Toys and games plays are important in both socialization and the development of children. Through the participation in games and manipulation of toys, children would develop attitudes and behaviors related to the play encounters. The environments of play give children the opportunity to engage in various roles, express their personality and develop their point of views of the surroundings and the world (Martin, 2018). Therefore, toys and games of children have an indirect and significant impact on them. Thus, analyzing the various toys or games for children would offer important insight into the development of children, as far as their cognitive, physical and psychosocial needs are concerned.
Preschool Dolls
Preschool dolls include those dolls that children at a preschool stage can use to play. Therefore, these dolls are designed for children aged between two to four years, but there are those designed for babies who are aged less than this. A typical example of this kind of toy is the Trudi dolls. Trudi is mainly a premier Italian plush brand that is mostly made of high-quality materials and fabrics used to create wonderful soft plush. Since it is a premier brand of toys in Europe, the manufacturers can make claims on the dolls. The dolls are machine washable and dedicated to providing psychomotor abilities.
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Trudi Dolls and Gender
Trudi dolls are not gender specific since there are Trudi dolls designed for boys and girls. However, depending on the child’s toy preferences, children would choose Trudi dolls that are gender-typed. Gender is among the major factors affecting the preference of children towards toys. The choices that children make concerning the toys are reliably dependent on their typed sex behavior (Starmans, 2017). Researchers have continually indicated that children would tend to ask for gender appropriate toys and they would happily play the dolls irrespective of the stereotype for the opposite sex. For the case of Trudi dolls, female children would mostly request for dolls such as the Trudi cat dolls.
The two major theories of specialization explain why children show early sex difference, as far as their choice of toys such as Trudi dolls are concerned. Cognitive developmental theorists state that children would imitate the models of same-sex and take part in sex-typed behavior that they see to be consistent and appropriate with their gender identity. Also, social learning theorist explains that parents may influence the choices of their children’s toy directly be choosing the dolls/toys that are stereotypical for the gender of their children.
Trudi Dolls on the Child’s Development
Trudi dolls and other dolls act as companion and friends to children. As a friend and companion, the doll contributes to the physical development of a child since the child will learn how to handle his/her companion or friend with care. Particularly, the physical treatment that the child learns to practice is to be caring, thus eliminating the violence treatment towards others.
Also, as a friend and companion, Trudi dolls play an important role in allowing children to express their creativity. Notably, shy children who are given the opportunity to play with the dolls can be inspired to join with the circle and get the courage to interact with others. The sense of creativity from the pretend to play with dolls is enhanced since the child can use the play to practice their future roles as adults when they show care to the Trudi dolls, which act to them as babies. Some children would pretend of being mothers and carry dolls like babies, helping them to be creative and obtain the nurturing attitude on others.
The thought of being a mother or serving any other role that a child gains from playing with dolls is in line with the Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory (Miller, 2016). This theory is concerned with the development of the thought process f a person. It acknowledges the fact that children think differently than adults, explaining why they think of dolls as babies and act like an adult to treat them (the dolls) as their parents are treating them.
The dolls also help in psychosocial development of children since the imaginative play would enhance their confidence in their capability of solving problems and interacting with their environment. Notably, children would always talk to these dolls and give them instructions, hence enabling them to practice language and assist them to develop gross and fine motor skills. Through the practice of language, they will be able to interact socially with people around them, even when they grow up.
The psychosocial development from the imaginative play of children with dolls can be linked to the Erickson’s Psychosocial Development Theory. The theory describes the process of psychosocial development through social interaction and conflicts that humans encounter at different stages of growth.
Modification Recommended For Trudi Dolls
One modification that can be done on Trudi dolls, specifically the Trudi cat dolls is to design them in a way that their appearance can be changed easily to fit the environment of the culture that the child likes at a given time. This modification can be to improve the appearance or color and size. It will enhance the psychosocial and cognitive development of the child.
References
Martin, G. (2018). Psychology . Harlow, United Kingdom: Pearson Education Limited.
Miller, P. (2016). Theories of developmental psychology . New York: Worth Publishers Macmillan Learning.
Starmans, C. (2017). Children's Theories of the Self. Child Development , 88 (6), 1774-1785. doi: 10.1111/cdev.12951
Appendix
Trudi Cat 38 Cm (Babies and Children, Toys, Preschool, Dolls and Soft Toys
