If you walk down a toy store aisle today, you might be tempted to ask what year it is, because some stores still insist on labeling their aisles “boy toys” and “girl toys” (just like some grandparents insist your daughter would really like a miniature vacuum cleaner for her birthday while your son needs a train set). But guess what: Kids don’t care about gender stereotypes! And if they do, it’s because they have learned to — from us or from someone around them. If a toy is fun, they play with it; if it’s not fun, they make it fun using their imagination. After all, kids are the very best version of humans.
My son likes to play with robots, Legos, cuddly stuffed animals, and dolls. We have a play kitchen and a train table, plus dolls galore. And guess what? When given the chance, most boys will play with dolls. And this type of play reaps huge emotional benefits. Dr. Lindsay Henderson, a psychologist who treats patients virtually via telehealth app LiveHealth Online, says boys can actually improve their emotional literacy and practice real-life skills by picking up a doll.
“By playing with dolls, children are exploring and developing skills related to caretaking, nurturing, and even parenthood,” she tells SheKnows. Boys may pretend to be a dad when they nurture a plastic baby doll, but even if their imaginative games have little to do with parenting roles, the type of play associated with dolls is beneficial to all children’s growth and development. “The long-term benefits of playing with dolls are not restricted to future parenthood; empathy, responsiveness, love, and caretaking can be applied to any relationship or interaction throughout life,” says Henderson.
The fact that empathy can be developed is a cold, hard neurological fact, according to a small study conducted by Barbie-maker Mattel and Cardiff University. The research, which included 33 children, showed that even when kids were playing with dolls solo, the area of their brain that is responsible for empathy was activated. It also showed that dolls are instrumental in helping children develop empathy.
“As leaders in the dolls category, we’ve always known that doll play has a positive impact on kids, but up until now, we have not had neuroscientific data that demonstrates these benefits,” Lisa McKnight, SVP and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel, said in a press release. “The findings of this research highlights that playing with dolls, such as Barbie, offers positive benefits in preparing children for the future through nurturing social skills like empathy. As we continue to inspire the limitless potential in every child, we are proud to offer dolls that encourage skills we know are highly valued by parents and are determinants in children’s future emotional, academic, and social success.”
And boys need to develop empathy, too. Not sure where to start when it comes to buying a doll for a boy? This list, which includes racially diverse and body-positive buddies, will help. And your little guy will love them.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
A version of this story was originally published in December 2018.
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Ken Soccer Player Doll
With Ken such a major player in Barbie’s life, it makes sense that he gets a makeover now and then. This doll can be purchased as an athlete, a barista (male bun included), a lifeguard.
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Götz Parker Doll
Image Credit: Pottery Barn Kids This snazzy guy is dressed for adventure. The Götz company originated in the village of Rödental in Bavaria, Germany, and is known for its high-quality dolls — now available stateside through Pottery Barn Kids.
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Wonder Crew Superhero Buddies
Image Credit: Wonder Crew. Wonder Crew was developed by Laurel Wider, a psychotherapist who understands how important it is for boys to practice their emotional literacy.
These dolls come dressed as superheroes and feature a kid-size cape and mask. They’re also available in different ethnicities and come with accessories like a construction worker outfit and pajamas.
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A Throwback
Image Credit: Cabbage Patch Kids. Buying my son a Cabbage Patch doll brought back a lot of memories of my own squidgy-faced baby doll that I received in the Christmas of 1984. We got him the baby rather than the big-kid model, and he liked taking care of it. He kept asking us to be quiet because the baby was asleep and stuck it up his T-shirt to nurse it! Cabbage patch Kids come in a huge variety, from the traditional yarn-hair designs to twins and kids with glasses or other accessories. Each one is packaged along with their special adoption certificate, and they all have a “birthmark.”
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For the Dog Lover
Image Credit: Barbie. Your little one can channel his inner-dog trainer with this cute playset. It comes with a fanny-pack wearing Ken, a labrador, a chihuahua, a balance bar, a hopp and a trophy, of course.
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Cabbage Patch Kids 14″ Skateboard Boy Blonde Hair Blue Eyes
Image Credit: Cabbage Patch Kids/Target Cabbage Patch Kids dolls are a fantastic 1980s throwback that appeal to kids today, even boys. The line offers a huge variety, from the traditional yarn-hair designs to twins and kids with glasses or other accessories. Each one is packaged along with their special adoption certificate.
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Truly Me Doll #77
Image Credit: American Girl Despite the name, any child can happily play with an American Girl doll. They are definitely not cheap, but they are the sort of high-quality item a child might treasure into adulthood. The Truly Me doll comes with a blue-and-gray collared shirt emblazoned with the American Girl logo, a pair of blue jeans, boy briefs, and sneakers.
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Playskool Dressy Kids Boy Activity Plush Stuffed Doll
Image Credit: Playskool This doll (for kids ages 2 and older) helps kids practice getting ready for school by showing how to zip, button, and fasten clothing. Aside from polishing their motor skills, kids will have fun experimenting with this squeezable toy.
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BABY Born Lil’ Boy – Brown Eyes
Image Credit: BABY Born You child can practice his nurturing skills with this 14” adorable baby boy that allows kids to feed him a bottle using real water, bathe him, and change his diaper. The doll’s body is also flexible and his eyes can close making for a more life-like experience.
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HABA Snug up Jonas
HABA Snug up Jonas doll is perfect for babies (as young as six months) to clutch for comfort. They won’t lose the clothes because they’re sewn on and the doll is machine-washable.
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