, how to interact with others, how to care for others, etc. because of doll play. Some of the developmental benefits of doll play are 

Emotional Development 

One prominent benefit of playing with a doll is the development of harmony in their emotions. If your child is sad or frustrated, he will hug the doll or something like that. This helps your child express his/her emotions in a more precise manner. In short, he can show his emotions through actions that he is unable to speak of. 

Playing with dolls can also help your child develop kindness for others. Her/his caring for the doll during hot or cold weather or feeding the doll on time develops the empathy portion of your child’s mind. Like he might say “You should wear this cap, it’s cold out there, have this”. This way your child begins to understand and care for others. It’s not just a simple observation, this fact is scientifically proven and mentioned in the research. 

Social Skills and Role-Playing 

At the point a child crosses the age of 3, their cognitive skills become a little stronger and they pretend to be either the father, boss, or superhero of the baby doll. This specifically helps them to improve their social skills together with management capabilities.  

Communicating things with dolls like “Why haven't you slept yet, you have to go to school in the morning, hurry, go and sleep!”, helps your child improve skills like punctuality and role-playing.  

Creativity and Imagination 

Playing with baby dolls improves your child’s creativity and imaginary skills. The way your child thinks to solve a specific problem or challenge the doll is facing improves his thinking skills. For example, if a doll needs a bath, gets dressed, or feels sad, they invent stories and come up with solutions, just like a mother. This kind of pretend play causes them to think outside of the box.  

These activities help your child build their mental as well as cognitive skills that are needed to handle tasks in their coming practical life. It improves the ability to concentrate, plan ahead, and solve problems more efficiently.  

Motor Skills Development 

Playing and handling baby dolls helps improve motor skills in children. Every small action that a child performs to keep her/his doll happy is what improves motor skills.  

For example, dressing a baby doll, selecting clothing and accessories for the doll, feeding a doll, bathing a baby doll, and a lot of other actions that a child performs make it easy to perform his tasks in his daily life. Indirectly, all this helps improve your child's confidence.  

FAQ’s 

When does pretend play start? 

Pretend play usually starts at the age of 18 months and more. At that time of age, children start observing things and actions around them. And try to implement or play just like that.  

Do 10-year-olds play with dolls? 

Yes, for sure, 10-year-olds can play with dolls as these dolls are the best toys among children. For a 10-year-old baby girl or boy, you must buy them a toddler-size doll to fill up their playtime with more joy.  

How can I encourage my child to play with dolls? 

You can encourage your child by the means he/she loves. For example, if your child loves to watch YouTube shorts or cartoons, you can show them reels or videos of children playing with small or newborn-size silicone baby dolls.  

Are baby dolls suitable for 2-year-olds? 

Yes, as silicone is a safe material, it is suitable for children of age 2. However, a few silicone or vinyl baby dolls are not suitable for children below the age of 3. So, it’s better to check and follow all age recommendations before purchasing a doll.  

What are the best dolls for 1-year-olds? 

Mini full cloth dolls are I think better for 1 year baby. But if you want a more realistic baby doll, you can also have palm-sized or a little larger silicone baby dolls for your little one.  

Do toddlers need doll accessories? 

Yes, it’s more efficient to buy them a doll’s major accessories like a comb, a few clothes, and a baby bottle. Your child will enjoy playing with them and this also helps in better pretend play.  

What are the benefits of pretend play for toddlers? 

Pretend play helps your child develop better social, communication, and problem-solving skills in the future. It also helps your child develop empathy.  

Can doll play improve social skills? 

Yes, doll play, a type of pretend play, improves social skills like communication, sharing, and teamwork. As your child, either a girl or boy, plays with a doll, these skills unintentionally improve them.  

Which are the best pretend play toys for toddlers? 

The best pretend play toys include baby dolls, kitchen toys, a doctor's set, and different kinds of playhouses. By playing with these, children develop essential life skills in a fun way.