Role play toys
Role play is a fun learning experience for children of all ages. Providing children with a doll or plushie gives the children an opportunity to develop their role-playing skills. In a role play, children increase their gross and fine motor skills as they cradle and provide care for their toy. Children also gain a sense of compassion and selflessness as they think about the needs of their dolly. Role-playing with toys can create opportunities for children to learn how to deal with emotions and problem solve. Pretending to have dolls resolve problems among themselves aids in helping children resolve bottled up emotions.
This is especially true during difficult transitions as they can express their feelings through the toy. If they are asked a question and it is geared towards the toy and the toys “feelings”, then the child will be able to express them more easily as it takes the focus away from them. The feelings that the doll or plushie are feeling are a projection of the child’s own feelings so talking about what might help the doll, will likely help the child as well. As a side benefit, it can also help increase the children’s vocabulary as they practice speaking through the toys.
