At What Age Do Children Stop Playing With Dolls?

Published: 19.4.22

Updated: 24.7.24

Dolls have played a huge part of childhood for a lot of us - they were our first friends, confidants, and teachers.

For many of us, they were also our first love.

But as we grow up, our relationship with dolls changes. So, at what age do children stop playing with dolls?

Some kids may lose interest in dolls around the age of 5 or 6, while others may continue to play with them into their pre-teen years. 

There really isn't a "magic age" at which all children suddenly stop playing with dolls - it varies from child to child.

A Brief History Of Dolls

Dolls have been cherished playthings for centuries, tracing their origins back to ancient civilisations such as Egypt, Rome, and Greece.

Initially, these early dolls served as teaching tools, helping children learn about the world around them.

As time progressed, dolls evolved from educational aids to popular sources of entertainment, capturing the imaginations of children everywhere.

Today, dolls come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and styles, catering to the diverse interests and preferences of children.

From simple, handmade figures to intricate and elaborate creations, dolls continue to hold a special place in the hearts of young and old alike.

The enduring popularity of dolls showcases their timeless appeal and the significant role they play in childhood development and imaginative play.

Why Do Children Play With Dolls?

Children engage in doll play for numerous developmental reasons, which significantly contribute to their social, emotional, and cognitive growth.

Here’s an overview of why doll play is important for children:

Social and Emotional Development

Doll play is essential for children's social and emotional development. According to Dr. Sarah Gerson, a lead researcher at Cardiff University:

"When children create imaginary worlds and role play with dolls, they communicate at first out loud and then internalise the message about others' thoughts, emotions, and feelings. This can have positive long-lasting effects on children, such as driving higher rates of social and emotional processing and building social skills like empathy that can become internalised to build and form lifelong habits."

Playing with dolls allows children to:

• Develop empathy and understand others' emotions.
• Practice social interactions and communication skills.
• Learn to express their own feelings and thoughts.

Cognitive Development

Doll play also supports children's cognitive development in several ways:

• Language Skills: Engaging in dialogue while playing with dolls enhances communication abilities.
• Creative Thinking: Imagining scenarios and creating stories with dolls fosters creativity.
• Problem-Solving: Encountering and resolving conflicts in doll play helps develop problem-solving skills.

Brain Activity and Internal State Language

Recent research indicates that doll play activates specific brain areas associated with social and emotional processing. A study from Cardiff University found:

"Playing alone with dolls prompted more internal state language (ISL) about others than playing alone with tablet games. Using ISL about others was related to increased activation in the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS)."

This increased brain activity in the pSTS region, involved in social and emotional processing, suggests long-term benefits for children's social development through doll play.

Gender-Neutral Benefits

The advantages of doll play are not confined to any specific gender. As one parent explains:

"Recent studies have shown that dolls are great for kids, especially as they develop social skills, empathy, and communication. Playing with toys that resemble people or other living things engages the posterior superior temporal sulcus—the brain region responsible for developing empathy and emotional connection."

Encouraging all children, regardless of gender, to engage in doll play can promote emotional intelligence and empathy.

Self-Help and Fine Motor Skills

Doll play also helps children develop practical skills:

• Fine Motor Skills: Dressing and undressing dolls improves dexterity.
• Self-Help Skills: Caring for dolls teaches children about daily routines and self-care.

What Kind Of Doll Should I Buy My Child?

As mentioned earlier, there are all sorts of different dolls on the market these days - so choosing the right one for your child can be tricky.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making your decision:

• Age appropriateness is key - choose a doll that is appropriate for your child's age.
• The type of doll should reflect your child's interests and personality.
• If your child is into dress-up and pretend play, then dolls with lots of clothes and accessories would be a good choice.
• If your child is more interested in building and creating, then construction or arts and crafts doll might be a better fit.
• Think about the size of the doll - if you have a small child, opt for a smaller doll that is easy to hold and carry around.
• Consider the price tag - you don't have to break the bank to buy your child a good quality doll.

The absolute best way to determine which doll is right for your child is by asking them what they are interested in.

Psychological Impact of Dolls on Children

Doll play has garnered significant interest from researchers exploring its psychological impact on children.

Advanced neuroimaging techniques have provided insights into how playing with dolls can profoundly influence children's social skills, empathy, and cognitive development.

Key Findings from Recent Studies

Activation of Social Processing Regions: Research led by Dr. Sarah Gerson at Cardiff University utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine brain activity in children aged 4 to 8 while playing with dolls.

