If you're
a mother of a girl who is old enough to play with dolls, there
might be times when you do some reminiscing when you were
of that age. Perhaps you may still be able to recall the name
and features of your favorite doll. Or maybe at one time unwrapping
a gift and seeing (oh wonderful!) the dollhouses
you have always wanted on a snowy Christmas morning. Or perhaps
sadly, not having been able to get the one that you exactly
wanted.
Such is the essence of girlhood:
it has in a way to do with dolls, modern
dollhouse, or play kitchen. We don't call this stereotyping
but rather simply, girlhood. Ask any girl what she would want
to receive as a gift. Most likely you'll get answers that
come from the ones mentioned previously. Not that this means
a girl who would not want to have these kind of toys would
be considered as “ungirl.” One has to take note
that girls, or children for that matter, have their own preferences
too, just like with ordinary adults.
But haven't you wondered for yourself
why most girls tend to prefer dolls and dollhouse
furniture rather than toy garages or construction toy
sets that boys usually prefer?
As studies have been found, this
is because girls tend to want toys that they can generally
interact with, as one may see with girls playing tea with
their miniature tea sets or with make-believe kitchen toys.
Boys on the other hand likes toys they can do things to manipulate,
thus explaining why at times they like to break toys apart
and try to put it all back together. Thus, you may see the
general differences of the two sexes.
But there is certainly something
about girls playing together, doing simple things like little
adults---pretending to prepare food, cook, move around their
miniature kitchens, bathe baby dolls, dress them up, caring
for them just as lovingly as real adults do. Of course, this
depends on the home and environment the girl is brought up
in. If the girl dwells in a happy home, she is likely to be
happy and positive at play too.
So? Celebrate girlhood with your
girl. Find quality time to play with her. You have to bear
in mind that playing with other girls her age is so much different
from playing with her Mommy. Not to mention that such moments
tend to be long lasting and precious to the girl's memories.
You could try telling her stories about the time when you
were her age, or as busy schedules may demand, read her one
of her favorite princess fairytales before she nods off to
sleep. Or perhaps on a lazy rest day, you could try to do
some simple kitchen chores with her like baking cookies and
having her help out.
Remember, your girl has only
a few years being herself in this way. The next thing you
know it, she may start to have her period already and her
dolls and girlhood are put away to storage and to memories.
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