Sunday, September 7, 2014

Tips For Selecting The Best Dolls For Girls In Every Stage Of Childhood

By Jody Leach


Playing with dolls has been a popular past-time of young "mothers-in-training" for hundreds of years. It's a great way to stimulate a child's nurturing side and creativity, and for many youngsters, a doll is one of their first "friends". When buying dolls for girls, it can be overwhelming trying to find just the right one, this guide outlines the basic types and what they have to offer.

The age of the child should be the first consideration when selecting a doll. Infants should only be given soft dolls with no removable parts which could present a choking hazard, and preschoolers are best suited to a durable type of doll that does not break easily, as they tend to play carelessly at times. Older girls typically prefer a doll they can dress up in a variety of stylish outfits.

Baby's first dolly should be one that is huggable, easy to carry, and does not have hard parts which can accidentally hurt the child if she plays roughly with it. These dolls can usually be machine washed on gentle, or wiped with a damp cloth to clean them. There are also some types for preschoolers that teach buttoning, lacing and such.

Preschoolers may want to have a doll that resembles a real baby, especially as they see mothers caring for their infants, and want to imitate this. More realistic in appearance, this kind of doll has either a cloth body with plastic legs, arms, and head, or an entirely vinyl or rubber body. Some have rooted hair, and eyes that can shut, and others will "wet" when given a bottle.

Older children may also enjoy interactive dolls that "act like real kids". This type of doll is operated by batteries and performs such entertaining functions as singing, talking, laughing, walking, and many more. It makes the little girl feel as though she has an actual playmate or "baby" she can take care of, and it is guaranteed to make her smile.

Since Barbie's debut on the toy market over fifty years ago, the fashion doll has enjoyed huge popularity amongst school-aged girls. Standing just under a foot tall, these replicas of grown women can be dressed up in a multitude of fashions made especially for them, and one can also purchase cars, houses, furnishings, and various other accessories to make playing with them even more exciting.

Another popular doll with school-age girls are the 18-inch ones that look like a real girl of their own age. Certain types of this kind of doll can be rather costly, as are their outfits, although they are beautiful, high-quality dollies that are likely to be very valuable collector's items in the future. Some of the "imitation" lines are more affordable.

There are many great places to purchase dolls, besides traditional stores, online shopping is another option many parents appreciate because it allows them to access a global marketplace to find just the perfect doll for their little girl. Garage sales, flea markets and other such places are also good places to find gently used but still charming and unique dollies any little girl will love.




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