Should Boys Play With Dolls?
with
Kathy Moore
Should you discourage your sons from playing with dolls? Actually, not only does playing with a doll not diminish your son's future masculinity but actually the type of play can have many positive effects on his development.
Transcript: Should Boys Play With Dolls?
Hi. I am Kathy Moore for About.com Parenting. Does your son have a doll? Have you wondered whether it is o.k. for him to play with dolls? This program will discuss the benefits of allowing boys to play with dolls.Boys and Girls and Dolls
When our daughter was about 1 year old, we gave her a doll to play with. It seemed like the natural thing to do. However when our son reached the same age we wondered if it was o.k. to give him a doll. After talking with other parents of boys and doing some research, we decided to buy a doll for our son and I am happy we did.Types of Doll Play for Boys
Modeling his older sisters behavior, our son holds and talks to his doll, Buddy. He also sometimes tosses it across the room and uses it as a hammer. This type of activity is typical for any 2 year old.Positive Effects of Doll Play for Boys
Playing with dolls gives kids a chance to model parenting skills. Boys and girls both learn by watching and practicing what they see around the home. Having a doll to care for also gives your son a sense of responsibility and establishes a foundation for him to learn the skills necessary to take care of himself when he is older.Several parents I know have given their son a doll before the arrival of a new baby. In many cases this can help ease the resentment that can come when a new sibling is born.
Even though our son has a doll, he still prefers playing with trucks or trains but I think having a doll has helped him develop more respect for others and that can be hard to come by in a 2 year old.
Toys for Girls
If you have a daughter be sure to put some blocks and trucks in her toy box too. It will help her build a better understanding of spatial relationships.Thanks for watching. To learn more visit us on the Web at Parenting.About.com.