When you were a kid, what was your toy of choice? Were you more of a Lego kid who could sit in the corner for hours building an intricate metropolis? Or did you prefer Polly Pockets and Barbies? Maybe your favorite thing to play with was a stuffed animal like a Beanie Baby or a Webkinz. Regardless of what your most prized toy was, the beauty of having a playroom or enjoying play time at daycare was that we didn’t have to pick the same toy every single day. One morning, you might be more into the little green army men, and the next day, a Barbie doll might pique your interest. We were free to enjoy Legos and baby dolls equally. Unfortunately, however, some adults like to arbitrarily guide children towards specific toys based on their gender.
One TikToker, Arc-Warrior, shared a video earlier this year explaining the value of challenging gender stereotypes when it comes to children’s toys. His post went viral, and thousands of people weighed in with replies about how they have personally witnessed empathy bloom in their little ones who played with dolls. Below, you can read the full story, and let us know in the comments if you or your children liked to play with dolls at a young age. Then if you’re looking for another Bored Panda article calling out gender stereotypes and sexist behavior, check out this story next.
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This TikToker is advocating for parents to challenge gender stereotypes when it comes to what toys their children play with
Image credits: Teo Zac (not the actual photo)
Image credits: arc_warrior
You can hear his full explanation right here
@arc_warrior #boysbabydolls #playroomstereotypes #genderstereotypes #parenting #robbelementary ♬ original sound – Arc_Warrior
There is no question that raising an empathetic child should be the goal of every parent, but sadly, adults who hold prejudices of their own typically pass them on to their children as well. If your mother and father tell you that dolls are for girls and sports are for boys, that will likely not be the extent of their indoctrination into sexist thinking. But the fact is that boys and girls should be raised the same way, having the opportunity to choose whatever toys, hobbies and clothing they personally prefer. And if your son goes out of his way to practice empathy by playing with a doll, that will likely make him a much better person in the future than someone who is taught to conceal his emotions and to look down upon “girly” things.
Arc_Warrior also notes that he shared this video in light of the recent tragedy that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. “On May 24, an 18-year-old gunman wielding an AR-15-style rifle killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, a small city west of San Antonio,” The New York Times reported. This was the deadliest school shooting in the US since 2012, and it is terrifying to know that someone can commit such an atrocity without exhibiting a shred of empathy.
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The gunman, Salvador Ramos, had shot his grandmother in the face earlier that morning before making his way to the elementary school. Now, I’m not going to say that playing with baby dolls as a child would have prevented Salvador from committing this act, but it is vital that we ensure young men and women grow up knowing how to feel empathy to prevent situations like this. Since 1982, men have committed a shocking 127 mass shootings in the United States. In contrast, only three mass shootings have been carried out by women. Clearly, there is a gender gap when it comes to empathy and tendencies towards violence.
Furthermore, there is actually proof that playing with dolls can help children harness empathy. According to a study conducted by researchers at Cardiff University, “Doll play activates brain regions that allow children to develop empathy and social information processing skills.”
Empathy is a skill everyone can benefit from having, not just girls and women, and we can feel the advantages of living in a more empathetic society. If the way kids play can have any effect on strengthening their empathy muscles, I say allow them all to play with as many dolls as they like. After all, they’re just kids trying to have fun. Let us know your thoughts on this video down below, and if you have personally experienced or witnessed the benefits of doll play in yourself or your children, feel free to share those stories with your fellow pandas as well.
Many people echoed his sentiments in the comments, with some parents noting the benefits they have observed from their kids playing with dolls
The post “Here’s Why Every Boy Should Play With Baby Dolls From A Young Age” first appeared on Bored Panda.
Source: boredpanda.com