23 Dec Did you know boys playing with dolls is damaging?
Oh sorry, did we say ‘damaging,’ we meant boys playing with dolls has lifelong social & emotional benefits, and here’s why…
Neuroscientists have proven little boys playing with dolls activates the social side of their brains, more than any other creative activity.
Researchers from Cardiff University monitored the brains of boys and girls aged between 4 and 8. Scans were taken of their brains whilst they were playing, using new neuroimaging technology (fNIRS) to scan their brain activity. The neuroscientists found the region of the brain (pSTS) associated with processing social information, was activated more with boys playing with dolls. This was higher than when they played with any other toys. It also increased their ability for empathy.
Educational psychologist, Dr Michele Borba says, “It’s been shown that children who have developed empathy and social skills early in life can have better grades, stay in school longer and make healthier choices overall.
“Empathetic children might also be more likely to stand up for a child being bullied and try to engage and resolve the conflict. Understanding that kids can help develop these skills through playing with dolls like Barbie, is remarkable and a helpful tool for parents.”
Encouraging empathy and respect
There’s so much talk about toxic masculinity and how we need to raise our boys to be respectful. If we want our boys to have empathy and understanding for others, as well as prevent them from disrespecting other people, then boys playing with dolls shouldn’t just be allowed, but actively encouraged.
“Dolls encourage children to create their own little imaginary worlds, as opposed to say, problem-solving or building games. They encourage children to think about other people and how they might interact with each other,” Dr Sarah Gerson, of Cardiff University said.
Of course here at Simply Gender Free we believe that all colours and all toys are for BOTH boys and girls. But we’re also aware of the impact of gendered marketing, so some boys might not like pink doll toys. So we’ve found the best doll pushchairs for boys that aren’t pink… CLICK here to take a peek
This study shows that the toys usually targeted at boys, like vehicles and building blocks aren’t going to help them anywhere near as much with empathy skills, as boys playing with dolls will.
When a kid is between 4 and 8 years old unfortunately a lot of gender stereotypes have already impacted them. With the doll world so heavily targeted at girls it can be hard to encourage them to play with dolls, especially as the majority of the toys are pink – a colour they may associate only with “girl toys.” That’s why it’s ok to buy a blue doll pushchair for a boy, or buy dolls that aren’t Barbie and are boy dolls instead.
Dr Gerson said, “The fact that we saw the pSTS to be active in our study shows that playing with dolls is helping them rehearse some of the social skills they will need in later life.” Boys playing with baby dolls can develop their capacity to nurture and care for others. Who knows, it may also mean they’re more likely to make awesome fathers.
So, can boys play with dolls? Is it dangerous to let a boy play with a doll? Well, the only danger is if they’re told they can’t because they’re a boy and then they miss out on important developmental play, as well as a lot of learning and fun!
The study, which showed the brain activity from doll play is equal to both boys and girls brains is published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
Hi, I’m Kat, mum to Leo and Emily. I set up Simply Gender Free because the sea of pink and blue in shops was driving me mad. I love pink, love blue, but our kids should be encouraged to enjoy so much more! Gender stereotypes are rife in kids products and they create limitations to what kids want to enjoy and be in life. So I wanted to make it easier for parents like you to find kids products that suit their personalities, not their gender.