The Science of Doll Play: Understanding Early Childhood Interactions

Recent research highlights the significant role of doll play in fostering empathy and social skills in young children. The potential impact of these findings is exciting, so let's delve into some of the key studies and their implications.

The Noteworthy Study of 2020

In a notable 2020 study, Cardiff University teamed up with Mattel, the company behind Barbie, to explore the benefits of pretend play in early childhood development. Published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, this research examined how different types of play affect social and cognitive development (Hashmi et al., 2020).

The study involved 42 children aged 4 to 8, who played with dolls and tablets, both alone and with others. Researchers used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure brain activity, focusing on the prefrontal and posterior superior temporal sulcus, areas associated with social processing and empathy.

The findings were intriguing: these brain regions showed greater activation when children played with dolls, even when they played alone, compared to when they played with tablets. This suggests that doll play enables children to practice social and emotional skills independently.

Building on Initial Findings

In 2021, the research team expanded their study to include observations of internal state language (ISL), which involves children’s speech about thoughts, emotions, and desires of themselves and others (Hashmi et al., 2021). ISL is a crucial indicator of a child's ability to understand and speculate about their own and others' minds, reflecting the development of theory of mind.

The study found that children used more ISL when playing with dolls than with tablets. This reinforces the idea that doll play supports social understanding and helps children rehearse empathy skills. Notably, these benefits were observed consistently across genders and a wide age range.

The collaboration between Cardiff University and Mattel is ongoing, with research set to continue through 2024. As this work progresses, we can expect further insights into how doll play influences early childhood development.

A Note of Caution

While these findings are promising, it's important to consider the potential biases in privately funded research. All dolls used in the studies were provided by Mattel's Barbie division, which could limit the generalizability of the results. Additionally, while the Barbie website claims that these benefits apply regardless of gender or ethnicity, the data on ethnicity is more complex. ISL has shown consistent results in Western countries but mixed outcomes in Eastern countries, indicating that cultural differences should not be overlooked (Hashmi et al., 2021).

Simply Put

The science of doll play offers exciting possibilities for enhancing early childhood development. These studies underscore how dolls can help children develop empathy and social skills, even when playing alone. As research continues, we look forward to more discoveries that could further improve our understanding of the benefits of doll play for all children.

References

• Barbie: THE BENEFITS OF DOLL PLAY ACCORDING TO NEUROSCIENCE. Benefits of play. Mattel (2022). Retrieved 1 June 2022, from Mattel.

• Kristen, S., Sodian, B., Licata, M., Thoermer, C., & Poulin-Dubois, D. (2012). The Development of Internal State Language during the Third Year of Life: A Longitudinal Parent Report Study. Infant And Child Development, 21(6), 634-645. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd.1767

• Hashmi, S., Vanderwert, R., Paine, A., & Gerson, S. (2021). Doll play prompts social thinking and social talking: Representations of internal state language in the brain. Developmental Science, 25(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13163

• Hashmi, S., Vanderwert, R., Price, H., & Gerson, S. (2020). Exploring the Benefits of Doll Play Through Neuroscience. Frontiers In Human Neuroscience, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.560176