The findings revealed that doll play activates the posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS), a brain region associated with social information processing and empathy, even when children play alone.

This suggests that doll play helps children rehearse social interactions and develop crucial social-emotional skills, such as empathy, which are vital for real-life social situations.

Internal State Language (ISL): The Cardiff University study also highlighted the use of internal state language (ISL) during doll play.

ISL involves children discussing the thoughts and emotions of their dolls, which helps them practice social skills and emotional understanding.

The study found that children used more ISL when playing with dolls compared to tablet games, indicating that doll play encourages children to think about others' perspectives and emotions, thus enhancing their social cognition.

Comparison with Tablet Play: Studies comparing doll play with tablet play discovered that while both forms of play involve creativity, doll play uniquely engages social processing regions of the brain.

Children playing with dolls showed increased pSTS activation and more frequent use of ISL, suggesting that dolls provide a more effective medium for practicing social interactions and empathy than tablet games.

Implications for Development

Social Skills and Empathy: The activation of the pSTS and the use of ISL during doll play are crucial for developing social skills and empathy.

These skills are essential for forming and maintaining relationships, understanding social cues, and navigating various social contexts.

By engaging in pretend play with dolls, children can practice these skills in a safe and controlled environment, which can have long-lasting positive effects on their social and emotional development.

Inclusivity Across Genders: Interestingly, the studies found no significant gender differences in the benefits of doll play.

Both boys and girls showed similar levels of brain activation and social processing during doll play, suggesting that the developmental benefits of playing with dolls are universal and not limited by gender stereotypes.

Potential for Interventions: Given the benefits of doll play in developing social skills and empathy, there is potential for using dolls as a tool in interventions for children who struggle with social interactions, such as those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Doll play could provide these children with a way to practice social scenarios and improve their social functioning without the pressure of real-life interactions.

When Do Children Stop Playing With Dolls?

As mentioned earlier, there really is no right or wrong answer to this question - every child is different, and will approach doll play in their own unique way.

That being said, there are a few factors that may influence when a child stops playing with dolls:

As children grow older, they become more interested in activities that are geared towards their age group. This may include sports, video games, and other hobbies that older kids typically enjoy.

Additionally, as children enter puberty, they often start to distance themselves from childhood activities and toys - including dolls.

Once they get to school age, most children have less time to play and experiment with dolls, and are required to focus on other things.

Also, being around their peers and getting daily insight into their classmates' lives, children may start to see dolls as babyish or "uncool". Although they may not be ready to give them up altogether, they may start to play with dolls less and less.

Most likely, doll/toy play will be phased out gradually as children enter their pre-teen years and replaced by electronics (gadgets, computers, tablets, phones, etc).

This is perfectly normal, and is simply a part of growing up.

Related: Can 12 Year Olds Still Play With Toys?

Is It Ok For Boys To Play With Dolls?

For many years, dolls were seen as being "for girls only" and has proven to be a concept that has been incredibly difficult to shake...

There was a very clear split down the middle: Dolls were for girls and cars/weapons were for boys, however, this idea is, thankfully becoming increasingly outdated.

Nowadays, dolls are popular with boys, too - in fact, studies have shown that doll play can actually benefit boys in a number of ways.

Boys who play with dolls are more likely to be empathetic and have better social skills than those who don't.

Boys can benefit from doll play just as much as girls, and it's a great way for them to express their creativity and imagination.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Ready To Stop Playing With Dolls?

Every child is different, and there is no set age at which all children stop playing with dolls. However, there are some signs that your child may be ready to move on from doll play:

If your child is no longer showing interest in their dolls, this may be a sign that they are ready to move on to other toys.

Another sign that your child may be ready to stop playing with dolls is if they start using them in more creative ways, such as pretending to cook or taking them on adventures.

If your child is displaying any of the signs above, it may be time to start thinking about transitioning them to other toys and activities.

Wrapping Up:

Dolls are a staple of childhood for a lot of us, and they are enjoyed by children of all ages. There is no one "magic age" at which all children stop playing with dolls - it varies from child to child.

Dolls offer children a way to express themselves and their imaginations, and they can also help promote cognitive development and early literacy skills.

As children grow older, they may lose interest in dolls as they begin to focus on activities that are more geared towards their age group. This is perfectly normal and is simply a part of growing up.

If you're concerned that your child may be ready to stop playing with dolls, look for signs such as a loss of interest or increased use of imagination when playing.

Most importantly, remember that every child is different, and there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to doll play. Let your child play in their own unique way, and they will naturally move on when the time is right.

What are your thoughts?

Let us know in the comments!