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Dolls Boost Empathy: Study Finds Playtime Vital
18 Mar
Summary
- Playing with dolls enhances children's empathy and understanding of others.
- Doll play encourages role-playing social situations with others involved.
- Children express more emotions verbally during doll play than with tablets.
Playing with dolls like Barbie and Ken is crucial for developing vital social skills in children, skills that are not fostered through tablet use, according to a new study. Researchers at Cardiff University observed that doll play significantly improved both boys' and girls' empathy and their ability to understand different viewpoints.
The six-week study indicated that children engaged more in role-playing social situations and were more likely to involve family members when playing with dolls compared to using tablets. Furthermore, language analysis revealed children used more emotion-related words during doll play sessions than when interacting with electronic devices.
Dr. Sarah Gerson highlighted that doll play provides opportunities to rehearse and reflect on others' beliefs and intentions. This pretend play allows children to practice social skills, emotion processing, and regulation in a safe environment, which are foundational for building relationships. The findings are particularly relevant as government research shows nearly all two-year-olds have daily screen time, impacting concentration.
