Lifelong Benefits of Doll Play

Do you have that one treasured item that you were gifted as a child and have kept ever since? For many of us, our earliest childhood best friend was a beloved doll that taught us how to think, communicate, and care about others. Playing with dolls or even forming a doll collection can nourish your imagination and allow you to create your own story – no matter what age you are. Whether you are a child or an adult, dolls can enrich your life in more ways than one.

Here are 5 of the invaluable ways having a doll can impact your childhood:

1. Children can learn to empathise with others through doll play.

Playing with dolls can be an excellent learning opportunity for children to understand how other people are feeling and develop empathy skills. Imagination games such as playing with dolls often require taking on a character and expressing their emotions, so by practising empathy within these games, kids can learn to apply these techniques when interacting with others which can be monumentally helpful throughout life.

2. Playing with dolls encourages independence.

Playing with dolls as a child is one of the best strategies to help develop confidence and independence. Many games and forms of play require a friend or parent to join, and although doll play can certainly be a group activity, this hobby can also be explored alone. When children consider their doll a friend and learn to play by themselves, they consequently develop the self-assurance to approach activities on their own, whether that be playing or self-care such as getting dressed, eating, and bathing.

3. Owning dolls teaches children to be responsible.

Many parents will hesitate to give young children expensive games and toys for the fear of items being damaged or broken, but the only way to learn responsibility is to give children an opportunity to take care of something – such as a beautiful doll. Gifting a doll to a child, especially one crafted artfully, teaches your child that you trust them to be careful with the doll, and more importantly, empowers them to trust themselves. When a child believes they are capable of handling a task, such as caring for a doll, they can learn to take on more responsibility as they grow up.

4. Imagination games with doll play teach creativity.

Humans naturally learn through narrative and stories and doll play gives children the opportunity to develop their own storytelling skills through imaginative games. When children observe the soulful expressions of a doll, they can imagine all of the possibilities of what the doll can become – whether it is a princess, a pirate, or a physician. This creative play is especially exciting when dolls have unique clothing options that children can choose between to make their characters come to life, allowing kids to take the game in any direction they desire.

5. Children can learn social skills through playing with dolls.

Throughout our childhood developmental phase, we must learn how to socialise and interact with others, and playing with dolls is an excellent introduction to this skill. Dolls are a physical representation of a child itself, so by encouraging doll play, children can learn how to explore the social world through pretend conversations and situations.

For many children, playing with dolls will become core memories that they will carry with them throughout their life. Although traditionally playing with dolls has been associated with younger children, there are several benefits of exploring this hobby as an adult.

Here are 3 reasons to invest in dolls as an adult:

1. Investing in dolls now can grow into a valuable collection over time.

Have you ever seen an ornate collection of snow globes, collectible coins, or another trivial item last time you visited your grandparent’s house? Chances are, they started their collection long ago and have been gradually adding to their inventory over time. Dolls are a classic collectable item that accrues value over time when taken care of while also having functionality to them during imaginative play. If you have been contemplating which treasure you should collect, dive back into your childlike wonder and explore beautifully crafted dolls that you will love.

2. One day, you can pass your collection on to someone special, perhaps a grandchild.

Family heirlooms are a meaningful token that can be passed through generations, so if you were searching for a way to leave a mark on this world, collecting dolls can be the perfect treasure. After years of cherishing your doll collection, your children will be enamoured by the opportunity to take over the ownership of a display they grew up adoring. Compared to the joy of being gifted a brand new doll, there is an extra layer of meaning when inheriting such stunning dolls from someone you love.

3. Even as an adult, doll play can be a relaxing hobby.

There are so many aspects of our lives that are completely out of our control, so it can be soothing to have a place of comfort to return to, such as enjoying your cherished doll collection. During times when you may feel overwhelmed or dissociated, pretend play with dolls or merely caring for your doll collection can restore your inner peace and remind you of your childhood innocence.

No matter your age, bringing a doll into your life can bring you levels of joy you never imagined. Whether you want to gift your child or grandchild their first best friend that they will cherish throughout their life or if you are an adult starting a doll collection as a hobby, you will adore the soulful details a doll can provide. Begin your adventure today and explore the gorgeous craftsmanship of dolls by My Doll Best Friend.