When I was a little girl I loved my dolls. I would make up elaborate scenarios for my babies and had the best time playing house and being mommy. I gave all my babies names and my mom made doll clothes for them. Many of them had stays at the doll hospital and I was anxious until their return. I would save my allowance and any other money that came my way so I could buy more dolls. I loved to brush their hair and even taught myself to French braid on a doll’s head.
My toddler is obsessed with dolls. She adores her babies. There are so many of them all over the house so she can pick one up anywhere she is. She hasn’t named any of her dolls. I think she’s too young. She calls them all baby, because that’s what they are.
For the toddler’s second birthday she got a doll who was sold with a bottle and a hat. It’s a pretty big baby. She gets frustrated trying to put the hat on, so it stays off. I don’t even know where it is; maybe she does. The Christmas right after she turned two brought a doll in a fancy dress with shoes and a set that included stroller, cradle, high chair, feeding supplies, and doll. The stroller has gotten the most use as the girl pushes her babies around the house. She’ll even take her babies for rides in her car. The babies don’t have a car seat, so I worry about their safety.
One of the signs of toddler development is how the toddler plays. My daughter holds every doll of hers close to her chest and will pat its back or bottom while saying, “Shh.” She doesn’t have the hang of changing the doll’s clothes, but her Wonderful Aunt is making them now.
How does your toddler interact with toys?