The Advantages of Playing With Realistic Dolls

Social-Emotional Skills. Children use play to understand their world. Doll play helps kids: clinic caring and nurturing (socio-emotional)re-enact interactions with their own caregivers, family members, and friends (cognitive reframing) prepare for a sibling (rehearsal). Irrespective of a child's gender, these abilities are valuable life lessons. They may be mimicking how they recall being cared for as a kid, or how they see adults in their world caring for kids. Just as children copy parents talking on the phone, working in the kitchen, vacuuming, etc., doll play is no different. It is children's way by practicing these events to comprehend and begin to create the world their own. Doll play is a way for children to re-enact things that have happened in their lives. Doing this enables them to increase their comprehension of the events. They can also take on the opposite function, which allows them to see things from another's perspective (SUCH an important skill to acquire!) . Many times children will enjoy taking on the role in order for them to feel a sense of power and control. This makes complete sense because children have very little control over their world (for some essential and very good reasons). Giving a child the chance to have some control and power in play allows them to give it a go in a way that is secure.
Playing with baby dolls is also a excellent way for young children to prepare for the birth of a sibling. Parents can model ways to care and suitably touch for an infant which can give the sib-to-be a taste of what they can expect. Once the baby arrives, the new big-sib can care for their own baby doll right alongside dad and mother. This may be particularly helpful since it's fairly normal (for obvious reasons) for the older sibling to not get as much attention once the baby arrives. Being able to have their own activity -- but still feel connected to the parent(s) and family -- can help a child ease into having an extra member in the family. Some kids will prefer to play out these very same scenarios with other stuffed toys or miniatures because they feel better attached to them or they need the play to be removed (less real to the actual situation) than playing with baby dolls. I'm mentioning this because I don't need parents/caregivers to think that just because a child doesn't play with baby dolls they can't understand and practice these skills. However, I do believe that baby dolls offer kids something unique that toys can not do.