THE BENEFITS OF DOLL PLAY ACCORDING TO NEUROSCIENCE

Cardiff University, in a multi-year research partnership with Barbie, conducted the first neuroimaging study to deliver notable results about the effect of doll play on the brain.

At Barbie, we've always known there are many benefits of playing with dolls and now there is scientific evidence that supports it.

"Children use increased language about others' thoughts and emotions when playing alone with dolls."

HOW DOLL PLAY STIMULATES THE BRAIN

The study monitored the brain activity of children ages 4-8 as they played with a range of Barbie dolls and playsets. The key findings apply to all children, regardless of gender or ethnicity.

Key Findings
​In 2020, Barbie commissioned a multi-year research study:

In year one of the study, research found playing with dolls activated parts of the brain that allow children to develop empathy and social processing skills.

The second year of the study investigated the importance of what kids say while they play and found that when playing with dolls children use increased language about others’ thoughts and emotions. This allows them to practice social skills they can use when interacting with people in the real world.

Year three of the study shows that playing with dolls can have positive effects on social development for all kids, including those who display neurodivergent traits commonly associated with autism.

WHY EMPATHY IS IMPORTANT

When children create imaginary worlds and role play with dolls like Barbie, it prompts them to talk about thoughts about others' emotions and feelings. This can have positive long-lasting effects on children, building social and emotional processing social skills like empathy.

Empathy is an important indicator of children’s future success. According to globally recognized educational psychologist Dr. Michele Borba, empathy allows children to:

(1) Understand other points of view, helping them to be better collaborators, leaders, and parents.

(2) Foster successful relationships and conflict resolution skills.
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(3) Build resilience which helps their ability to bounce back from adversity.research found playing with dolls activated parts of the brain that allow children to develop empathy and social processing skills.

DOLL PLAY AND NEURODIVERSITY

Doll play provides an inclusive and beneficial playtime experience for all children and although each child may have their unique approach to playing with dolls, doll play can provide developmental opportunities across the spectrum of neurodiversity.
Recognizing the diverse ways in which children's brains work and valuing neurodiversity can benefit children's social growth by promoting inclusion, tailored support, empathy, and innovation.

​TEN TIPS FOR DEVELOPING EMPATHY

1. ENCOURAGE FREE PLAY WITH DOLLS AND LISTEN IN
Children often talk while they free play. Encourage this behavior by offering a variety of dolls, and tune in while they play to discover their interests, worries and dislikes.

2. TALK FEELINGS
Children often talk while they free play. Encourage this behavior by offering a variety of dolls, and tune in while they play to discover their interests, worries and dislikes.

3. BROADEN HORIZONS
Offer your children a variety of dolls with different skin colors, genders, or disabilities. Help your children look for what they have in common with others, not how they differ.

4. MAKE FEELING FLASH CARDS
Print the names of a few basic emotion words like happy, sad, afraid, excited, and surprised on index cards, and turn the flash cards into a game: each family member pulls a card and acts it out using only his face and body to depict the feeling with no sounds or words allowed.

5. USE THE TWO KIND RULE
Try the Two Kind Rule: "We say or do at least two kind things each day." Talk about what kindness looks like (e.g., sharing a toy or helping someone), point out kind acts whenever someone displays them, and acknowledge your child's kind acts.

6. LET KIDS CARE FOR ANOTHER
Look for opportunities that are age appropriate where your child can comfort and help like feeding the family pet or delivering cookies to a neighbor. Young children can also act out caring with dolls.

7. PRAISE WITH NOUNS
Children who were asked to help with nouns: "Will you be a helper?" were far more likely to do so versus children who were encouraged to help as a verb "Will you help?". If you want your child to see themselves as a caring person, use nouns!

8. START A KINDNESS BOX
Take a shoebox with a slit cut in the top and encourage them to look for others doing kind acts. Whenever kindness is discovered, the "Kindness Finder" writes or draws the deed and the family member's name and slips it in the Kindness box.

9. PLAYOUT ACTS OF KINDNESS AND EMPATHY
When playing with dolls ask questions to help discover what's going on in your child's mind. "What makes her happy?" "What do they do if their friend is sad?". Encourage your child to practive kind, caring and helping acts as they play.

10. USE BARBIE DOLLS, BABIES, AND PUPPIES TO TEACH EMPATHY
Encourage your children to comfort and soothe their dolls while they play. "Fido looks frightened. How can you help your puppy feel safe?". The more children practice kindness, the more likely they will internalize the value.

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FROM MATTEL