4 Educational Benefits of Miniature Dollhouse Toys
Many children spend hours playing with dollhouse toys, carefully arranging and dramatizing the settings. Not only are children excited, but there are numerous educational benefits to playing with a miniature dollhouse:
1. Imaginative Play: Dolls promote imaginative play, which is important for children’s development. Adults often dismiss pretend play as it seems to serve no purpose. However, it is a key component of learning for children of all ages. Research has found connections between imaginative play and cognition, social skills, and language skills. This type of play allows children to practice their social skills, resolve troublesome or upsetting events, develop their conversational vocabulary, learn empathy, and expand their creativity.
Some parents worry about pretending when children seem to reject the “real” world. However, a child who insists that she is a superhero or that she is a princess is not denying reality. For a child, it is a complicated experiment to discover the limits of imagination and reality, as well as exploring how another person might see, think and feel. Logical rules still apply, and children often come up with elaborate solutions to problems.
When children play together with miniature dollhouse toys, they further develop skills such as self-control, turn-taking, sharing, listening and improvising. Don’t assume games are limited by genre. Girls and boys alike enjoy playing with realistic figures and houses as they reflect their own experiences of living in the world.
2. History Lesson: Miniature dollhouses often have a historical context, so each building, plus the accompanying toys, portrays a particular era. Dolls can wear appropriate clothing and use period furniture. It is a great way for children to learn about the past and how people lived. They can recreate a favorite historical event or scene from a story. Alternatively, open play is always possible.
3. Coordination: Playing with a miniature dollhouse requires fine motor skills, the same ones that are important for writing, playing musical instruments and other activities of life. Dressing up small dolls and arranging dollhouse toys also develops hand-eye coordination and encourages concentration.
4. Creativity: Dollhouse toys come in all possible forms, from small stained glass windows and paintings to cars. A miniature dollhouse might have a fancy garden, with a rocking horse in the nursery along with a dining table laden with real dishes and elaborate foods. Some children go as far as to make their own clothing or furniture, further increasing their use of imagination, creativity, fine motor skills, and concentration. They may decide to collect coins and develop a rewarding hobby.
When playing with miniature dollhouse toys, younger children will use only a few simple figures and furniture and let their imaginations do the rest. Older children rave about the more detailed accessories and more realistic settings. As children grow, they appreciate more the open possibilities that a miniature dollhouse offers with detailed and realistic dollhouse figures and toys.
