Why ALL children should be offered doll play

Guest post by Elise Disher – Founder of U.Me Play
U.Me Play offers a beautiful collection of open-ended toys and practical courses for parents and professionals. Elise is an experienced early childhood teacher, educational consultant, parenting coach (Circle of Security-Parenting), and a holistic sleep and wellbeing specialist.

At Walky Talky Hub, where we provide speech pathology in Perth for babies, toddlers and children, we love sharing evidence-based insights like this — especially when they support connection, communication, and learning through play.

Why Should Toddlers Play With Dolls?

As a passionate advocate for learning through play, we strongly believe that all children — regardless of gender — should be offered the opportunity to engage in doll play during toddlerhood.

This might seem obvious to some, but many parents still feel unsure about buying a doll for their son. This hesitation often comes from how we were parented, or from outdated beliefs about what kinds of toys are “appropriate” for boys.

Here’s the truth: toddler doll play is essential for building empathy, communication, and emotional resilience — for all children.

Benefits of Doll Play for Social and Emotional Development

Dolls are more than toys — they’re a child’s first “friend” and a safe way to explore emotions, relationships, and social problem-solving.

When toddlers engage in pretend play with dolls, they begin to:

• Re-enact everyday routines (e.g. feeding, dressing, sleeping)

• Explore social roles and relationships

• Express big feelings through their doll’s actions (“She’s sad. He didn’t play with her.”)

• Practice empathy, kindness, and caring behaviours

These are the same early skills that support strong language development, and are often targeted in early speech pathology sessions, particularly when working with toddlers who need support in expressive or social communication.

Why Doll Play Matters for Boys

Playing with dolls has nothing to do with gender — it’s about learning how to connect.

When children role play with dolls, they learn to:

• Care for others

• Express feelings

• Develop language to solve social problems

• Practice respectful and gentle touch

If a child throws or pushes a doll in play, this gives adults the chance to model gentle hands and practice problem-solving — an important step in learning to manage strong emotions in safe ways.

Encouraging boys to engage in doll play helps challenge outdated stereotypes and gives them the same opportunities to develop empathy and communication.

Speech Pathology and Toddler Doll Play: How They Work Together

As a speech pathologist working with toddlers in Perth, we often use dolls in therapy sessions to:

• Support early pretend play skills

• Model everyday routines (like brushing teeth, going to the toilet, or bedtime)

• Teach and practice new words

• Explore emotions through storytelling

• Create opportunities for turn-taking, asking for help, and problem solving

When parents encourage doll play at home, it provides a natural bridge to the kind of goals we target in therapy — especially for children with language delays, social communication challenges, or difficulty regulating their emotions.

Role Play Milestones – What to Expect by Age

Knowing what to expect can help you support your toddler’s pretend play at home:

Around 12 Months

Children begin to imitate everyday actions, such as patting a doll’s back or pretending to drink from a cup.

18–24 Months

Toddlers start to combine actions in simple routines — like feeding a doll and putting it to bed. They use more realistic toys that closely match the real objects in their world.

3 Years and Beyond

Imaginative play becomes more complex. Children may use open-ended toys (like wooden blocks or felt pieces) to stand in for food, money, or clothing. Doll play is often accompanied by more complex stories, social scenarios, and language.

Practical Ways to Use Dolls at Home

Doll play isn’t just fun — it’s incredibly useful. Here are some practical ideas to try:

• Model transitions like moving to a big bed or starting daycare

• Practice toileting routines with a doll before your toddler tries it themselves

• Rehearse social scripts like “Can I play with you?”

• Teach body parts and support early body safety conversations

• Celebrate identity and inclusion by choosing dolls with different skin tones, abilities, and gender expressions

Final Thoughts

There are zero downsides to doll play — and countless benefits. Whether your toddler is developing typically or receiving support from speech therapy services in Perth, adding a doll (or four!) to your home can open up rich opportunities for learning and connection.

So go ahead: buy a new doll, craft one from home materials, or find a pre-loved treasure. Let your child explore, imagine, and care — you’ll be supporting their communication, empathy, and emotional development every step of the way.

🧸 Explore Open-Ended Toys for Toddlers

Check out U.Me Play’s collection of beautiful dolls and early learning toys — perfect for encouraging toddler pretend play, social-emotional growth, and communication skills.